New swim platform

[Slvr Bulit]

Is it possible to swap out the swim deck from a 2019 xt21 to a new swim deck with the fold down step?

[TolCarMan]

I don't think it's technically impossible, though I don't think it'd be a simple swap. I've heard the fiberglass on the new boats is reinforced/thicker to accommodate for the additional stress of the step. Additionally, with the new XT redesign, they also got a platform redesign. I'm not sure the new style platform would conform to the contours of your hull.

[Slvr Bulit]

Thanks TolcarMan. although not the answer I was hoping for. LOL. Just looking for something to help my older parents and wife to get in the boat after swimming. My cousin has a cobalt with that style step and its pretty sweet.

[mallees]

Thanks TolcarMan. although not the answer I was hoping for. LOL. Just looking for something to help my older parents and wife to get in the boat after swimming. My cousin has a cobalt with that style step and its pretty sweet.

Just fill the rear tanks up with ballast, the platform will be underwater and easier for them to climb on.

[maniacmikes]

I asked my dealer, but I guess MC will not sell you just the swim platform. I heard the same thing, that the rear of the boat is reinforced for the new swim platform with step. Last year I put on one of those under platform extendible ladders. I was worried it would drag and interfere with the wake, but it doesn't, so maybe that is route you can go. They make them in all shapes, sizes and designs.

[maniacmikes]

Also, just as a funny anecdote, my dealer said that Malibu had the patent on a swim platform step that rotated 180 degrees....so MC made theirs rotate 179 degrees.

[Slvr Bulit]

Have you seen this step? SEASTEP | SeaLift (sealiftusa.com)

[jackpine]

…. Last year I put on one of those under platform extendible ladders. I was worried it would drag and interfere with the wake, but it doesn't, so maybe that is route you can go. They make them in all shapes, sizes and designs.

Was your swim deck ladder a DIY project? I’m guessing you might have the teak platform which would be infinitely easier…

Do you think an aftermarket ladder installation is still an option for a fiberglass swim platform? It appears MC glasses in additional material for extra support or clearance on the fiberglass platforms I have seen:

[maniacmikes]

Was your swim deck ladder a DIY project? I’m guessing you might have the teak platform which would be infinitely easier…

Do you think an aftermarket ladder installation is still an option for a fiberglass swim platform? It appears MC glasses in additional material for extra support or clearance on the fiberglass platforms I have seen:

I do have a Teak platform, which made it a super easy DIY.

I have in the past done one on a fiberglass platform. It was on a Moomba, but I countersunk some stainless steel bolts from the top and through-bolted the ladder. I then covered the screws with the Seadeck.

If I was doing it again, I may try to epoxy a piece of HDPE or Acetal to the underside of the platfrom and screw into that. They make some purpose built epoxy for those materials which is super strong.

[maniacmikes]

Have you seen this step? SEASTEP | SeaLift (sealiftusa.com)

Thats pretty awesome, I have not seen that before. Unfortunately I think the 8-12" depth when stored is a non-starter. That would drag in the water for sure.

[Diesel]

Thats pretty awesome, I have not seen that before. Unfortunately I think the 8-12" depth when stored is a non-starter. That would drag in the water for sure.

I agree, they look awesome. You think it will drag? I know on my x24 the platform easily sits 3-4" above the waterline at rest. I know on plane it will not be an issue, but just not sure while surfing. I might reach out to the company to see if they have done any installs on wakeboats.

[Slvr Bulit]

SeaStep has there proto type 1 step stair on Amazon for $400.00, but the depth of it is a no go for me and It looks like it weighs about 10-12lbs.

[maniacmikes]

I agree, they look awesome. You think it will drag? I know on my x24 the platform easily sits 3-4" above the waterline at rest. I know on plane it will not be an issue, but just not sure while surfing. I might reach out to the company to see if they have done any installs on wakeboats.

I think my platform is about that high out of the water at rest. The ladder I installed is about 3" tall when stowed; it has a little breathing room while wakeboarding and surfing, but probably not more than an inch or two...I think it has more clearance while cruising, but I have never gone back there to check while going that fast.

One thing I was hoping to do when I installed mine was to tuck the ladder back more (closer to the transom) in order to minimize the possibility of dragging. Unfortunately the farther you tuck the ladder back, the overhang you create between the edge of the swim platform and where the steps are makes the ladder harder and harder to use. I ended up having to put it pretty much even with the back of the swim platform... but maybe the seastep has a more favorable design in which you could tuck it back more??

Also, another thing to consider is the width of the step. The water coming off the sides of the boat is coming back under the swim platform and converging behind the boat. If, as an exaggerated example, you had a step that was the full width of the swim platform, it would drag in that converging water. I would think the 12" wide step would have a much better chance of success than the 24" wide one.

Here is a link to the ladder I got. Again, I was worried it was going to drag and didn't wan't to spend a ton of money on it, so it is "cheap" but so far it has been super solid and I am pretty happy with it. Not nearly as cool as the Seastep.

https://www.marinedepotdirect.com/under-platofrm-spring-loaded-uhk-wh.html

[Slvr Bulit]

maniacmike do you have a post on how you mounted your ladder? Did you thru bolt it?

[maniacmikes]

I have a teak platform, so it was super easy. I am pretty sure (can't remember without looking at my boat) the mounting points of the ladder hit a spot on the platform that already was 2 layers of wood...so I just used a SS wood screw with some 5200 epoxy in the holes.