Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

[crqflier]

My previous boat purchase fell through so I'm back looking for my first boat - a 20'- 21' bowrider. I found a really perfect boat locally. Everything I've been looking for except 1 thing: no extended swim platform.

I've got 2 kids, 5 and 10 years old. Am I making a mistake getting a boat without the extended platform that covers the outdrive? Is it that "critical" for getting in/out? Would I really miss not having one?

For folks with a platform - must have? For folks without - do you wish you had one? Or no big deal either way? I know I could get one put on, but at $2K installed, it's really unlikely I would do it.

 

[zagger]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Depending on intended use. I have kids also and they love tubing, snorkeling, etc. so the swim platform is a must for me. It even makes boarding at the dock a lot easer. Beside I never herd anyone complaining they had one only that they wish they did.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

I love having a swim platform.. Will never own another pleasure boat without one..

Boarding at the dock? LOL I can board at the ramp..

I loaded up in my buds boat.. No swim platform.. Didn't use the ladder we was in shallow water.. Pulled my knee out getting in that thing.. NOPE platform for me.. The real big ones they have on boats now are real nice...

 

[45Auto]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

You will have your kids and their friends on the boat. They will want to play in the water and swim. Been there, done that. My youngest is 22 now.

A swim platform is obviously not an absolute necessity, but depending on the type of boating you plan to do it can make it much more enjoyable and relaxing. If you spend 90% of your time fishing, you won't miss it. Nobody I know has any use for fishing, so we're using the swim platform about 90% of the time we're on the water.

My first boat was an outboard with no swim platform. Moved from that to a 22' I/O with a great swim platform. Made a huge difference in how much everyone enjoyed the boat. If I had a "do-over" I wouldn't even think about getting a boat without a swim platform. I would keep looking till I found one.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

I've got 2 kids, 5 and 10 years old. Am I making a mistake getting a boat without the extended platform that covers the outdrive? Is it that "critical" for getting in/out? Would I really miss not having one?

i wouldnt worry about the extended platform as long as it has a swim platfrom, on my 23 ft sundowner the platfrom is glassed in from the molds at factory. i just tell people not to jump in the middle of or i will raise the outdrive so prop sticks up, and they can see it that way. my nefew has an issue he climbs up the ladder runs in the boat for some reason, dropping what is 40 gallons of water.... then jumps off into the water, then preceding the the ladder to do it again. i try to put a stop to that as fast as i can because i love my floor very much.

If you spend 90% of your time fishing, you won't miss it.

when i take my mom fishing i confine her to the platform she makes 1 hell of a mess and always likes to hit us with the pole or reel when casting. the back of the platform is raised so she can sit on the fiberglass wall and make the mess where i can hose it off easily.

I wouldn't even think about getting a boat without a swim platform.

i agree makes it easy to get into the boat at the beach since my boat sits about 2 feet deep and is 23 feet long. and there is no climbing over the sides.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

I don't have but wish I did. There is a "small" platform that is built into the boat, but not near big enough.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

You will have your kids and their friends on the boat. They will want to play in the water and swim. Been there, done that. My youngest is 22 now.

A swim platform is obviously not an absolute necessity, but depending on the type of boating you plan to do it can make it much more enjoyable and relaxing. If you spend 90% of your time fishing, you won't miss it. Nobody I know has any use for fishing, so we're using the swim platform about 90% of the time we're on the water.

My first boat was an outboard with no swim platform. Moved from that to a 22' I/O with a great swim platform. Made a huge difference in how much everyone enjoyed the boat. If I had a "do-over" I wouldn't even think about getting a boat without a swim platform. I would keep looking till I found one.

Completley aggree!!! Our furst was an OB with no deck. New boat (well I guess it is not new anymore) has a huge deck on the back of it. Looking back and watching kids do cannonballs ect off the back is worth the price of the boat by itself. If we ever get another boat we will without a doubt be getting one with a deck again. It really is like adding a couple feet of usable space to the boat. Must Have

 

[lcmains1]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

We had a bayliner last year that did not have one. This year i got a newer Rinker and it has a platform that is the width of the boat and about 2.5' in width..... Having said that, we will never own another boat without one!!!

