Did a shark take a bite out of our swim platform?

This week we take a show you want happened to our swim platform on a recent trip and what we plan to do about it.
Visit our website: cruisingcalypso.com
+ Support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/cruisingcalyp...
+ Follow on Instagram: / cruising_calypso
+ Follow on Facebook: cruisingcalypso
We love the ocean and boating! We cruise in our 2001 Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge, Calypso II, on the South Coast of Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands. Join us on our adventures - we share favorite ports and places to visit, favorite boating products, and how-tos.
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+ Our current boat - Calypso II, a 2001 Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge:
In 2019, we wanted a new boat that was bigger and had a longer range, so we targeted 40-footers with diesel power to achieve both of these goals. With our criteria and budget, we searched for a diesel-powered Sea Ray 400 Sedanbridge 2001 or newer. After scouring the Internet we found a boat on the Chesapeake Bay which would become Calypso II.
+ Specs - 2001 Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge:
• Length: 40 feet
• Beam: 14 feet
• Draft: 4 feet
• Fuel: diesel 350 gal
• Power: 2 Caterpillar 3126 inboard straight-shaft turbocharged diesel engines 350hp each
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+ Dinghy
2021 North Atlantic Inflatables, 9" 8" Aluminum RIB
Tohatsu 8Hp outboard motor
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+ Where we cruise:
Calypso II is moored in Sippican Harbor in Marion, MA - in Buzzards Bay. We use our boat to explore the islands, ports, coves, and harbors of this amazing place.
For overnight boating, we often head to Cuttyhunk Island, Martha’s Vineyard Island or Nantucket Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. In 2021, we plan to head to Maine to explore some of the beautiful harbors and ports of Southern and Mid-Coast Maine.
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+ Our commitment to the sea:
Because we enjoy boating and the fun it brings our family, we are committed to protecting the bays, harbors, and oceans we cruise on, as well as the ones we dream about. Starting with following no-discharge rules, not using disposable plastic bottles, and only using biodegradable products on Calypso II, we try to do our part to preserve this invaluable resource.
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Join us on our adventures - we share favorite ports and places to visit, favorite boating products, and how-to's.
Subscribe to this channel, visit our website cruisingcalypso.com and follow us on Instagram cruising_calypso.

[@michelledixon1540]

We have the exact same boat and have the dingy caddy. Works good for us.

[@CruisingCalypso]

THnakd, good to know. I think I am leaning in that direction. What size dinghy to you carry/

[@michelledixon1540]

@@CruisingCalypso pretty small one. 9ft

[@chrismore4516]

Installed dinghy caddy last spring. Works well on the 400 sedan bridge. Traveled over 1600 miles in various wave conditions with no issues - very stable during travel. I would recommend the reinforcement plates offered. One consideration with dinghy caddy is the impact to using the installed swim ladder on 400 SB. Existing Sea Ray ladder is difficult to use with Caddy installed. Caddy can be used as swim ladder when lowered into water. Might also consider the 8 to 1 block/tackle. Initial 20 degrees of motion when retrieving dinghy takes some effort. My dinghy is a Highfield 290 with 9.9 Honda for reference. Good luck!

[@CruisingCalypso]

Thank you for the feed back! What do you attach the block and tackle to on the transom? I spoke with someone at Dinghy Caddy and they suggested attaching line to bridge to increase the pulling angle.

[@chrismore4516]

@@CruisingCalypso installed two cleats vertically on the transom as high as I could get. The cleats are adjacent to the rear trunk near the top corners on relatively flat area before the curve in the transom. I used trunk access to aid in installing backing plates for the cleats. I also wanted the cleats outside the the cockpit canvas when up. I though about attaching cleats to rear of the fly bridge adjacent to rear light but couldn’t find good access to attach backing plates. I originally wanted davit system that I could pull boat onto the swim platform. Based on the depth and height off the water of platform I couldn’t make the classic 290 work without extending davit cantilevered off the back of the platform and I was concerned with how the dinghy would ride in rough water. The dinghy caddy keeps the dinghy very secure and high off the water. The block and tackle and ropes that tie from davit to boat cleat’s impedes access walking across the platform but it is manageable. I also liked that nothing was in the water and system was manual therefore less maintenance and not as prone to failure. I also installed davit system with boat in the water. I would be happy to talk via phone if that would help in your decision.

[@chrismore4516]

If you go with the dinghy caddy and find a way to attach high off the fly bridge I would be interested in how you did it. That would be the best option in my opinion.

[@myhockeyplayers]

We got versachock for our highfield. Same platform you have and love them. We pull it up from the side of the sea ray without moving the davits. very easy. I would love to see how you trim the boat to get the boat on plane and cruising trim.. Hope the repair is easy and cheap.

[@CruisingCalypso]

Thanks for watching. I will take a look at the versachock! The boat takes a good amount of tab to get onto a level plane. I am planning on replacing the trim tabs with zip wake interceptors so that may help. I thought the repair would be about $1,000. Nope. $4,000 is the estimate. Yikes!

[@myhockeyplayers]

@@CruisingCalypso ouch! There are a couple of aftermarket platform companies. We got one for our caravel years ago and the platform was half the cost of the manufacturer platform and looked even better than the manufacturer. Good luck!

[@sharonbraselton4302]

yes watvh ovie joe snd valavnó