Fitting out Drifter 22
'Appuski Too'
Stern platform
During
Appuski Too's first season I identified a need for a protected
platform to stand on whilst working at the mizzen mast. At the end of the
season I constructed such a platform which fits in the outboard well. It is a
prototype made from non durable woods (which is just as well since it has had
substantial rework and still has redundant holes. This is still a work in
progress that will be tested in 2015 and if all is well it will be replaced in
more durable timber.
Let
me know if you are able to achieve the same result with an engine larger than
my 6hp.
The
platform is a relatively complex structure which has to fulfil the following
conflicting requirements:
Support my weight as well as that of
the mizzen mast when I am stepping it.
Allow the motor to tilt.
Allow access to the propeller to clear
prop fouling.
Allow access to the party plugs.
Prevent the tail of the mainsheet from
streaming out of the outboard well.
It
has a 75mm step in the centre since the front has to be low enough to sit under
the power head of the engine (and thus ends up just below the level of the
floor of the fuel/gas lockers) whilst the rear part has to be high enough to
clear the tilted lower unit (so is just above the bottom of the lockers). The
slot that you see in the rear part accommodates the end of the anti cavitation
plate when the motor is tilted (but not turned) and allows the rear part of the
platform to be low enough to clear the tiller where it comes through the slot
in the transom.
Here
you see that the engine is free to turn and tilt.
The
rear has a panel which slides out to give good access to the propeller for
clearing weed etc. and at the front there are panels which hinge up to give
access to the party plugs which stop the cockpit back flooding when it is
loaded down with too many revellers.
The
prototype support structure is designed so as to not require any fixings into
the hull and comprises:- At the front - packing pieces that hook onto
the motor mount either side of the engine. These can be seen in the workshop
picture. In the centre and at the rear - vertical posts which
cannot be seen in the pictures. One 2" x 2" at each side in
the centre and in the rear, one 2" x 1" at each side inclined against
the transom. The bases of these posts rest on ply platforms which spread the
load onto the side floors of the outboard well. It is planned that these
platforms will in turn trap some slot gasket to see if the effective transom
waterline can be moved aft to the main transom.
Alternative
Chris
Murray has adopted a different on Puffin. His answer is a tall pushpit. As well as safer access to the mizzen this custom
fabrication also serves as a perch for crew in fine weather and as a mast
crutch when towing storing the boat.
