Building a boarding platform for Bayfield 25

Bayfield 25 Boarding Platform

3/24/11    

This is the boat.

                           This is where I want to put a boarding platform.





 I will board s/v LaBelle from a dinghy and disembark to a Hobie inflatable kayak.  There’s a 16 inch wide space to build a boarding platform, allowing the boarder to hold a nearby stanchion.

The Toe Rail is nearly flush with the hull at the deck

The hull is straight down to 13” below deck.

Dinghy pontoon @ 14” above waterline

Step @ 14” below deck

 The oval holes are .5” high and .75 long.

Holes center to center is  4 1/2”

Toe Rail is 1.25 inches wide

Toe Rail is 1 inch high

At 24” below deck the hull curve puts its surface 1.75” towards the boat’s centerline.  Waterline is 30” below deck.

Platform in stowed position. 

1”x ½” aluminum bars are bolted to toe rail.  Strap hinge bolts are threaded into aluminum bars to 3/8” minimum depth.  Bottom hinge bolts go through 1 ½” x 1/8” aluminum stock. 3 layers of soft black vinyl hide nuts and protect boat hull when platform is deployed.  4 tie downs on platform surface provide redundant attachment points.  Step assembly folds for minimum volume when stowed.

The deployment rope is one continuous piece from stanchion to waterline.  The shackle release bypass insures the rope remains attached to the stanchion after the swimmer pulls.  It’s a boarding platform and MOB rescue station.  The boom block and tackle can be positioned over the platform for heavy lifts, e.g. an outboard motor or a tired swimmer.

The release rope has a shackle attached to a platform eyebolt and the rope hangs down near the waterline.  MOB could swim to rope, pull to release shackle, step deploys down to 16” above waterline.

 Pull the rope hanging near the water to deploy the platform and climb on.