Got my swim platform frame tig welded up minus the cross bracing for a test fit. It will have to attach to the kickout portions of the back of the boat just below the rub rail. These bulged out portions are just really thin fiberglass so I had to get inside and grind them a bit then I layed up 10 layers of 17 oz cloth which gives me about 5/16" total thickness now. After kciking around a bunch of ideas on how to mount the tube to this area, I have decided on using 4 saddle type joints (2 on each side). I made up a test joint using a 2" hole saw to cut through a piece of 2" plastic then drilled a hole for the bolt through a scrap of 2" aluminum tube. These will mount through my fiberglass and I will also add 1/2" ply wood backing plates on the back side. My test piece is only a 1/4" bolt, but I intend to use 5/16" stainless socket head cap screws.
I also ordered some heim joints to attach two diagonal braces to the lower transom (these will be through bolted with 5200 sealant after first epoxying the holes).
This afternoon I am going to a local plastic supplier to look at a piece of 3/4" Starboard type material he has in stock. If it looks good, that is what I will use for the deck of the swim platform and it will be mounted so the top surface is about 1/4" recessed in the 2" aluminum tubular frame.
Hope it turns out nice.
