New Poling Platform for 1996 18' Redfisher

[Quiet Man]

Getting ready to repower with a 115 SHO and will need to change the platform due to the engine height. There is only about 31-32 inches between the deck and the bottom of the platform. It appears the platform is lag bolted into the transom now. I'd prefer it through bolted, but not sure how to do this without destoying the live well. Would moving to all 4 legs to the deck be an option? Looking for any guidance about options.

[jim33042]

I was told there are aluminum plates fiberglassed into transom for those lag bolts.

for the cost of adding height to that platform and then having to repowdercoat... I would look into cost of new platform with all four legs being on deck and fiberglass in the holes on the transom.

I have used a 4 1/2" holesaw to create access to the back of the transom by going through the livewell and battery rigging well.  I put an  excess plate with o ring on the live well side and plenty of sealant.

[Quiet Man]

Thank you.

Agreed, not cost effective to add to the existing platform, and thats just more welds to fail. Looks like you'd have to cut access hole regardless, even to fully deck mount. I use the live well quite a bit, so I'd prefer not to compromise the integrity. 

[fin-addict]

Replace with all legs on deck.

[BLP]

and have The Outlaw build your new one and sell your old one on here someone will want it. 

[Quiet Man]

Thank you for the input here. Everything I'm finding here and elsewhere says mount all the legs on the deck.

Got a reply from Outlaw, he's checking come things and going to get back to me.

Open for any recommendations anyone may have, thank you

[jim33042]

Consider all aluminum anodized, not powdercoated.  Couldn't tell from your pics, for me only the platform was powdercoated, everything else on my boat is anodized or stainless.

[Quiet Man]

Thank you. The current platform is anodized.