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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

custom swim deck

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brian
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/09/2006 : 16:06:15

I was going thru the pics of a caribean trip made by Brian & Stephanie of the boat "Empty Pocket".

link http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/pix.tpl?folder=73289961768&sku=1155344639955948033&fno=17

I was wondering if anyone has ever thought of making a swim deck on their catalina 25 like this? Looks as if the rudder uses the swim deck as well for the attachment to the hull. Where would you get something like this made? Custom rudder made?

thanks
brian

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2006 : 16:13:49

Hi Brian, I looked at making one of these. I would make it only for one side of the boat so I wouldn't have to muck around with fancy stuff for the engine and rudder. It would also have a swing down ladder. If you can draw it with dimentions, a local welding shop could fab it up. Cheers.

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2006 : 20:30:56

If you have the $$$, you can almost do anything!

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StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2006 : 23:05:01

While not nearly as nice as Empty Pocket's and not nearly as expensive, you could replace your existing ladder with something like this. It allows an extra foot or so in the water and gives a place to stand before straddling the pushpit. After installing I added no adhesive no-skid strips on top.

Edited by - StSimon on 10/09/2006 23:06:39

brian
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2006 : 00:40:38

Thing is I am 6ft 4in and 295lbs. So I am a big guy. Little swim ladders just don't make me feel all that great climbing back aboard. The standard swim ladder works fine, but my kid likes to dive off the ladder and a few times he didn't jump far enough from the ladder. I just want something that is big/strong enough so we can dive, sit and relax.

The main thing I guess I really want to know is the rudder issue. I am guessing that it is a long metal shaft with bearings for the tube part, then a metal rudder wielded on the lower part??? I guess I need to shop arround and see what people would charge to fab this up.. I am guessing arround $500??

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2006 : 06:38:42

Good luck and let us know! I for one would love a less cumbersome rudder. I would also love to have a large swim platform on the transom, granted it is very custom since you also have the outboard to contend with.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2006 : 10:31:29

Hey Andy, were is that from? That is what I would build buy would rather buy it. Cheers.

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StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2006 : 13:12:44

Dennis, the wife always hated the old style ladder. "It's hard to get on from the water." "It hurts my feet." "It's hard to get back into the cockpit."

Well, I added steps on the wrungs.

Better, but not good enough. I removed the existing ladder, filled the holes and gelcoated the left side of the transom. (You can see how it was done in another thread) I went to WM and purchased a teak swim platform. There are two styles of mounting hardware. I chose the I/O instead of the OB mounting hardware since it gives you two handholds instead of one. There was some initial concern with rudder clearance but it turned out to fit fine. I ordered the platform WITHOUT the short ladder available. Instead I got the retractable 4 step model. This gives me an extra foot or so depth in the water and is much easier to board.

Three coats of Cetol Lite and three coats of Cetol Gloss then we were ready to install. Cetol can be slick stuff so strips of antiskid were added later.

As far as weight goes I have no concerns. The OEM ladder is secured with nuts and bolts through a backing plate. Mine has both an upper and lower backing plate distributing the weight. If it ever fails I'll report on it here. Here are the parts:

Good luck on your progect !!!

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2006 : 13:24:57

Thanks Andy. That looks like just the ticket. One of the WM stores is going out of business around here and is having great sales....maybe I'll stop by. Cheers.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.