SafeStep SwimPlatform

2011-12-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Yule and Happy Birthday to me!

I mentioned that I was welcoming my son-in-law to CF.    I will be groooming him to eventually take over the business.    I want this year to be HUGE.    I really want him to understand the relationship between how much hard work translates into positive results.

In order to jump start this HUGE year....I am offering the following-   mention this blog when you place an order for a Safe Step Custom Extended swim platform and I'll give you 15% off of the basic platform price.   I would like to see our volume double again this year.   It won't be easy, but I think it would give Kale a real taste for how successful he can be in this business.

And if you are in the neighborhood, stop by and meet Kale and say hi.    He will bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm and creativeness to our work.

Happy holidays to all of my customers.    Cheers, Scott

2011 comes to an end and I welcome a new member to our team!

2011-12-07T17:13:00.001-08:00

Here comes Christmas!    Time goes so fast.    I now have two grandchildren and I've been with Jeanne five years now.    WOW Jeanne is my lovely wife if you did not know.

I did a "fifty at fifty" list last year.    Sort of a bucket list, except it has nothing to do with dying.    Just a list of 50 things I wanted to accomplish between the ages of 49 and 51.    If you get the chance......do one.    It was a kick in the ***.   I'm already thinking about my 60 at 60 list!
Luckily, most everything is good.   I also believe that the harder I work, the luckier I get.   In other words, I think that most things that are happening to me are good because I work hard to make it so.

I try to keep that in mind when my customers approach me for a product or service for their boat.   I seriously want to work very hard to give the customer what they are looking for....not what I need, but what They are looking for.   They have worked hard to make the money that is needed to pay for the service that I provide.   So I respect that hard work with a product that makes the customer feel that they made a good decision.

Right now I'm enjoying the holidays.    Before I know it, it will be time for the Boat show.....shortly followed by another busy spring.    I would not have it any other way.    The only thing different this year, is I'll have my son-in-law working with me.    He has decided that he wants to learn the business and eventually take it over.    Again, I'm grateful as I think this will be a great additional and great energy !    Welcome Kale!

Cheers all......and see you soon. Have a great holiday season......

New product at Contemporary Fiberglass

2011-09-15T07:03:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody:

You've probably noticed a recent change on the website.   I've added a new product-    All wood SUP's. (stand up paddleboard)

A gentleman from St Maries Idaho approached me to see if I could fiberglass the all hollow wood SUP's that he had made from strips. Of course, I told him that I would help him.     He was so impressed with the work that he told me that he'd like to partner to sell more of the SUP's.

Since we started making these I've found out that Stand Up Paddleboarding is now the fastest growing sport in Americal.   I made one for myself and used it over the Labor Day weekend.    I love it. It is very relaxing to get away and just paddle.   It's also a very good core workout.

I'm very excited to be working with Mitch Santos as he is a skilled craftsman and experienced woodworker.   Our boards are high end and very unique.    They are the only strip hollow wood SUP's on the market.    We also offer unique options such as wood burned graphics and PolyUrethane top coating for UV resistance.

Also available are SUP accessories such as paddles, leashes, non-skid options, carrying bags, etc......

They really are pieces of art that float.   They will last a lifetime and are an investment in FUN.    If you are interested in owning one....contact me and we'll build you one custom to your specs, just like my swim platforms.

At contemporary Fiberglass we are getting ready for our busy fall season.    Usually summer is a bit slower, but not this year.   It was just as busy as the spring which was our best Ever.   I am so blessed and grateful.

Cheers, Scott

Spring has sprung!

2011-04-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a very wet spring in the Pacific Northwest. I write this as I'm watching it rain / snow outside. It's the end of April keep in mind and it's supposed to be 65 degrees and sunny. Doesn't matter to the business however....It's been terrific. The platform business is going to double again. I don't know how big it can get, but I'm anxious to see.

I decided to write today regarding a shipment issue. I had the first freight damage claim that I've ever had in 12 years. Luckily, the end customer rejected the package and took video of the damage before it left. That will make the claim much easier to collect on. That's what I'm being told anyways, we'll see what the freight company says.

