SO 409 motorized swim platform retrofit

[nik]

Hi!

I own SO 409 2012`. I want to make my swim platform motorized. Is there any original solution for this or any alternatives?

The only info I found for now is that it's possible for 509 model: 

But the design of swim platform with lift rope is similar to what I have on 409 (just the platform is much smaller ).

Any advices on the motor and retrofit ideas would be appreciated.

[moonshadow]

I know that on my 469 all of the parts are easy to access. Perhaps you can find a local boat with a friendly owner that would help you look and identify all the parts. I don’t think it would be too difficult to do.
Good luck.

[Trevor]

It looks like a dyneema lifting "rope" that could be fitted to the hub on a geared down DC motor. If you need a driver board for the motors the Electromen Em239 would be perfect. electromen.com/en/products/item/motor-controllers/dc-motor/EM-239-V2.5

It can take tach pulses from each motor and keep them both synchronised and has great overcurrent and overtemperature provisions. It also has stop and stop presets so from the motor tach pulses can determine the fully open and fully closed location and stopping before it reaches that point.

Looks like a fun project.

Trevor

[Damen af Kungsholmen]

Feb 13, 2023 14:17:49 GMT nik said:

Hi!

I own SO 409 2012`. I want to make my swim platform motorized. Is there any original solution for this or any alternatives?

The only info I found for now is that it's possible for 509 model: 

But the design of swim platform with lift rope is similar to what I have on 409 (just the platform is much smaller ).

Any advices on the motor and retrofit ideas would be appreciated.

Hi Nik



I like this project you are thinking of. I don’t have such platform but the idea of having it powered would be a nice feature.

The controller that Trevor proposed are good supplier. But I am not sure you need it. I would test without first.

One motor on each side and just power them. One client too me are doing this for over 20 year, and it works excellent. Only demand is that the load is equal.

Just winding up the Dyneema rope on a drum.

Below application they use two Nidec 404.682 one in each turning point.

It’s the same type of motor that tilt your backrest in your car.



Nik, where are you located?

[eoin2020]

Ooooo another possible DIY project in the making hopefully .

If you're going the DIY route here's a suggestion for a motor, a 12v windscreen wiper motor as they have brilliant torque for their little size. Additionally retro fitting a planetary gearbox will increase the torque exponentially.

Alternatively one can purchase off the shelf 12v or 24v BLDC motors with planetary gearboxes factory fitted. 

Looking forward to your final setup.

[eoin2020]

as an addition to my last post to simplify and or eliminate complicated wiring schematics and to keep the motors in tandem.

here's another suggestion for the DIY project
Use two on off momentary switches to control power to the motors. And mount the switches side by side and when operating the platform use two pinkies to depress the switches simultaneously. 

But also have limit switches mounted at the transom and wired back to the motors that would govern their respective full travel i.e. platform fully extended (open) and fully closed.

[Trevor]

I think Damen af Kungsholmen is right. The fancy motor controllers I suggested may be nice but probably total overkill. Just a couple of motors (or maybe even just one) on a switch would be a good place to start.

Good luck,

Trevor

[sunrise4]

Some time ago I saw a post where someone used an electric winch like the one below and mounted it on the shelve next to the auto steering pump.  He re-used the Dyneema platform pull cord and not the steel cable shown.  There are probably better winches than the one shown more suited for the marine environment.  I had pondered about doing the same and decided against it as I could not think of an easy way to add a fail-safe stop when the platform is all the way up.  These winches are powerful and could easily rip out the lifting loop on the swim platform if one is not careful shutting it off at the right time.  Curious if anyone has a solution for this?

Have fun with this project!

[Andrei]

Thanks for a great idea, that would be a nice upgrade. 

Thinking about details, I would definitely stick to one motor, synchronizing two sides including starts, stops, and rates seems too complicated and not necessary.
 

[shenandoah]

I believe all the newer models come with this as an option, so a solution obviously exists. We opted not to have it because we just run a line to a winch in the cockpit. If all you want is to make it easier to lift the platform that might work for you. 

[barryl]

Hi,

This is interesting. My previous boat, a C&C 110, came with a motorized swim platform. After about 10 years, the motors would fail or the linkage would break. Most owners then either removed the swim platform, or converted it to rope with block and pulley. It seems that salt water and air is not good for iron electric motors.

Barry

[nik]

Thanks for all your input so far. Really helpful.
I plan to do this retrofit project in April. Will share the info once it will done.

I want to share some more details. The swim platform is pretty lightweight and has only one rope for lifting it. Btw even 509 model on the video in my first message has just one rope. Other 2 ropes are holding the platform when it is open and people are staying on it. So I believe I need only one motor.
Btw it's really lightweight. I found the block system and this rope after half a year only . It's really easy just to pull it by hand.

I live in Cyprus. I need motorized platform mostly for berthing. My pier and mooring are fixed. But we have tides around 0.6m and strong winds. The boat can get 1m closer to the pier on low tide with strong upwind. So I really want to have my boat 1.5 meters away from the concrete pier. But it's hard to jump onto the boat when the platform is closed.

That's why I want to get it motorized and remote controlled. This will allow me to have enough space for safe berthing and be able to easily step in to the boat.