2010 R29 Swimstep weight rating?

[vjdup]

I have the 2010 R29 and have a West Marine fiberglass RIB that I want to transport via Weaver Davits on the swimstep
The Dinghy weighs 165 pounds, plus a small kicker another 80 pounds, plus 4 shrimp pots about 100 pounds.
Can the swim step hold all that weight, without adverse affects?
It will be trailered with the dinghy and outboard on the swimstep.

Thanks in advance!

 

[knotflying]

That's 345 pounds. Would you feel leary if 2 or 3 adults were on the swim platform?

 

[vjdup]

That's 345 pounds. Would you feel leary if 2 or 3 adults were on the swim platform?

No I wouldnt be leary of 3 on the swimstep, but Im not sure I would be comfortable having that weight on there all the time, hence the question about the actual rating of the swim step.

350 pounds seems awfully heavy.

 

[LADYBUG TOO]

I tried to get the same answer for my 2009 R29 from Andrew. They are reluctant to give a specific design load because dynamic forces are unpredictable. I am completing a prototype folding dinghy that is a bit heavier than I intended. My plan is to use lines from each stern cleat to reduce loading on the swim platform. I believe my finished weight will be about 280 lbs. We have had as many as four adults on the platform at the same time but these were not under dynamic load conditions. I think some kind of rigging to take up a portion of the weight would be prudent. Maybe not necessary but prudent.

Pat
Ladybug, Too

 

[rpmerrill]

I'm no expert on swim platform design... not even an amateur, but it is pretty strong. I think the aft end of the boat provides the smoothest ride in all conditions. It is up in the bow where the vertical loads are the most violent. HOWEVER, on a trailer, the road pounding is felt all over the boat, and the impacts can be much sharper. I'd guess that the trailer design and road conditions would be your worst loadings. That's all I've got.

 

[Crewdog]

Seems like maybe the wind loading on an inflated dinghy and gusts from passing tractor trailers would exert an adverse effect on the swim step load.

 

[R Baker]

A couple of comments... The trailer tongue weight will be reduced if you load the swim platform. I think the dynamic loading are certainly more of a concern whether on the water or trailer, but with the higher speed on land any vertical accelerations are probably greater and loads therefore higher. As for the static load of the platform - there are five brackets supporting the platform with two points of attachment each. If one were to assume 50 lb per attachment, then perhaps 500 lb might be a reasonable static load. What the weak link in the assembly might be I wouldn't care to guess - a bracket tube, fibreglass laminate, hull backing plate ( if any) etc. At any rate I would not load up the swim platform while towing.

 

[Red Raven]

We keep our RIB and motor on the swim step full time even while trailering with no problems. We don't trailer very far though (17 miles each way no freeway) and only a couple times a year. The RIB is not very stable on the weaver davits so we use additional straps from the lower part of the RIB to the transom of the boat. This straps lift the RIB somewhat on the davits so I think they reduce the weight on the swim step but I don't know how much. It rides much better with the straps. We have had 2 crab pots on the swim grid as well at the same time with no problems.

 

[vjdup]

Seems like maybe the wind loading on an inflated dinghy and gusts from passing tractor trailers would exert an adverse effect on the swim step load.

Very good point.