Once again I'm so proud of my platforms. The design, the materials and the workmanship. The package arrived just beat to *&%$%^$! It was apparent that the freight company had abused the package. Once I received the package back to the shop and inspected the platform. It was pretty amazing, given how hard the platform must have been hit, the small amount of structural damage. In fact, I was able to repair the platform instead of having to build a whole new one.

I think it's important to keep in mind if you are shopping for a platform, that you may accidently bump the platform into a dock, another boat or some other hard object over the course of it's life. I know that I would want a platform that could take a hit without fracturing, and maybe even breaking.

The last thing I want to talk about is my customers. I've got the Best customers in the world. To me, nice matters. And the great majority of my customers are so nice. They take the time to send kudos and pictures of their platforms once they get them mounted and out on the water. I've gotten more tips this year than any other year in the past. So nice.

And thanks to Mark, who designed a platform with "wings" and awarded me the chance to build it for him. It was great fun and it should look very cool on his Formula.

One more month and I'm off to Alaska for a well deserved on week fishing trip with my buddy Chuck. Until then, it's long hours making you your custom extended swim platforms......building your dreams. Hey, that sounds like my new logo....."Safe Step Swim Platforms; We build your dreams". I like it!

Cheers, Scott

What a Great start to this business year!

2011-03-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hi again. I had a terrific start to a busy year, even before the end of the boat show. And I had the best boat show that I've ever had. I was not sure how it was going to go given that the weather here is Spokane has been cold, wet and windy. I don't remember when the wind blew more and harder than it has this year.

I currently have so many platforms in the shop, and more in the wings, that I simply can't keep up. For the first time ever, I'm quoting lead times of more than four weeks. And my suppliers are telling me that they are experiencing similar results. So maybe the recession is weakening and we are on the road to recovery.

I had a chance to make a swim platform last month that was a little unusual. I've always wanted to do one...had several inquiries but never a firm order until now. I've made platforms for outboard boats before, but never one for a smaller runabout with a large outboard. I think it turned out great. I had to test the motor in several positions to get the cutout correct. I was able to provide the customer with lots of extra room, safety and funtionality that he did not have prior. he was very pleased.

In fact, he mentioned how much he appreciated the daily updates, photos and progress reports that I e-mailed him. I'd have to say that it is the number one positive feedback that I get. People love to see that their platform is being worked on, how it is built and that it is being built according to Their specs. It simply makes sense to me....but I'm told that it is Above and Beyond a normal customer service. So be it. I vow to continue to do this no matter how large the company gets.

So I will close now with the suggestion that if you are thinking about ordering a Safe Step Swim Platform........let's get to it! Soon, my leadtime quote will put the install out to the beginning of the boat season. You know you want it mounted in time for boating season. Please call or write if you have any questions.

Have a Great rest of your Spring!

Scott

What's up at the Boat Show?

2011-02-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

Well. There we were. On the first day, Saturday, I sold four platforms. The best start to the boat show ever. And, it did not let up. I think people are definitely ready to go boating. I'm rested from my vacation and I'm focused on making this the best year for Safe Step Swim Platforms ever.

I want to talk about warranties. I have to tell you about a bad experience that I'm having right now and then expand to how that relates to my business.

My wife bought me a new Dell laptop for Christmas. It has all the bells and whistles, including a Blue Ray DVD player. The Blue Ray has never worked. Not from day one. Dell has sent two techs to the house....no success. My wife has spent, conservatively, 80 hours on the phone with techs trying to figure out why it won't work. We wanted our money back. We were very frustrated. Dell said no. Finally, Dell gave up and said that the best they could do was to to give me another computer.

It arrived and the Blue Ray did not work in it either. Still Dell would not refund our money. And now, the warranty has run out and there is nothing apparently that we can do. I will Never buy a Dell ever again.

