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I was wondering if anyone has any advice or knows of any place I can buy a swim platform for my 1985 Outrage 18. I am not sure I can have electric or automatic trim tabs and have room for a swim platform with my twin 70 HP outboards. Any thoughts or suggestions? I have not purchased the trim tabs yet. My boat has been on Lake Superior for its entire life. About 30 percent of the time I have 5 or more passengers on-board in the Apostle Islands while island hopping and trim tabs seem like a great solution for trimming the boat for larger passengers. I currently have a portable swim ladder but its always in the way. Also for safety I would attach a telescopic ladder to the swim platform if I can figure out a mounting solution.

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I always recommend Martin Marine for swim platforms since Ray designs his products for Boston Whalers.

You should talk to them on specs to ensure you will have spacing for tabs.

http://www.martinmarinedesign.comdesign.com

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I've been under the impression that trim tabs were not necessary for a small boat with twins because the boat can be trimmed to level out with the engines.

What issue are you trying to solve? Do you have good quality stainless props on the 70's? How high are the engines mounted?

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Thanks for the input, This website is a wealth of information. I currently have 2 Evinrude 1989 2 cycle engines. That each weigh about 272 pounds. I have owned the boat for 20 years and while I can compensate some by adjusting trim i start to get some cavitation when I have some large passengers onboard if I trim enough to fully level the boat. Also I have been told by other boaters that the time to plane and fuel economy can be improved with trim tabs. I intend to repower with Yamaha F70 outboards this year and hope to update the steering and install trim tabs at the same time and also move tha batteries to the center console at the same time. Currently my injection oil tanks are in the console. The new motors should shave 20 pounds per motor and also moving the batteries forward should improve things by moving 90 pounds to the center ot the boat. I have a full rear seat, and seating for 7 currently.

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Not sure if you have seen this article or not that we have here on WhalerCentral:
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=35

Might give you some other ideas.

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It's going to get crowded in a hurry back there on your transom with twins, trim tabs, and a swim platform/ladder. So you will have to be creative.

Given your intention to repower, I would suggest waiting on the trim tabs until the new engines have been tested and props tweeked, etc.

By waiting, you limit the number of variables that are being changed at any given time, allowing you to fine tune each change before making another one. If you make all the alterations simultaneously, it can be difficult to determine the cause of any change in the boat's behaviour, making it harder to identify a solution if that change in behaviour is adverse. Also, by holding off on the trim tabs, you may save yourself some money and real estate on the crowded transom if you discover that the combination of new engines/props solves your issues with boat trim underway.

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That is not accurate. The listed weight of the current F70 is 257lbs but that is the dry weight and does not include fluids and a prop.

While the lower weight is welcomed, if you typically have a heavy load in the stern, repowering with a single makes sense for weight alone. The F150 weights 480 lbs dry.

I have seen a classic Outrage 18 with twins, tabs and a swim platform. It even had trolling motors on the tabs so it is doable.

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I concur with JRP's recommendations, but don't have any further direct advice on the install of trim tabs and a swim platform.

I spend a week in the Apostles each middle June with my 18' Outrage serving as a dinghy to the 20' Halman sailboat mothership. I've been through most of the marinas from Bayfield and Madeline north, and haven't seen your vessel. Are you down in Washburn or Ashland?

Looking forward to my upcoming visit to your homewaters, and clearly see the need for a swim platform. Can't wait to refresh myself in the 50 degree waters of Lake Superior!

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prj

I sent you a PM. Shoot an email when you are in the area. I always enjoy meeting another classic whaler owner. We have 6 other whalers in our family.

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Thanks to everyone for all the advice. The re-power with Twin Yamaha F70s should be done this week. I will review the swim platform installation after the "sea trials".