Photographs of 15-Footer Modified with Poling Platform

[Maverick]

Q1: where can photographs be found of a c.1975 15-footer which has been modified to include a poling platform on the stern on top of the outboard engine?

BACKSTORY
I may install a poling platform on the stern of a 1976 15-footer. I would use the poling platform as either a fishing platform a small lightweight fan- motor mount to get up the boat into shallow water, such as at Laguna Madre. This practice seems to be very popular on flats boats on Padre Island, Texas.

[jimh]

A very good way to locate photographs is to use the GOOGLE search and constrain the results to images. I conducted such a search and the results produced several useful images. The search arguments were "Boston Whaler 15-footer poling platform"

In general, using a search engine is a better way to find particular data than to post in The GAM and ask where particular data can be found.

If you wanted to search the continuousWave website for images of a certain model Boston Whaler boat, you can also constrain the Google image search to only the continuousWave website. I conducted such a search and the result was "no images found."

There are several prior discussion about adding a poling platform. See

https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=239

https://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/017950.html

https://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001880.html

https://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/002120.html

Again, these were all found with a search.

[Maverick]

I was hoping to solicit input from someone with actual experience and commentary.

I appreciate the link on the 15 rebuild.

[jimh]

Note that most of the results in the image search for poling platforms for Boston Whaler 15-footer were found on a single website, that of Action Welding & Marine Fabrication.

https://actionweld.com/photo-galleries/ ... on-whaler/

The supports for the poling platform were fabricated using welded elements of bent tubing.

Unless you are skilled in welding aluminum and have the ability to bend larger diameter tubes into rather sharp bends, I would expect that fabricating your own poling platform may require contracting with a marine fabricator like Action Welding or some local artisan or shop.

As you see in the photographs, a principal point of attachment of the poling platform support frame is to the boat transom. On a classic 15-footer the transom area that is reinforced is rather narrow, as the boat is only intended for powering by a single engine.

I did find two pictures of a poling platform added to an OUTRAGE 18, the now famous GAMBLER of Dave B (AKA Buckda):


FIg. 1. Poling platform added to OUTRAGE 18.

Fig. 2. Details of mounting of poling platform to hull of OUTRAGE 18.

polingPlatformOutrage18.jpeg (69.39 KiB) Viewed 12077 times

Figure 2 show how the platform was attached to the hull. After seeing this image I am sure that the platform was custom-made to fit that boat. Here is an interesting aspect: the GAMBLER originally came from Texas, and had that poling platform. On that basis there must be a fabricator down in the Texas area that made that platform. It does not have as many fancy bends in the support tubes, so I expect it would be less expensive that the types shown by Action Welding & Marine Fabrication on their website.

By the way, Dave eventually removed that platform because he later re-powered with twin engines. And I think he sold it.

[Maverick]

Ahh, good pics of The Gambler. That’s a very helpful picture and design. I believe I’ll build the one for my 15 in the same way. I also like that it looks to be removable. Simple and easy to fabricate. Thank you.

[sraab928]

I have a 1978 SPORT 15 with a poling platform.

Fig. 1.

15_sport_polling_aft.jpg (37.59 KiB) Viewed 9207 times

Fig. 2.

15_sport_pollingplatform_abeam.jpg (55.02 KiB) Viewed 9207 times

Fig. 3.

15_sport_pollingplatform_forward.jpg (41.93 KiB) Viewed 9207 times

I bought the boat with it already installed. I may remove it as I do not use it.