So what about Contemporary Fiberglass. If you read my testimonials, I think you'll will see that I work hard to make my customers happy. In particular, there is a testimonial from alan. He mentions that there were hiccups that I addressed. What is not spelled out is that there were cracks show up in the platform that were not a result of my labor or materials. Alan had strapped his boat to his trailer around the platform. This put an abnormal amount of stress on the platform and cracked it.

Alan was very nice about how he approached me...so I fixed it at no charge to him. Now I'm not saying that this is how I would approach every instance, but I just tell the story to let you know how important it is to me to stand behind my product. It's about integrity and how you want people to talk about their experience after the check has been paid.

I'm not saying that I have 100% happy customers either. There are a small number of people that I've figured out I can't make them happy....no matter what I do. Through talking to other small business owners, I know that I'm not alone. I don't take it personally. I try my best and treat people right. I've figured out that when I can't make some people happy, it's not about me at that point....it's about them.

So, if you purchase a platform from me and for whatever reason you have trouble....rest assured that if it's something I've done wrong, I'll do what it takes to make it right.

Have a Great year!

Scott

Here comes 2011

2011-01-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

I tried something different this past winter. I was invited to spend some time with my sister and her husband on their 44 foot sailboat in the Abacos, the not-so-well-known part of the Bahamas. It was not an easy decision. I decided that since I might just not ever have this kind of opportunity again, I was going to go. My wife and I spent three weeks with Kathi and John and another week satisfying my wife's Harry Potter fantasy at Universal Studios in Orlando.

I'm very glad that I made this decision. We had a blast. We snorkled, scuba dived, hunted lobster,conch and fish and played in the sun. Harry Potter was Very cool, but Very crowded.

We also had a chance to visit the SeaDek plant near Orlando. We got a nice tour and exchanged some ideas on how to increase our business-to-business relationship. I picked up several of their samples of their new faux teak product. It has been so popular that they limit any new orders until they work out their inventory issues.

So, I'm rested, relaxed and focused. The Spokane Boat Show is coming up and I'm psyched. My gut feeling is that because of the crappy weather / boating season last year, folks around here are going to have a lot of energy to put into their boating experience. I'm getting a ton of inquiries from all over the world about the Safe Step platforms. It's a great product backed by a great support team and customer service. I don't know what else I could offer but I'm very comfortable the way the business is growing. And I'm very proud of the continued nice comments about how the platforms are helping to make my customer's boating experience even better.

So if you are waiting....ask yourself why? If I would have waited or worse, decided not to go to the Bahamas... I would have missed out on the best vacation I've ever had!

Bye for now. Scott

Watch out for Getty Images

2010-11-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not 100% positive that this is the proper forum for posting the following blog, but I'm going to do it because I believe that I have been wronged and I May be able to prevent someone else from also being wronged. And I firmly believe that the people who read this will appreciate the effort from that standpoint. Then I promise that I will get back to focusing on my products and services and what I'm doing for my customers.

I have a website- www.myswimplatform.com, that was designed and is maintained by a friend. She is not a professional web designer but did a great job. She copied a “thumbnail” image from Google when she first created the website because I did not have a whole lot of finished product pictures to send her for use on the website.

I received a letter from a company called Getty Images about a month ago telling me that I had published a copyrighted photo and that I owed them $1,225.00 and that I either paid or they would take me to court where the damages could be much higher and I would be responsible for their attorney’s fees as well.

The web maintainer, Jamie, immediately removed the picture and wrote and apologized and explained that she did not know that the photo was copyrighted. She also explained that the photo was the size of a stamp and posted on a very back page which was visited only a handful of times. Getty’s response was Thanks for removing the picture and sorry about your bad luck, but you still owe the money. They also informed me that even though a second party designed the website, that the law allowed them to go after me, the owner of the website. And apparently the copyright laws have changed so that copyrighted material does not have to be identified as copyrighted like it used to be. It is now up to the person looking to copy the picture, video or text to determine if the material is copyrighted.

