TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Club O Swim Rafts

Does anyone know if Club O put the swim rafts (floating platforms) back into the water following the storm last fall? Some of the post-storm photo's showed the old ones washed up on shore.

There was one in the water when we were there end of February, beginning of March. I think there used to be 2.

There use to be 2 but the last few times we have been on the island there has only been 1. Too many happy hours at The Perch to recall the last time there were 2. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

There were two anchored in the water prior to the last October's storm. We came in on Saturday after the hurricane came through and they both were washed up on the shore down near the Water Sports Building. The newest one was put in the water while we were there October, 2013 and it probably was the one they floated back out.

Happy to hear at least one is back in place. There have been two for the past 10 years or so. At one time there used to be three of them.

Wow beachbum....you were there right after there storm went through. I've seen photos that were taken the day after the storm and it looked the area between Papagyo's and the water sports building is where most things washed ashore. It looked like it was going to be quite a job to get it all cleaned up.

There are two of them in the water; one not far from the Perch, but other now is in the water between Papagayo and the Water Sports building.

There were two rafts in February. A small one by water sports and a larger one closer to the Perch.

Bob <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Kiss.gif" alt="" />

There is only one surviving raft at this time, and it floats a little uneven. I think we should take up a collection to buy a second one!!!

My wife and I love the floating platforms
Wish there were more
Great place to socialize or just mellow out
Sometimes children like to play on them , diving and jumping, so it would help to have more

We arrive Tue and love the rafts. A great place to relax with a beer.

So lets see if I got it straight...before the hurricane there where two rafts, than only one, they built a new one which is bigger and floating near the Perch but is floating uneven. In February there were two rafts but in March we are back down to only one? ...and its the one near the Perch?

Depends on how many times you have been to the Perch for Happy Hour. You could be seeing double. There might only be one. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Or it could just be a mirage. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

I just got back from two weeks on Orient Beach. There is only one raft. It is good conditions but needs more flotation. If four people are on the raft and evenly distributed you're OK but more than that water is splashing over the sides. It made it very hard to sleep. Today I'm back at work wising I had the sleep & splash problem. I have the opposite of trying to stay awake.

WMJ. We are almost neighbors.

I just got back as well and for almost the entire month of March there were 2 rafts. One in the middle of the beach and one at the end between the watersports and Papagayo. Cant imagine that's changed in the past couple of days.

I was there from March 11 - 26 and only was able to find one raft. Maybe alcohol was involved but I didn't see a second one. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

SXMScubaman, yes looks like we're neighbors. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

WOW! This keeps getting more funny on almost every post. Everyone must be drunks seeing double or drunks half blind.

It's Willy's fault, she just makes drinks too damned good!LOL <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> In all honesty, I was there from 3/7 to 3/20 and I never noticed if there was another float down by Papagayo's or not, I only noticed the one closer to the Perch! That doesn't mean that it wasn't there, I just didn't go to that end of the beach during the day much.

Any further news on this from someone who has been there recently? Is it in fact two rafts?

There were two rafts in April. One is almost inconspicuous, nearly at the watersports center, at the southernmost end of the beach.

Yes, two rafts
We did the "sinko the rafto" earlier thiis month.
It took 11 people to get the deck awash. ( and yes it did take some balancing) the raft will hold 24 but the deck will be about 18" below the waves.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

We just got back mid-May and there was only one raft the entire 3 weeks we were there. The raft does tilt to the one side and after 15 or 20 people hop on and try to sink the thing as they did twice during our stay, it's a wonder it floats at all.

We were there in April and there were two rafts...one is hard to see because is it way down at the end of the beach by water sports....I wonder if they took it out after we left?

We arrive this Friday. Probably will visit the Club O beach Saturday and Sunday. Anyone want to try the "sinko the rafto"?

Went down there this morning entirely sober, to try and settle this. Voila!! Cathyg nailed it.

There is but one really practically located usable swimming raft, and there she be.


About 100 feet off the rocks by the Watersports shop lies another raft about half the size of the usual rafts. It looks like a moored boat from up the beach... it also looks like you could be pulling splinters if you were to use it dressed as intended at Club O! I suspect this one is for Watersports use... windsurfers, kyaks, diving lessons etc.

Thanks so much for the pictures!! It only took us roughly two months to settle this!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Solved!! Thank you for the effort in answering this question. It's kind of "one and a half" rafts which makes all of answers correct. The October storm must have damaged one of the two and the one near Watersports seems to be an older/smaller one forced into action. That's a weird spot to put it. Looks like it's time for Club O to spring for all new ones. I remember when there used to be three rafts there. That may have been pre Luis.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the pics Modi! Is the first pic showing only the Club O beach or does it include part of Pedros and the taxi drop-off area (where you can see the seaweed in the foreground located)?

I agree, they could use at least 3.

why? in all the years we have been to club o (15)....the rafts are seldom used......

I swim out to them at least once a day when I'm there. Standing on the raft feels great and you get a whole different perspective of the beach and Club O from the rafts.

yes...they are used...but to add more? seems senseless to me.

i swim out on rare occasion myself....when the sand gravity lets go of my butt...lol

I agree, they are really not used that much. Usually there is no one on them, much of the time. No reason for more.

Yes part of the Pedro's Beach area is in that picture.

We use the rafts a couple of times each day we are on the beach but are in the minority so I can see why Club O wouldn't bother with multiples. We will be happy as long as there is one.

The benefit of three (which there were at one time) was that no matter where your chairs were, you had a raft (pretty much) in front of you. Swimming to the raft is often a decision that's made after you are in the water. "I think I'll swim out to the raft". Now, that could be a lengthy swim. Going from three to two was no big deal (two worked just fine). Now it's down to just one. The little raft near Watersports isn't really a swim raft. There doesn't even appear to be a ladder on it. If I had a vote, it would definitely be to bring back the second raft. It wouldn't be adding a raft, it would just be replacing the one that (I assume) was destroyed in the October storm.

What's funny is, sitting here at home, this seems like (and is) such a trivial topic. But, on the island... "should I swim out to the raft?"... is one of the toughest decisions of the day. (lol)

Also, if children are playing on one it's nice to have an available one for some peaceful dozing.