any downside to the sugarscope/ swim platforms?

eSailor · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

Now that I have a 6 year old daughter, I would like my next boat to have a swim platform for ease of in/out of the water for swiming, dingy, etc... Our last boat ('71-30' Westerly) obviously did not but we actually fab'ed up a make shift one (which did not really do the trick).

Anyway, are there any downsides to the newer designs with the built in swim platforms? The only one I see is that it requires me to get a newer boat (in the 28-32' range).

Thanks for the input,
Matt

(Maryland Bay area)

wingNwing · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

I don't have a sugar scoop on our older CSY; depending on your intended use I'd be concerned about following seas.

Minnewaska · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

We've had following seas break over the dinghy, let alone the scoop, without any adverse concern for the boat, cockpit, etc. Actually, filling the dink with water is a concern for weight on the davits, but that has nothing to do with the transom design.

The only negative that I would offer, is that the stern has a tendancy to slap on the water, especially if there are waves from the rear at an anchorage or dock. That can make it hard to sleep in some conditions. This doesn't happen often.

jimrafford · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

I'd have to agree w/ the stern slapping from wakes can be a little annoying but to be able to sit in the scoup in the shade of the dingy and hang your feet in the water on a hot day like today, I'll take it.
Jim

kd3pc · #5 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

two things we have noticed...
if you tie stern to, the step down from many docks/piers is a BIG step either way....
When you back in to a slip, that nice sharp edge (or expensive ladder/davit/grill/toy) is the first thing to hit the piling...and it is hard to fender if you have a center piling in your slip, like we did...

Other than that we love it, so easy in and out of the water, you can get scuba gear on and off easier

All the best

tomandchris · #6 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

If the boat is designed properly, and most are, the following seas should not be a problem. They have a wide ass stern in most cases by design.

As for the slap, it can be a problem. However, if you get a foam swim tube, run a line through it and tie it so it is under the stern at anchor
or more importanly in a slip, it takes care of the slap.
Enjoy!

Boasun · #7 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

Well actually the sugar scooop and the swim platform is where the Orcas and Great Whites can come aboard and take a pick of which tasty crewmember they want.

Also it ease the way for pirates to come aboard and do their dastardly deeds.

But the sugar scoop eases the wash down of any upchucks from sea-sick crew members.

DRFerron · #8 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boasun

Well actually the sugar scooop and the swim platform is where the Orcas and Great Whites can come aboard and take a pick of which tasty crewmember they want.

Also it ease the way for pirates to come aboard and do their dastardly deeds.

But the sugar scoop eases the wash down of any upchucks from sea-sick crew members.

Uh huh. What Boasun said.

Ahem. Also, a concern in recent years with swim platforms is carbon monoxide poisoning when boats run generators or their engines to keep the AC on.

Otherwise, yeah. Watch out for the sharks and pirates in the Bay. I don't have a sugar scoop (I just learned what that is!) so I have the Little Red Bucket when the wings and wine don't agree.

chef2sail · #9 (**permalink**) 07-31-2011

Watch out for the Orcas in the Bay also...

glassdad · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011

The nice big opening in the transom is handy for losing things like winch handles and cameras.