Has anybody added support braces to the factory 342 swim platform?

Stodge

I'm looking to change my dinghy mount to Trick Davits.  They mount on the edge of the swim platform which puts a fair amount of weight there.  There are no support braces/rods/poles under the platform.  My 280 had an after market platform and had 2 or 3 supports rods.  Just wondering if anybody added any support to their factory platform.

Handymans342

Where would you put them?

Stodge

Underneath the platform from the end to the transom.

Sorta like this:

Handymans342

I dont think you need them as the 342 is fairly beefy.

Dream_Inn

I never realized the 342 does not have any.  I'm sometimes a bit nervous that mine aren't enough.  Someone at my marina with a 400 had some big time heavy duty ones added.  They are basically the same as the post in a 400 that arch to the hardtop.  He has a lot of parties and a lot of people on platform.

Stodge

Handymans342 said:

I dont think you need them as the 342 is fairly beefy.

I agree that the platform is fairly beefy.  There are stringers in it to add strength.  But my concern is the attachment to the transom.  The center of the dinghy, and pretty much all it's weight will be on the very outside edge of the swim platform.  I'd just feel better having a little extra support at the far end so the transom end isn't taking all the weight.

reneechris14

My 2005 has 2 supports 1" stainless rods

DanD2

^^^^^^^ Yeah, that's not factory. Whoa, what the heck did you hit?

zaverin1

Good extra support 
remember 
drives are alluminum and get beat up quick 

randy56

They need those supports when they get out there and do there  dancing. 

Black_Diamond

The newer 342's had brackets at the ends.  

I added big aluminum backing plates for my H3O davit. I think I went .25" thick. I've noticed zero give to the platform at the davit mount.  I DO recommend beefing up the thru bolts at the transom. Mine has maybe 1" dia washers, very sub optimal. 

reneechris14

That was previous to me buying the boat.I had that fixed. The port was worse.