 

[crqflier]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Thanks for all the replies. We had scheduled a sea trial today. But we're going to hold off and take another look at the boat - adding another $2K to the price mentally - to see if we still like the boat for $2K more, the cost of the platform.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Platform a must for me also. Did not have one when I purchased my boat. Found a used teak one on ebay reasonable. Sanded her down and refurbished. One other thing that the platform does is gets you out further from the outdrive. Keeps people from standing on your outdrive and getting cut up.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

A must for us...............Not 3-foot long, it's an older boat, but long enough.........

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

A lot of it depends on use. But, you are judging the cost right as it will cost about 2K to add one. If that still fits into your budget, go for it.

I am wrapping up a swim platform install on our boat as soon as the rain stops.

 

[mr 88]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

I can just hear it know,Billy were going out in your Uncle's boat today.Mom do we have to? he is always yelling at me for trying to have fun,heck were in a boat and he is telling me to stay on the swim platform and don't get anything wet,why is he like that? Or Mom,spending some time with my son and he has me sitting out in the sun on a swim platform hoping I will slip and hit my head as I crash into the water.If he does not like my fishing skills you would think he would spend a couple minutes showing me the proper way to handle my out of control rod and reel[which is next to my fist?]I think I will stay home like my grandson.. . Taking the fun out of boating class 101.........

i wouldnt worry about the extended platform as long as it has a swim platfrom, on my 23 ft sundowner the platfrom is glassed in from the molds at factory. i just tell people not to jump in the middle of or i will raise the outdrive so prop sticks up, and they can see it that way. my nefew has an issue he climbs up the ladder runs in the boat for some reason, dropping what is 40 gallons of water.... then jumps off into the water, then preceding the the ladder to do it again. i try to put a stop to that as fast as i can because i love my floor very much.


when i take my mom fishing i confine her to the platform she makes 1 hell of a mess and always likes to hit us with the pole or reel when casting. the back of the platform is raised so she can sit on the fiberglass wall and make the mess where i can hose it off easily.




i agree makes it easy to get into the boat at the beach since my boat sits about 2 feet deep and is 23 feet long. and there is no climbing over the sides.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

We have one and it is used constantly. You could get by with a small add-on platform and boarding ladder (about $100), but not as convienent or as nice looking as a true swim platform.

ChrisCraft254--nice job on the teak platform!

 

[crqflier]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Well.... we went to buy the boat after choking down the thought of paying another 2K for the platform (and another 1K in deferred maint). We were hooked up and ready to go for a sea trial when the wife decided she didn't want to sell the boat! So the search continues.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Look for something with an integrated (fiberglassed in with the hull) swim platform. No additional money as it was cast with the boat.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

My boat has around a foot width swim platform built into the Hull when I bought it. . A couple of weeks later I added another 2.5ft swim platform it was the Best $1,600 I spent Installed from http://www.swimplatforms.com/. They are local to me so I didn't have to pay for shipping. I couldn't ever owning a boat without one. I can put on the Skis sitting on it without getting wet. Much easier this way. Makes it easier to get on and off the tubes. If you have kids its a must to protect them from the outdrive. If you have older people its a must with the extended ladder. Also boarding the back of the boat at the ramp is easier as well. Again the best almost 2k I have ever spent.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Look for something with an integrated (fiberglassed in with the hull) swim platform. No additional money as it was cast with the boat.

Seem to be hard to find in the use boat market. I certainly didnt have any luck.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

Look for something with an integrated (fiberglassed in with the hull) swim platform. No additional money as it was cast with the boat.

It seems that in the bowrider market, a built in swim platform means a shorter boat. Most mfg count it in with the length of the boat. My boat has an 18" molded in platform and I am finishing adding another 2 feet or so. Really protects people from the outdrive much better.

 

[250Gimp]

Re: Extended Swim Platform - Must Have?

We bought our boat used last summer. Went from OB to an 18' IO + the 2' swim platform.

Now, we wouldn't be without the platform! We looked at ones with the molded in platforms, but they didn't cover the drive nearly as well as the bolt on platform we have now.

Must have in my opinion, specially if you have kids!! The $2k is cheap peace of mind!

Cheers