More mods
One of the unique features of a Leopard 4600 catamaran is the stern swim platform. Robertson and Caine installed a fairly beefy stainless steel and fiberglass structure in between the davits which, when unlatched, will lower down to a position just above the water. Presumably the idea is that people will want to hang out on this platform and use it for getting into or out of the water. Unfortunately, it seems to many people that it is one of those ideas that looks great on paper and in photos but is seldom used. With the catamaran’s wide transom steps, the platform seems kind of redundant. In fact, most of the crewed 4600 charter cats that we have seen use the area between the davits for cooler storage and never use the swim platform. That is our intent as well.
Swim platform in the raised position.
Swim platform deployed. This shot was taken in St. Martin when we were trying to remove the new Yamaha for the passage south, an activity we do not plan to repeat!
What we are planning on doing though is having the swim platform modified to turn it into an optional grill table. One Love’s entire platform is actually sitting in X-Marine’s shop right now, undergoing a bit of welding and modification. Unlike the swim platform which I see little use for, I have high hopes for this new project.
Where did it go?
We planned on removing anything in between the davits to make it easier for divers to enter the water. The open cockpit is one of the features that is very appealing to me from that aspect. Can’t wait to see the result!
I thought it was there primarily to stop people falling in. The swim platform use being an afterthought, just to give it a good secondary use.
Mike
No. There would be a LOT easier way to prevent someone from falling in. They call those lifelines. 🙂
I guess it is too late now but one thing you might have overlooked is that not everyone who charters with you is going to be as fit or healthy as you two are. I have terrible knees and they prevent me from stepping up anything higher than my own knee – not even that high actually. When I went on a day sail in the BVI, the only way I could get out of the dinghy and onto the cat was to have the dinghy brought up parallel to the swim platform and for me to sit on that and then, with a hand up, get up from there.
I have not overlooked it. Remember, this is a catamaran. There are steps which go to the water on boat side of the boat.
When you say swim platform, what kind of boat are you talking about?
It was a cat.
Any idea what type? I’m curious to what you mean by “swim platform.”
Great idea of diver entry! I’m looking forward to the pictures.
Hopefully I’ll have some soon.
Well, you are missrespecting Robertson and Caine and the naval design team, changing the weight loads all over the boat and possible with the weight of the huge tender and motor (unnedded) will cause cracks and maintenance problems.
This kind of davits and forces are not planned in the design and constrution of the boat and with the dinamic and movement forces in the sea will appear a bit of delamination.
You are changing the center of efforts of the boat.
The best is using the boat as adapted for the main purpose it was built for.
RGDS
Gerson
You are right to a degree but if you think that naval designers have it all figured out, or make boats the best way possible, you are fooling yourself. There are countless I’ll-designed features on boats. One only needs to live on one or sail on them to see that. Additionally, boats are built to a price point. We have spent a lot of money making the davits stronger. Most would not be willing to spend that extra cash.