Custom Extended Swim Platform

[tpenfield]

I'm going to add some braces on the sides to stiffen up those areas . . .

First I cut & shaped the foam core pieces.

Then I covered them with 1708 cloth. Here they are after curing, but still needing a bit of trimming.

I'll tab these into the sides with more 1708.

 

[tpenfield]

I am traveling the next couple of weeks, so I won’t be back at it until Memorial Day weekend.

Remaining work is:

Aft area
Pylon stiffeners
A few touch-up spots

Then, I will be ‘popping’ the platform out of the mold.

Targeting to be done/installed mid-June.

 

[fallguy]

A friendly tip...stainless steel luvs to gall. Despite the issues with grease in the fabrication area, make sure and grease the bolts if you are putting nuts on them.

I had one of four of my hardware connections on a project fail and it took an hour to remove and the bolt basically came apart due to the galling.

I had told myself I was going to lube the connections immediately after my glasswork. Fail. Fortunately, the rivnut installation (female side) was so tough, I was able to simply tap it and while less thread, still enough to avoid removing the rivnut.

 

[fallguy]

I'm going to add some braces on the sides to stiffen up those areas . . .

First I cut & shaped the foam core pieces.

View attachment 147111

View attachment 147112

Then I covered them with 1708 cloth. Here they are after curing, but still needing a bit of trimming.

View attachment 147110

I'll tab these into the sides with more 1708.

These look great and the gc will thank you.

 

[tpenfield]

Galling. . . I had to Google that.

A definite yes on the grease, as it will be salt water exposure, which will add its own challenges.

 

[tpenfield]

These look great and the gc will thank you.

“gc”. ???

 

[fallguy]

“gc”. ???

Gelcoat won't get a stress fracture.

 

[tpenfield]

Update . . .

After a couple of weeks doing other stuff, I am back at it with the swim platform.

I made the rear structure shapes out of the foam board stock that I used for the coring.

Then I filled them with the pour-in foam and sanded them smooth, rounded corners, etc.

Then came the glass . . .

Now I am setting up the infusion.

Still casing a leak or 2 . . . so won't do the resin until tomorrow.

TTFN . . .

 

[fallguy]

I am rather surprised you didn't jist wetbag that section.

 

[tpenfield]

I am rather surprised you didn't just wetbag that section.

I thought about it, not for long though . . . With all the various shapes and irregularities, I figured wet bagging would be a race of time before the resin kicked. I think I am better off doing it by infusion.

 

[tpenfield]

The aft structure and side stiffeners are all glassed. Just finishing up a few odds and ends, then I will be pulling the platform from the mold next weekend (June 1st)

 

[tpenfield]

Question for the membership . . .

In terms of adhering the 'slab' portion of the extended platform over the existing swim deck . . . 3M 5200 (permanent) or 3m 4200 (semi permanent) ???

Thoughts either way?

 

[tpenfield]

The platform is now out of the mold . . .

Overall it looks OK . . . There are a few dry spots, so those will need some touch-up. I think I'll take care of those before washing off the PVA film.

Next steps will be trimming and some sanding.

 

[fallguy]

Pretty nice outcome.

How heavy?

As for the gluing, how much gets glue?

I don't think I'd use 5200.

I'd use 4000 UV

 

[fallguy]

The touch up is to be expected, but I don't understand how leaving the pva on will help unless it highlights the areas needing work. I would worry about it contaminating the repair.