So I contacted several attorneys and was told the same thing. They have all dealt with Getty on similar basis’ and informed me that this is Getty’s business model. They do this because there are so many business’ that pay Internet companies to create their website. Often, these companies sub the jobs to other countries. They copy thumbnails off of the Internet which makes it easy for Getty to search (using software) for these copyright infringements and shake down the owners of the websites.

The attorneys all told me to pay the $1,225.00. They all said that if I did not, that getty would sue me and win and that I would be on the hook for a Minimum of $125,000.00! And they told me that they could take my case, but that I would then be on the hook for their $400.00 per hour fee in addition to the $1,225.00!

I have since researched this a bit and found that there are several class action lawsuits to stop Getty Images from being able to do this. All agree that it is legal but also agree that it is unethical, ruthless and despicable! Please check out the following website- http://extortionletterinfo.com/

My hope is that if you do read this, and have a website, that it may get you (web site owners) to investigate their websites and determine if there is any potential for illegal, copyrighted infringement. It may save them the grief and expense that I have incurred. And it may expose Getty Images for what they are- skumbags.

I understand the idea behind copyrighting and respect an artist’s value in his work. This scenario however presents a Very different case. If someone purposefully uses a person’s copyrighted work to gain in any manner from it, then they should pay amends. If it is done unknowingly and without intent to gain from it, then address it Very differently.

Thanks for letting me vent. Please let me know if this helped you. And of course, please let me know if I can build you a custom Safe Step Swim Platform!

2010-10-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hello all again. What a year! I'm so blessed personally and professionally. Thanks to all of my customers this year for making it the best ever!

So what's new. Well, I've added a couple of very neat options that are getting more and more popular. The LED lights seem to be very popular and the water tight storage is attractive to many people who want to get their "stuff" out of the boat.
The LED lights are nice because the technology is growing so fast. They are making underwater lights now that are easy to install and getting less and less expensive. If I was not making custom extended Safe Step Swim Platforms, I'd be in the LED lighting business.

The water tight storage compartments are fun to make and are working out well according to the customers who take the time to give me feedback. Another indicator to me that it is a good option is that my competition has copied the idea. My webmaster told me to not worry about it....that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"..... OK then.

On a personal note- I took a three week vacation this summer to go on a boat up the Inside passage from Prince Rupert, B.C. to Skagway and back to Juneau. It was an incredible experience as you can imagine. The highlight was when I was hiking and came within 30 feet of a brown bear (Alaskan Grizzley). Luckily, she was apparently full up on Salmon as she could have cared less that I was there.

When I got back from the trip, I was able to enjoy the pool that we had installed. It is just a small pool that I use for excersize. I have found it very enjoyable as I come home from work and it allows me to de-stress and hopefully lose some weight while I'm at it.

I'm looking forward to this winter. That does not mean anything to those of you who don't know me, but for those who do, this is significant. It used to be when I first started this business that because the business was so cyclical and the winter was the most quiet, that I would stress over the financials. Now that the business has a solid foundation, I actually look forward to the slow down. In fact, I am planning on going to the Bahamas in December to spend time with my sister and her husband aboard their 46' sailboat. They made the trip south through the ICW al the way to the Bahamas last year and their story and pictures inspired my trip to Alaska. They've invited me to spend some time with them this year.....how can I pass that up?

So if the business doubles in volume again this year, I will have to hire some help. I anticipate that this will occur as I'm getting more local, national AND international orders. If you are thinking about ordering a platform, Now is the time. I can make it now and get it to you before the spring rush. If you have any questions or concerns, write to me and I'll assist you the best I can.

I'll be back in touch when it slows down this winter. Until then, cheers and remember, it's Five O'Clock somewhere!

Scott

Just an update!

2010-04-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update. I've never been this busy, let alone this busy this early! I'm not complaining mind you. It's a blessing and a curse so to speak. My friends, family and customers are having a hard time getting a hold of me. I am working hard and I answer messages when I can. If you are one of the people haveing a hard time getting a hold of me, I apologize. Please be paitient as I PROMISE I will get back to you.

