I decided to use a resin infusion process in order to make the swim platform as light as possible, yet still plenty strong.  This was my first attempt at resin infusion and there is a bit of art & science to it.  Essentially air goes out one end of the part and resin flows in the other end, all while being sealed in plastic and vacuum applied.

I made the mold using resin infusion, as it provided some learning prior to using the process on the swim platform itself.

Pictured below are the various steps I went through in making the molds for both the platform and the hatches.

The molds had the non-skid pattern in them so the final part would have the same, making things look more commercial than home-built.  The hatch molds were specific to the port and starboard sides so that the non-skid pattern matched that of the main platform.  The hatches, being smaller were the first of the parts to be made. 

Go to the next page to see the process of making the swim platform from the mold.