PERSISTENCE PREVAILS!
Retro Fit Case Study: SY Prevail’s swim platform
Written by Jens Oomes
This story, like so many great stories, started with an idea. Captain Paul Middelberg and the owner of the Tripp designed and custom build YYacht 90 ‘Prevail’ ad an idea. The sleek and sexy 90ft racer cruiser had been meeting all expectations in terms of performance and comfort. On slow summer days though, when all the action was at the stern of the yacht, the original swimming platform quickly became crowded. So the idea was simple: “Let’s extend the swimming platform.” It’s probably one of those ‘easier said than done’ scenarios but the owner found that his yacht was worth the investment of bringing in the best team possible to get the job done.
“I3 Composites were given the task of extending the hull by 200mm to create the required space for a large structural swim platform. We set about with the plan of adding an overlay to the transom without compromising the integrity of the base laminates.” Middelberg explains. Obviously, the platform had to be operated with hydraulic rams.
As a first step, i3 used CNC technology to create a polystyren dummy swim platform. This was used to ensure a prefect fit. So when the real platform was mounted, it perfectly matched the first time around.
The second stage of the project was carried out at the facility in Poligono Can Valero. Female tooling was processed and CNC machined, i3 are experts at designing and manufacturing molds and tooling for complex composite components.
The final part of the project and by far the most technical and challenging was installing the platform door. This, of course, also involved installing the tracks that guide the hydraulic rams to open and close the door. So several different tradesmen required access to the same area. At this point the deadlines were fast approaching. Cpt Middelberg and his crew had their work cut out organising the various contractors and schedules.
Leo Kilmartin from i3 comments: “In the end we successfully finished this very ambitious project in the time frame allocated. But not without blood sweat and tears from all the contractors and crew who were involved in delivering the client with this project. We would like to say a massive thanks to our team and congratulate the captain, crew and of course the owner for deciding to take on this challenge. The result is a much more functional and fabulous looking swim platform and stern.”
Captain Paul Middelberg concludes: “I3 Composites relied on their strong foundation in boat building skills, pragmatic thinking, and good old fashion elbow grease. The days were long and hard, but step by step they set to each task at hand and did not give up.”