Interesting experience two weeks ago. A potential customer of mine ended up buying a platform from my largest competitor. He evidently did not realize that I could have made the same platform for less $. Regardless, he called and asked if I would install it for him. I agreed. Once he got to my shop and saw the platforms that were in progress... he apologized and said "If I would have known that you could do all of this, I would have bought my platform from YOU". Long story short.... I mounted his new platform and he was satisfied. I never talk badly about my competition. I will tell you that when I compared their product to mine... I've never been as PROUD of my platforms!

I had a great experience with some customers from Montana recently. They were good communicators, high energy, positive people. I made a great looking platform for them and as they saw the pictures of the platform in progress, they did not even wait until it had been delivered to boast about me on their Chapparal club blog site. These kinds of experiences really make all of the hard work worth the while. You can see their platform and comments in my "customer comments" section. And if you are in Montana and see them on the water.... say HI to Mike and Vicki for me!

Finally, for those of you that are following the blog.... Kingsley, my grandson, came to visit us yesterday and is doing well. He and my daughter are a joy to be around. I'm very proud of her and I love to make Kingsley laugh. He's funny.

Have a great day and a Great boating season.

Cheers, Scott

Two great new options for 2010!

2010-03-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'm SO excited. I have not been able to sleep much lately. First of all, 2010 is starting out to be great from a business standpoint. Economic times have been rough. But now, I think people are realizing the importance of upgrading and maintaining their valuable assets. This season is off to a great start. In fact, this is the best start Ever.

I'm also excited about two new options that I am introducing. I discovered both kind of by accident. Those are the best kind right? The first is a platform "wrap". I thought of this when I was preparing for the Seattle Boat Show. I wanted the display platform to really "pop"! So I asked my graphics guy if he could wrap the platform with vinyl similar to what you see on trucks and vans these days. He said yes, so I created a very neat looking design and I've attached it to this blog so you can see. The beauty of this is that you could really liven up your platform with any design you want, with great colors and a very shiny durable surface.

The other option is a storage space. I had a customer who was concerned that his through hull exhaust would spew water into the back of the platform (skirt) and create drag. So I addressed this by glassing a 1/4" piece of FRP onto the bottom of the platform so that any water would be directed down and through the back. So I got to thinking....What could I do with that cavity that was created by doing this? I could add stringers inside and add a hatch cover thus creating the perfect storage space for ropes, sand spikes, etc... or even use it as a cooler! I will post some pictures as soon as I've got some.

This to me reinforces that your swim platform is a blank sheet of paper upon which you can create a functional work of art. The options are only limited by your imagination.

I'm so excited..... Have a great day. Scott

2010-02-07T19:13:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone. Just back from the Seattle Boat Show. Overall I felt that we will be succesful as there was good traffic, good interest and several confirmed sales. I got the feeling that many people are tired of hearing bad news and want to just get on with their lives. They are ready to spend money and of course the family boat is something people think of first when spending money.

I want to thank several friends and family members who supported me during the week. First there was Sue and Darryl who allowed us to stay at their home on the lake. Wonderful friends who came to visit us in our booth. Then our friends Phil and Ann invited us to spend some time on their yaught which is moored on Lake Union. We had dinner with them one night and spent the night on the boat which was a unique experience for us. And thanks to the rest of the friends and family who showed up to visit us in our booth.

I'd like to thank Nor'Westing magazine who wrote an article on my company for the Boat Show edition. Well written and it drove a lot of customers to my booth. They went above and beyond and I am grateful.

I also had a booth in the Spokane show which was going on concurrently to our show. My good friend Chuck manned the booth in Spokane. How can I thank him enough for all of his hard work? He reported that the show in Spokane mirrorred the results in Seattle. Very good interest and several confirmed sales. Low attendance during the week. I will do something special for Chuck to show my gratitude.

And finally to my wife Jeanne who not only helped me in the booth, but had to do her regular job also. Long days for her and as always, she just smiled and made the best of it. I really admire her!

So if I talked to you at the show, I look forward to working with you. If I missed you at the show, please get a hold of me through my web site.

