We own a 34' Marine Trader, and need some advise on replacing/repairing the swim platform. The frame is in great condition, but the teak strips between the braces is soft. It is 11'3" long, 21" wide, and is curved to fit the transom. Any advise from listees as to how to repair, or where to find a replacement? Also, if we replace, what is your opinion of using teak or star board? We live in the Tallahassee, Florida area, and teak is as rare as snow, so any recommendations as to teak suppliers is also welcome. Thanks Sandy Ladner MV Fandango Panacea, FL www.wakullamarinesupply.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

At 12:41 PM 5/3/01 -0000, you wrote: > >We own a 34' Marine Trader, and need some advise on replacing/repairing the >swim platform. The frame is in great condition, but the teak strips between >the braces is soft. It is 11'3" long, 21" wide, and is curved to fit the >transom. Any advise from listees as to how to repair, or where to find a >replacement? ================================================================= Sandy-------Contact Joe Egan at Butler Marine, he specializes in platforms and pulpits------570-451-1222. Tell him Al, that tall drink of water told you to call, he'll get a charge out of that. . Captain Al Pilvinis "M/V Driftwood"--Prairie 47 2630 N.E. 41st Street Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064-8064 Voice 954-941-2556 Fax 954 788-2666 Email yourcaptain@earthlink.net Website http://home.earthlink.net/~yourcaptain

At 12:41 PM 05/03/2001 -0000, sandy ladner wrote: > >We own a 34' Marine Trader, and need some advise on replacing/repairing the >swim platform. The frame is in great condition, but the teak strips between >the braces is soft. It is 11'3" long, 21" wide, and is curved to fit the >transom. Any advise from listees as to how to repair, or where to find a >replacement? Also, if we replace, what is your opinion of using teak or >star board? We live in the Tallahassee, Florida area, and teak is as rare >as snow, so any recommendations as to teak suppliers is also welcome. >Thanks > >Sandy Ladner Sandy: I rebuilt our platform a couple years ago. The platform is teak probibly much like yours. This is what I did. The platform is attached to the boat with five stainless brackets. The area of the platform located above each bracket is about 1 1/2 inc think, this area I didn't have to repair. The problem area(s) were between these thick areas. These were slats of teak running port to starboard, about 2 in. wide and 3/4 in thick. Twenty years of sanding have made them thin. Everytime I would step on these slates they would flex. My thinking was, if I made them thicker they would be stronger. I took a piece of 1 in. teak board (flea markets down here are great) and cut pieces to just fit each slat and glued them in place using clamps. All of the repairs are on the bottom side so you don't even see them when finished. The key to the project is the glue. I used "the Rot Doctor" Glue. (Tropical Hardwood Epoxy Glue) After a couple of years I took the plateform off again because of the boat paint job going on now and there were no cracks and none of my joints came apart. This repair was done with no screws. I think the key here is that the glue will flex with the wood . Take a look at his website WWW.rotdoctor.com...jd The usual: no connection top Doctor Rot, just a happy user. Joe DellaFera / Margaret Murray 36' Prairie DC "Prairie Star" Pompano Beach, Fl.

You can buy a replacement platform from Butler Marine Systems in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 717-451-1222. No connection, just a happy customer. Frank At 01:54 PM 5/3/01 -0400, Joe DellaFera wrote: >At 12:41 PM 05/03/2001 -0000, sandy ladner wrote: >> >>We own a 34' Marine Trader, and need some advise on replacing/repairing the >>swim platform. The frame is in great condition, but the teak strips between >>the braces is soft. It is 11'3" long, 21" wide, and is curved to fit the >>transom. Any advise from listees as to how to repair, or where to find a >>replacement? Also, if we replace, what is your opinion of using teak or >>star board? We live in the Tallahassee, Florida area, and teak is as rare >>as snow, so any recommendations as to teak suppliers is also welcome. >>Thanks >> >>Sandy Ladner > >Sandy: I rebuilt our platform a couple years ago. The platform is teak >probibly much like yours. This is what I did. The platform is attached to >the boat with five stainless brackets. The area of the platform located >above each bracket is about 1 1/2 inc think, this area I didn't have to >repair. The problem area(s) were between these thick areas. These were >slats of teak running port to starboard, about 2 in. wide and 3/4 in thick. > Twenty years of sanding have made them thin. Everytime I would step on >these slates they would flex. My thinking was, if I made them thicker >they would be stronger. I took a piece of 1 in. teak board (flea markets >down here are great) and cut pieces to just fit each slat and glued them in >place using clamps. All of the repairs are on the bottom side so you don't >even see them when finished. The key to the project is the glue. I used >"the Rot Doctor" Glue. (Tropical Hardwood Epoxy Glue) After a couple of >years I took the plateform off again because of the boat paint job going on >now and there were no cracks and none of my joints came apart. This repair >was done with no screws. I think the key here is that the glue will flex >with the wood . Take a look at his website WWW.rotdoctor.com...jd > >The usual: no connection top Doctor Rot, just a happy user. > > >Joe DellaFera / Margaret Murray >36' Prairie DC "Prairie Star" >Pompano Beach, Fl. >