Platform issues

[tburt_mn]

I'm having an issue with getting the platform on my '09 211 by myself. I have to take it off to fit in the garage and up until now I've always had another person to help put it on. Now that the launches are filling quicker, it would be nice to be able to do it myself and get on the water earlier.

Has anyone had this issue and found a way to resolve it?

[xrichard]

I had the same issue. I installed one of these:

http://www.mygaragestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=938

It works great...I've marked my garage so I know where to stop backing in the boat so the platform is lined up correctly. I hoist it up to the ceiling, then finish backing the boat into the garage. The only hard part initially was getting the brackets lined up properly to put the platform back on--it was really an issue of the vertical alignment of the brackets. After a few tries I know the sweet spot and it ends up way easier (and faster) than doing it the old way of asking my wife to help me lift it on/off. Plus I don't have to figure out where to store the platform.

[east tx skier]

If it is an alignment problem, the screws holding the bracket to the teak may have loosened putting a little play in the bracket and making it hard to get it aligned. If tightening the screws doesn't help, you can reset them. It's a bit of a process, but worked great for me in the past. To do this, Remove the lose bracket from the platform. I drilled out the holes, dried them out with rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits, added epoxy, and used teak plugs I got on ebay to fill them. I then put the platform back on the boat and let it sit naturally on the unattached bracket. I got it lined up equidistant from the transom and marked my new hole locations. Then, it was just a matter of drilling new pilot holes and reattaching the bracket on that side. Platform came on and off easily after that.

If it's just a pain to put it on and take it off, you could also see if OJ makes its fold down platform brackets to fit Correct Craft. I think they have them to do this. Then, you just pull a pin and drop your platform down for storage.

[tburt_mn]

Thanks for the advice. I bought an engine hoist ($165) to lift the platform in place however there is an alignment problem. I'm hoping to adjust the bracket on the platform to make it fit a little easier. The platform is a VERY tight fit to the mounting brackets on the boat. I'm hope that loosening the screws will help to avoid redrilling but we'll see. The folding brackets from OJ are a great idea but the boat barely fits in the garage (1/2 inch in the back and 1 1/2 in the front!!!). But it still fits :-)

[xrichard]

The alignment problem I had was nothing to do with the brackets on the boat...it was how I aligned the swim platform wrt the angle (front to back) as I was lowering it on to the brackets (eg viewed from the side, the angle of the platform wrt the boat). Check to make sure that's not the issue before you change your brackets.

On another Nautique I had, there was an issue of the brackets on the boat being a little out of alignment. Rather than re-mount them or otherwise mess with them, I just sprayed them with a little silicone lubricant each time before I set the platform on (and sometimes to get it off). That solved the problem and involved no work...

[mf01]

How much do those platforms weigh? I move around the teak one easily by myself.

[xrichard]

I don't know what they weigh. I could do the teak one on my 95 Sport Nautique by myself on/off no problem...not even close on my current boat.

[tburt_mn]

I don't know how much the fiberglass weighs exactly, but it is heavy. Besides the weight, the platform fit has to be perfect to fit onto all three brackets. If its not perfect, one side slips off when the other goes on. It is too wide to carry side to side and not far enough off the back of the boat for my fingers to slide out once on.

Outside of the complaining, I love the platform. Especially the stainless rub rail around it. I'm just looking to make the process easier and minimize the beating the platform takes until I have the routine down.

Thanks again for the advice.

[ClemsonDave]

My 200 has all new brackets. While I have not taken the platform off, it certainly looks easier. I wonder if they can be retro fitted to older versions. I'll take pics next time I'm at the lake.

dave

[DanielC]

Go to a Mercury inboard or outboard dealer, and get a 10 oz tube of their 2-4-C grease. Put it on the platform pins, it will help a lot.

[SkiTower]

How much do those platforms weigh? I move around the teak one easily by myself.

Someone weighed one in another thread and it was ~94 lbs. I believe it cause I take mine off. Haven't been around many teaks but I believe the difference isn't just in the fiberglass, but also the size. My platform is huge.