New for 2010!

2010-01-17T16:34:00.000-08:00

New for 2010 to celebrate my past success!..... I want to beat ANYONE's published / quoted pricing by 10% for an EXACT duplicate platform (shape, style, color, options. Materials and method of manufacturing may vary)). I'm doing this because I want to get even more aggresive this year about going after the platform market. I'm VERY confident that I make the best platform available and definitely the most value.

I'm adding the following FAQ's on my web site:

Q: How do I know that I'm going to get exactly the platform that I have pictured in my mind?

A: I send you pictures pretty much every day at the end of the day showing you the progress that we've made. In this way you:
1) See the quality that goes into the construction, 2) feel comfortable in the progress and conformance to schedule and 3) Ensure that I am making the platform to your specifications. You get to see the platform finished before it is shipped so that there are no surprises when it arrives at your door.

Q: Is there a "best" time to order?

A: YES, the best time to order is the off season (Jan, June, July, Dec). The lead times are much better.

Q: Does the platform ever drag in the water from being too big?

A: We primarily make "full size" platforms. Many people ask this question as they are concerned, especially when getting up on plane, that the big platform will drag. We actually went out this summer and did a professional photo shoot on my boats to photograph and video the platform from rest to on plane. At no time did the platform drag in the water. I've NEVER had a customer come back and relay concerns about this so I'm saying No, it won't be a problem.

Q: What about "vents" .... are they necessary for water drainage or air pressure relief?

A: Again, a lot of customers ask this question. When we first started making these platforms over ten years ago, we thought they needed vents. However, through first hand experience and customer feedback and comments from other maufacture's, I am convinced that they are not necessary. Some customers like the look of them or use them for hand grabs so we offer them as an add on, but functionally they are not necessary.

Q: What about installation hardware? How does yours compare to your competitions?

A: If you do a good job of research, you will find that my installation package is unsurpassed. While they smash the ends of their SS support rods and drill holes in them, I give you specially designed brackets that hold the SS rods. This gives you more flexibility in the installation and is a significantly stronger application. Also, for most of their platforms they offer two support rods. The minimum number (except on platforms less than 16 sq ft) of support rods I provide is four! It is over engineered sure, but I like my customers to feel no flex at all while standing on the platform.

Q: Shipping? State that it depends on when you order your platform.... If you order during peak season (Feb through May and Sept through Nov) it could be up to 4 weeks. If you order during off season expect two weeks. Ordering a SeaDek pad can add as much as 4 weeks.

Finally, I have a new testimonial that I'm very proud to receive. John has been a customer since he got his first boat about five years ago. He and his wife have been loyal customers and a truly great people. I LOVE my customers! :

From John Newman: Scott: Just a note to personnaly thank you for all you have done for me and my ski boat. I know when I first met you 5 years ago that I didn't know anything about boats. That first year ended up being pretty costly after the prop repair, etc... But from listening to your advice regarding driving lessons and recommended care and maintenance, I think I did pretty good these past two years, huh? We've thoroughly enjoyed taking friends and family out on the river. It has become one of our favorite activities.

I don't know anybody else that meets their customers at the ramp at the end of the year to assist in pull out and delivers the boat to the ramp in the spring. Your generosity is appreciated and I understand why when I come to your shop you are buried in boats!

I've heard others talk about your customer-first attitude and skills as a boat maintainer. I want you to know I echo their comments. And we love your mechanic Frank. You guys are honest and fair. You've been wonderful and Jeanne and I thank you.

See you in the spring!

John and Jeanne Newman
Spokane Valley, WA

For those of you planning on coming to the boat show to see the Safe Step Swim Platforms for yourself, I'll see you there!

Scott

2010-01-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

I have two new significant developments to share. The first is that I have joined the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA). It was a requirement for getting into the Seattle Boat Show. But it turns out that I'm glad I'm involved. They have some good publications and I should get some exposure on the West side. I am also taking advantage of a Boat Show Special for advertizing in a West Side magazine- Nor'Westing. The editor has already decided to write an article about my company in addition to the advertizing.

