Trillium Stern Step 2018

Here's a series of emails in May 2018 between Andrew Vik - andrewvik@gmail.com - (Geja) and Jack Wolf - JL.Wolf@comcast.net - (Trillium).

Andrew: Hi Jack, do you still own Trillium? I have a question about the swim platform that you recently installed. Thinking of putting one on my Islander, Geja.

Jack: Thanks for your email.
Yes I still own Trillium and I am curious how that you know that I installed a swim platform on her last month?
I purchased the platform from a Swedish company: http://www.batsystem.se/en/
Below are details of the price and a picture of the installation when finished. I also modified the stern rail to have a removable life line section on the top rail to make for easy access.
Delivery of the platform and ladder took about one week by UPS and it was a good experience dealing with Ms. Nilsson.
The installation was straight forward and the kit was very complete. The finished result is great and matched the teak on the stern rail - very nice for swimming and really nice for dinghy use.

Good luck.
Jack Wolf, Trillium, Grand Rapids, MI USA

2876.40 SEK      for PT8035
1620.00 SEK      for BKT73
  625.00 SEK      for UPS shipment and packaging

Marie Bökmark Nilsson
+46 31-697277
Email: marie@batsystem.se

Båtsystem AB
Traneredsvägen 112
426 53 Västra Frölunda
Sweden

Andrew's reply with Jack's answers in italics.

Hi Jack, thanks for the reply.

I've been eyeing the products at Båt System for a while. While debating which size would fit best on my I-36, I checked out the company's photo gallery online. I was quite shocked to see an installation on another Islander 36! Found your email on the I-36 site.

Did the universal mounts work well for you? Yes they worked perfectly but they are metric fittings.

Does the swim ladder, when stowed, extend out past the aft edge of the platform? In The Med we often back up to quays when mooring, and there's always some risk of "bumping." Would be great if the ladder were fully recessed under the platform. Yes it does and that is primarily because the transom has a negative slope. The amount that the folder ladder sticks out is very small (perhaps two inches) and does not interfere with platform use and I cannot image this would interfere with backing into a slip or quay. In fact the platform is nice to use to embark and disembark from the boat as well as loading supplies.

Looks like a 3-step ladder you got, not the 4. Does it feel sturdy to use? Yes - three step and a four step would stick out further from the edge of the platform. Yes very sturdy to use and I even jumped from the dock onto the platform - solid.

Did somebody small crawl into the aft lockers to spin the nuts on the inside? Good question. No I did this myself and my wife worked on the outside. In our boat I could remove the shelves in the aft lockers and used an impact driver with 18 inch extension which worked well. 3M 4200 was added to the four mounting points on the stern.

Great price delivered from Sweden, avoiding the 25% VAT! Shipping price was totally fair. No problem with customs? No it was shipped via UPS Tuesday evening and I had it on the following Monday morning on my porch.
I had my eye on the next size up. Wider and more tapered inwards. I would have to mount it higher on the transom, though. http://www.batsystem.se/en/products/pt1104530/
Certainly your call but I would recommend the smaller unit for several reasons:
" The manufacturer recommends that the platform should be 30-40 cm above the water (not higher) and ours is mounted just about 45 cm above the water and cannot go lower. I see why they recommend this setting.
" The smaller one which we have is 840 cm wide while the next size up is 1040 cm wide and if you allow a minimum of 5 cm outside allowance for holes to give washer and nut clearance inside - you will have to mount the platform very high on the transom.
" Where ours is mounted seems just perfect to take one step up to the toe rail and it is great for loading and unloading our dinghy. It is high enough to clear the ballast pump discharge and at hull speed does not get into the water.

Good luck and let me know if I can help further.
Thanks - Jack
Cheers!
Andrew
415-810-6542

Jack responds with additional info...: Attached are some additional photos as requested.
The installation was made in early April just before Trillium's spring launch.

The platform is made of very good quality teak and stainless.
The top fittings bolt through the transom and allow the platform to tilt up and down about 20 degrees for adjustment and to get to level position.
The bottom two fixing points are also bolt through the transom and give the platform strength and are telescopic adjustable.

The ladder is available in 3, 4, 5 step versions and telescope in and fold under the platform. Ours is a three step which is perfect for the Islander.
I also recommend the smaller version of the platform which is 2'9" wide as the manufacturer suggests the platform to be 12"-16" above the water.
Our platform is about 18" above the water which is great for use with the dinghy and still has two ladder steps in the water. From this position it is one easy step from the platform to the toe rail.

I did the installation with my wife on a sunny afternoon with the boat out of the water which is much easier but I see no reason why this could not be done with the boat in the water.
The challenge of course is to get into the aft lockers to tighten the nuts but an impact driver with long extension was a great help.
The use of four lines holding the platform in place and masking tape for position was also a good process.

You have the price that I paid for the platform, ladder and UPS shipping to Michigan from Sweden the total of US$ 580.00.
The website of the manufacturer is listed above also.

Let me know if I can help further and we are looking forward to using this new addition for years to come.
Thanks - Jack

Stern step 1	Stern Step 2	Stern Step 3
From below	Launching	Docked