Swim Platform Weight Capacity

[phospher]

This prompted me to ask my dealer about weight limits and they just laughed saying I could pile as many people as can fit on the deck with no worries. .

yeah right.... I think your rule of 2 is good.

[mmandley]

I would think there is a much different weight in and out of water. As in the water the water is actually helping support the weight and out of the water all the weight is right on the deck.

Ive never got a straight answer eighter although i would never do this but last week i saw an older Master Craft with a jet ski strapped on the swim deck being pulled by a motor-home.

[newyear14]

[QUOTE=mmandley;111004]I would think there is a much different weight in and out of water. As in the water the water is actually helping support the weight and out of the water all the weight is right on the deck.

I agree. The bouyancy provided by the water may allow you to support more weight. How much weight? not sure. I've had 3 teens on my platform (150# x 3 =450) and it seems fine.

[davidl]

Had our 08 LSV out on Billy chinook yesterday and noticed half moon shaped cracks on the edge of my swim deck? I wonder if this is a warranty item?.

[squeeg333]

David, I've got the same thing going on mine. The cracks were there before I had the boat though, so warranty is long gone. They are repairable I'm sure, but I figure I'll just leave them for now...

[lewisb13]

Mine has done the same thing, not sure if they are just cracks in the gel coat or the actual fiberglass is cracked.

[mmandley]

on the bottom of mine where the black fiberglass meets the gell its cracked in 90 degree corners. Water leaks in and when we get home the swim deck is still draining.

AWS said its under the hull warranty and they will repair or replace it.

[DOCDRS]

[quote=newyear14;111021]

I would think there is a much different weight in and out of water. As in the water the water is actually helping support the weight and out of the water all the weight is right on the deck.

I agree. The bouyancy provided by the water may allow you to support more weight. How much weight? not sure. I've had 3 teens on my platform (150# x 3 =450) and it seems fine.

Ok I have to disagree with this totally unless the weight on the platform is in the water. If the platform is submerged than the platforms weight maybe be reduced a small amount not much though as it is quite dense. You have to be in the water displacing it to have any boyant effect. So i guess the weight of your feet can be reduced..........

[cab13367]

[QUOTE=DOCDRS;111205]

Ok I have to disagree with this totally unless the weight on the platform is in the water. If the platform is submerged than the platforms weight maybe be reduced a small amount not much though as it is quite dense. You have to be in the water displacing it to have any boyant effect. So i guess the weight of your feet can be reduced..........

Doc, I agree with you. If the platform was 4" thick and was made of foam (so it's super buoyant), then yes, the water would support it's weight and some of the weight of the people standing on it. But I believe that the swim platforms don't float so the water only reduces it's weight by a small amount. And anyone on the platform, only the part of them that is underwater is being partially supported by the water.

So in conclusion, being on the water only marginally increases it's weight holding capacity.

[mmandley]

i was thinking last year someone made a post about the swim deck coming off there boat and it floated?