Thanks Bigshrimpin, I was startin to wonder if they weren't good enuff to be shown you're V21 here.
Macojoe, the bolts for the platform assembly are 1/2 inch by 8 inch (should have used 7 inch) grade 316 stainless steel. I think shorter bolts of the same diameter are actually stronger, but at 1/2 inch diameter, bolt strength is not an issue. Priced at an unbelievably low $2.61/bolt from mcmaster-carr, cost was not an issue either. The grade 6063 2"x3" rectangular tube is only 1/8 inch in diameter. This is the weakest link in the platform system. The force on the aft bolts would be applied to this 1/8 tube with a washer as a backing plate, if I had used short bolts. Even so I think I would have been alright if I had went that way. It was not easy to get everything to line up straight using the long bolts. There is also 1/4 inch neoprene rubber in three levels of the platform assembly, as well as beneath the anchor roller assembly, to: 1)correct for the slight curve of the deck,2)absorb shock loads, and 3) provide additional waterproofing to the epoxy sealed and boatlife caulked holes. The aluminum platform is 3/4 " grade 6061 and the samson post is attached with four 1/2 inch grade 316 stainless steel bolts.
Yep, beastly ugly overkill.