The San Francisco Bay in summer offers an invigorating canvas for sailing, characterized by cool breezes and a vibrant maritime energy. At Modern Sailing, we believe in providing our members with the ultimate sailing experience, which is why we're highlighting some of our vessels equipped with a feature that enhances your Bay Area adventures: the versatile swim platform.
Sausalito's Firefly, Premier Tier Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 from Naos Yachts and Capt. Irina Walker enjoying the swim plaform with friends on a recent charter
The Benefits of a Swim Platform
Extending from the transom of your sailboat, these platforms offer a multitude of advantages:
- Access to the Water (or Your Dinghy): Swim platforms provide a stable, low-to-the-water entry point for retrieving fenders, or providing access to your dinghy, standup paddleboard or other recreational watercraft. This is especially beneficial for managing in varying Bay conditions.
- Enhanced Safety and Convenience: A dedicated platform with a ladder significantly reduces the risk of slips and falls when moving between your sailboat and a dinghy or dock. It offers a secure area to stage gear, making re-boarding from a dinghy a breeze, even in choppy conditions.
- Expanded Usable Space: Swim platforms offer extra room for preparing for an excursion. They serve as a convenient staging area for paddleboards, kayaks, or in warm summer days just sitting with your feet on the edge while at anchor or moored listening to Jazz & Blues By the Bay, or enjoying the fresh Bay air.
Manual, Electric, and Sugar Scoops:
Understand the Differences:
- Manual Swim Platforms: These platforms typically deploy via a system of hinges and latches, requiring manual effort to lower and raise them. While robust and reliable, they require cooperation from the crew.
- Electric Swim Platforms: For the ultimate in convenience, electric swim platforms deploy at the touch of a button. Powered by hydraulic or electric systems, they smoothly lower into the water, often providing a larger, more integrated "beach club" feel.
- Sugar Scoops: Unlike a separate swim platform, a sugar scoop is a molded, permanent part of the boat's hull and transom. It is a seamless extension of the stern with a gentle, built-in curve that extends the waterline and features integrated swim steps. This design is a hallmark of many modern cruising boats and racing yachts like the J/105 and Lagoon 40. These vessels inherently provide a convenient and safe area for dinghy boarding and water access without a separate platform to deploy.
Regardless of the mechanism, the types of swim platforms on our Modern Sailing fleet are designed for safety, ease of use, and maximizing your enjoyment on the water.
Our Vessels with Swim Platforms and Sugar Scoops:
Here's a breakdown of the Modern Sailing vessels equipped with swim platforms and sugar scoops. For those eligible to rent a dinghy and/or outboard, visit Modern Sailing Dinghy & Outboard Rental Program for a current list.
| LOCATION | SUGAR SCOOPS | MANUAL | ELECTRIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley - GOLD FLEET | Nirvana - J/105 Resolute - J/105 Grey Goose - Beneteau Oceanis 37 |
Firefly - Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 | |
| Sausalito - GOLD FLEET | Chao Pescao - J/105 Chinook - J/105 Andiamo - Catalina 36 Auriah - Beneteau Oceanis 37 |
Wimm - Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 Bora Bora - Beneteau Oceanis 34.1 Traharta - Beneteau Oceanis 35 |
|
| Berkeley - PLATINUM FLEET |
Moon Dance - Bavaria 42 | ||
| Sausalito - PLATINUM FLEET |
Survivor - Beneteau Oceanis 38 |
Attitude Adjustment - Beneteau Oceanis 40 | |
| Berkeley - CATAMARAN FLEET | Folie à Deux - Lagoon 40 |
Quartermaster Michael Carney and Capt. Timon Eatherton deploy a dinghy and outboard from Bora Bora's swim platform
Unlock More Exploration: Modern Sailing's Dinghy & Outboard Rental Program
To truly expand your cruising range and explore the hidden gems of the Bay, Modern Sailing offers our new Dinghy and Outboard Rental Program. For those moments when you want to venture beyond your sailboat's immediate reach, our high-quality inflatable dinghies and pre-fueled outboards are available as convenient "add-ons" to your bareboat charter bookings. Imagine motoring into Sausalito for lunch, exploring the nooks of Angel Island, or simply gaining a new perspective on your surroundings – our dinghy program gives you the freedom to roam.
Learn about our ASA 116 Dinghy and Outboard Endorsement course. Read more about this comprehensive one-day program that covers everything you need to know about safe and efficient dinghy operation.
Discover the freedom and convenience you get with a swim platform, and utilize our newest charter add-ons. Book your charter and get ready to experience the Bay from a whole new perspective!