The second development is that the air pollution control authority in Spokane has recognized my business- Contemporary Fiberglass, as a top (gold level) achiever in performance with regards to improving air quality. I have always believed that I could run my business effectively, profitably and still abide by all relevant regulations. And to be honest, as I grow older I am even more convinced that I want to help leave this planet in good shape for my children and grandchildren.

I have been getting ready for the Boat Shows at the end of the month. The phone has been ringing with potential customers wanting information on my Safe Step Swim Platforms. I believe that 2010 will be another record breaker. I'm so confident that a custom extended swim platform adds so much safety and functionality to your boating experience that more and more people will be ordering them.

Cheers. I hope to hear from you if you are interested.

2009-12-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

Kingsley Scott Lents arrived on Sunday morning at 1:02. Mom and baby are doing fine. I'm a grandpa!

2009-12-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

Hi again. Just checking in since it has been a while since I posted. I have stayed busy at work of course and my daughter is due (actually Overdue now) with her first child. So of course there is lots of work to do to get ready. We sure hope Kingsley Scott (huh?? How about that for honoring your dad?) comes out quickly. I'm so looking forward to being a grandpa.

Now to the boat business. I just completed a platform for a guy who bought the boat back east and then shipped it directly to my shop in Spokane where I built him a full size platform and installed it for him. I've done this a couple of times and it works out pretty well for me and for my customers. Allan's comment when he came to pick up the boat? Scott- YOU DUH MAN!!!

You can see the remainder of his comments and all of the rest of what my customer's are saying about my products and services at the website- www.myswimplatform.com

I have had several customers telling me lately that when they were talking to my competition, that my competition was speaking ill of my product from the standpoint of it being made out of Fiberglass Reinforced Plywood. Implying that it was susceptible to rot.

First of all know that I would never speak negatively about my competition. I focus on making my products and services better and better. I figure that is the way to grow market share. And it must be working. My business has doubled every year since I started it over ten years ago. And I believe now that I am the largest custom extended swim platform manufacturer in the world!

As far as my platforms being susceptible to rot, they are manufactured exactly as your boat is. Fiberglass and gelcoat over a High grade marine plywood. They come completely sealed from my shop. As long as you treat them the same way you treat your boat, that is never put a hole through them without sufficiently sealing the hole, it will last as long as a 100% fiberglass platform. And, mine weigh about half as much!

So do your research and I'm confident that you'll choose a Safe Step Swim Platform. Thanks again for reading and have a great holiday season.

Scott

Exciting news!

2009-11-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

Last week I had one of those nagging feelings that would not go away. My wife says it's my intuition and that I need to listen to it. So I did. My intuition was telling me that I need to enter the Seattle Boat Show this year (2010).

I've been involved with the Spokane International Boat Show now for four years. I've had great success. I've met a lot of great people and enjoyed a good deal of business as a result. My problem is that the Seattle show is the exact same week as the Spokane show. I'd already booked the Spokane show for this year and even if I had not, I would not give up the Spokane show as I think they do a great job and I want a presence in my home town. Who would man the Spokane booth? So I talked to some friends and local family and I think I've got it covered. So it's done. I've booked the Seattle show.

The reason I'm so excited is that I get plenty of inquiries from the west side of the state. I've sold my share of platforms and I even occasionally go there for the installs. I have family that lives in Summner so it gives us an excuse to get there, see them and as a bonus get to Pike's Street...one of our favorite places to visit. The last one we did this summer, my wife Jeanne accompanied me on an install and was actually very helpful. The customer was so impressed that he gave us a $200.00 tip when we were done. We spent it at Pike's Street the next morning. She thought that was great. So I'm excited that the Boat Show will just open up more opportunities to both sell platforms and give us reason to visit that side of the state.

So when you are at this year's boat show and you spot the Contemporary Fiberglass booth, featuring Safe Step swim platforms, stop in and say hi. I'll give you a great deal on a custom extended swim platform.

