Does this look stock?

[jleger98]

This seems pretty weak to me. Anyone?? Is there a decent improvement to be made here? Or is it nothing to worry about?

[imscarlet]

Looks almost exactly the same as my 98 PRE2000 one that I pulled apart and reconditioned about 6 months ago. The board closest to the transom on my one had warped a bit but other wise no probs. Therefore I would suggest that it has been on your boat since it rolled out the factory door.

[jleger98]

Mine is warped a little as well. Not sure how to handle it, or even if it needs to be handled.

Also, last night I noticed that the weld on one of the skinny little cross-braces is cracked.

[dogbert]

Yeah, my swim platform is a bit warped as well and will eventually need replacement. Anybody out there ever replace a teak platform on an older boat?

[jleger98]

Would a metal plate under there suffice to straighten it out? my neighbor runs a metal fabrication shop, and I bet he could get me a good piece of stainless to go under there and flatten out the warp. It sure would be cheaper than replacing the teak.

[imscarlet]

I would tend to use an L shaped length of stainless and screw it to the back if its bothering you as a plate will not be stiff enough to hold it flat.

My platform was not that bad (can notice it if you look closely enough but does not affect the function) and I was not fussy enough to do anything about it. I just thought my one had warped due to lack of care over the years nothing to do with the design. The timber on my boat was very dry and starting to crack when I pulled it apart, re-sanded everything and then oiled it while it was all apart. Reassembled it and then applied wax to the top of the platform so that it wasn't slippery when wet. One of my brackets had been bent at some stage but no problems with the wields.

Can't imagine that it would take much to rebuild the platform with new timber (other than $$$) by using the existing stuff as a pattern. I would either:
1. run 2 extra pieces either side of the centre support brace, halfway between centre and outside support braces

2. or run an extra piece along the underside of the longer piece on the front similar to the one on the rear edge and cut the support sections shorter so that they fit between the 2 edges

to help prevent the longer pieces near the transom from warping

[xpjim1]

We had to weld those brackets several times on my friends 97 pre 2100

[my86stanggt]

Mine is this one. The brackets on it look really sturdy and I've had 5 people on it (~700lbs).

[jleger98]

Jeff, Those are the ones I want. They came stock on your boat?

[TeamAllen]

It looks stock to me. Here is a picture I took a few months ago for my FAE. I haven't noticed any problems with my welds. I will take a closer look. I do have a little rise in one of my boards. I'm gonna leave it as is.

[jleger98]

the crack I have in the smaller cross members is pretty small. I had a metal fab guy look at it and he said its not an issue.

The bolts are sealed right? I found a ton of silicon behind these and it appears that the bolts are glassed in.

[my86stanggt]

I don't know if they are or not. I can call the original owner tomorrow and find out. He custom ordered the boat with a few things so he might have had this upgraded.
Also, if you notice on mine they have quick release pins so you can remove it from small posts that are bolted to the transom. Yours look to be bolted directly to the boat. I'm kinda leary about quick release after I found out how much teak costs.

[jleger98]

yeah, my guess is that it was an upgrade.

Speaking of teak, check this out - Just finished it tonight!!

[xpjim1]

looks good jleger

[spharis]

Those brackets 86 posted are the same ones I have. They must be stock on the straight transom boats. Yours has the pretty bend to it