What is the purpose of these?

[NautiqueJeff]

What is the purpose of the plastic covers that prevent access to the rear lifting/tiedown rings from under the swim platform? Can these covers be removed without causing any problems? I guess they must be there to either keep exhaust fumes from coming through that opening or to keep water from spraying through the opening on takeoff. I can't think of any other reason for them to be there. I'd like to use the rings as tiedowns when the boat is on the trailer.

[FatBoy]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

Not sure but it may be to keep a dummy from hooking something to be towed to them. Just a guess.

[Rick]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

To provide hours of entertainment as we all guess what they might be for?

[hundo]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

I asked the dealer the same question because I want to have tie downs and that would be a better place to put them. I'm going to ask him to ask the factory about it.

[Conor]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

I am not sure what they are for but replacement cost on them is $40 dollars each. All summer they kept getting ripped off the back of the boat. I finally had to mount them with rubber spacers so they would not flex as much and break off during hole shots and hard turns. We rode for awhile with them off and never had a problem with water shooting up through the space. I put them back on and still have no idea what they do.

[wakejunky]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

It's for preventing exhaust fumes from coming up through the swim platform.

Rumor has it that years ago CC used to have holes in their swim platforms, kinda like the MC's, and somebody apparently died and CC was subsequently sued. Since then they've built solid platforms to prevent such occurences.

Chris

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

Cool. Thanks for the info, everyone. I'm sure that with the passenger area of the Super Air being so far from the rear of the boat, I'll probably live if I remove them. I will feel much more comfortable pulling the boat with the rear secured to the trailer.

[skinautique]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

There will be holes exposed from where you remove the screws. You are alot better off to get a transom strap to hold the boat down instead. Yes they are designed to keep the fumes from coming up toward riders and passengers.

[M3Fan]

RE: What is the purpose of these?

I think they started this on the 1990. Mine goes as far as having a plexiglass covered bottom of the platform and weatherstripping where the platform meets the boat for a good seal. So, it looks like the platform has slats in it but really it's the black plexi underneath. I can't imagine how much time it took to manufacture the platform but there is more engineering and craftsmanship in my platform than in most parts of other manufacturer's boats.

[NautiqueJeff]

Re: RE: What is the purpose of these?

There will be holes exposed from where you remove the screws. You are alot better off to get a transom strap to hold the boat down instead. Yes they are designed to keep the fumes from coming up toward riders and passengers.

I thought about the holes, and I think I might just cut away part of the plastic with a dremmel tool. That way the screws can stay in place, and I won't have to break their watertight seal.

I really don't want to use a transom strap because of the possibility of the strap flapping around and scratching my black gelcoat. I also wouldn't be able to tow with my cover on with a transom strap.

[skinautique]

RE: Re: RE: What is the purpose of these?

You can tow with the cover on. I have done it plenty of times. The trick to protecting the gelcoat is to lay a towel down between the deck and the strap itself. If you wanted to, you could remove the cups all together and put the screws back in. Just put 3M 4200 on the screws as a sealer.

[slob02]

I have always heard they were to keep exhaust fumes down too!

[imported_pjdave]

We have now had 4 consectutive super airs and for some reason both covers have fallen off the new boat and its only done 25 hours. Never lost any off the other boats, the sika flex must have been a bad batch. Anyway it exposes the tie down hooks which is better for tying down the boat.

[Laptom]

You can tie down the boat on the swimplatform brackets. They are more then strong enough for this.

[darrel409]

laptom is right, use the platform brackets if you feel the need. I dont tie down the back of my boat and have had zero movement. (it is a 215 mile drive to our ski spot, one way) I also dont like the smell of the fumes, they make me wanna take a nap.