See you then.

Scott

Latests Options

2009-10-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

I just delivlered a completed platform to a customer from Alberta Canada. I thought it turned out great and he agreed! We added a flush mounted table receptor and interchangable BBQ. The platform is large enough to have a party on! He stated that he had it made to make it easier for his father to get on and off the boat at the slip. I felt good about that. Check out all the options for your Safe Step® Swim Platform that will enhance your boating pleasure at: Contemporary Fiberglass/Options. Thanks for reading. Scott

Options make the difference!

2009-10-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

My answer to the question posted...."why buy a Safe Step swim platform?"- Options.

First of all, let me explain the difference between a Safe Step swim platform and my competitors' swim platforms.

Their platforms are made from a mold. 100% fiberglass. This means that they may or may not have a mold for your year, make and model boat. If they do happen to have a mold, you get what you get. There are no variations to the size, shape, style or location relative to your transom.

Fiberglass molds are very expensive to produce. I would estimate that my competitors must sell 4 to 5 platforms from a mold just to break even with the cost of producing that mold.

My platforms are built one at a time per each customer's specs. They are fabricated from a product called fiberglass reinforced plywood (FRP). It is a manufactured product created originally for truck trailer panels. I originally used it to do dry rot repair on boats so that I could offer 100% lifetime warranty on those repairs. All I had to do was to seal the bare wood edges and I could feel confident that no moisture could then attack the wood core.

Using FRP allowed me to build my first swim platform over ten years ago. The beauty of this method allows me to build your platform into any size, shape, style, and color and, therefore, price that you desire. The platforms are built just as your boat hull is -- wood core, fiberglass and gel coat overlay. The result is that they weigh about half as much as a 100% fiberglass deck. My engineering background combined with the FRP's strength, allow me to design your platform to hold about 125 pounds per square foot. Trust me, put all the adults you want on one of my grids and it will still feel strong and stable.

Sure my labor costs are higher since each platform is fabricated custom, but the raw materials cost is relatively low. This allows me to be very competitive costwise. Apples to apples, I believe I can beat my competitor's price. In addition, you can put your platform pretty much anywhere you want relative to the transom, and you can locate your ladder anywhere you want on the platform...... You get where I'm coming from.

Let's talk about options. I have the best job in the world. OK, Jimmy Buffet has the best job in the world, but I'm close. I have this need to be creative and even artistic. Plus, I like to get mechanical, occasionally. And I like to use my engineering background just to feel intellectual once in a while. So when people ask "can I have a removable outboard motor mount?" I get excited. Actually, this is a real life example and you can view my creation on my website: www.myswimplatform.com. Can you get this from my competition? Forget about it.

So how do I come up with the ideas I have for new and cool options? I just listen to my fellow boaters. So many folks have asked me to design a "beach to boat" ramp. My wife and I were at a motorcycle show and saw an aluminum fold-up ramp for use in loading motorcycles into the back of pickups. Voila! I incorporated one of the ramps into my setup, tested it for a summer to ensure it would work in all kinds of conditions and recently added it to my available options. Try it out. It works great. Some of the options, like LED lighting, are simply bling. Some people hate it and some people love it. Your option!

Write to me and let me know what you think and if you have any questions. Let's hope this winter goes fast and we can get back on the water. Cheers.

Scott

Does your boat have an old teak swim platform?

2009-10-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

Considering a custom made swim platform? Ask yourself "Why buy a Safe Step® swim platform?"

How often do you have to refinish and re-oil your older teak swim platform to keep it shining? Does your platform ride too low in the water? Do incoming waves make it difficult to get into your bindings? Does the surface of your boat suffer from denting and scratching as the on deck rider struggles into their bindings. There is an economical way to modernize and upgrade your old teak swim platform to a new custom made SafeStep®

Wakeboarder? Many of the newer wakeboard boats have modified swim platforms which place the platform at the waterline when ballasts are full. Your new platform can be custom made to raise or lower the swim platform to your desired level in the water.