Finally did it right

[Bigmoss]

Well I bought a new mate last year and live on a big lake. When the wind and waves start they REALLY start, last year I would not leave the boat in the water during the week, put it in on Thursday nights and took it out Sunday afternoons which became a pain.

Also on the weekend if the winds would kick up I would be up worrying all night and down at the dock watching the boat.

Well this year I took the plunge and bought a lift and let me tell you with the crappy summer and rain and wind this year it was money well spent. I would advise anyone thinking about it or not sure to do it, you will thank yourself later

Here is a pic

http://www.nuovatech.ca/Personal/lift.jpg

[Chris]

Bigmoss,

I'm doing the same routine. In on Friday night or Saturday morning, and out again on Sunday afternoon. It sucks.

I'd appreciate if you would give me the run down on your lift. How hard was it to install? How hard do you think it will be to remove at the end of the season?

What is the capacity of the lift? Where did you buy and cost (if you don't mind saying)?

Thanks! http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Bigmoss]

Hey Chris, I bought the lift from Lake and Trail where I bought the boat it was a year old and the owner of the place was using it, prices on a used lift is around $1500 to $2000, the lifts sell here in Canada new for about $2500 to $2600 plus taxes.

It is a 1800lbs lift and is a little small for the boat, if it is sitting in say 4 feet of water or more you are OK, the water where we are is low this year so the lift is only about 2 feet or so, when I first tried the boat on the lift being that the cables go down to the cradle on an angle they would rub really hard down the side of the rubber bumber and chrome on the side of the boat. I caught it in time and only scratched the chrome in one spot a little bit grrr. The next lift up 2500lbs was like a grand more even used so I said forget it and bought some 1 inch flexible tubing at home depot and ran the cable through it on both sides of the boat. The tubing now comes up against the boat and the cable moves freely inside it. Once the boat is up 3 feet or more it has about 2 inches either side of the boat, so about $15 bucks for the tube and well worth it.

The lifts are aluminum and VERY lite my friend and I throw it around easy, VERY easy. It has adjustable feet and the pads on the feet and raised like skis at both ends so it drags easy to move ( I do it alone )and in the fall I will just pull it up on shore by hand or with my ATV, they are NOT heavy at all.

It is very easy to raise and lower, I actually looked at crappy tire and a few other places for one of those what I called suicide wheels, you know the little wheels you could screw onto a larger one and just spin the wheel quick to turn. Thought it would be easier but have not found one yet.

Sounds like you were in the same boat as me Chris and it got to be a real pain with lost time and worrying. Now I put a prop lock on, cover it and do not worry, it is insured and it is nice to arrive and just be able to lower and go when I get there and when the weather does get bad just lift and NOT worry.

BM

[Chris]

Thanks for the info.

I'm seriously thinking of springing for one. Many weekends I don't bother putting the boat in the water because it's such a pain. Like the last couple of weekends. It's been threatening to rain or been raining and it's hard to get inspired to go throw the boat in.

If and when I buy one, I'm probably going to get one that will fit a bit bigger boat than my current one, as I hope to buy a Pulsare or Persuader at some point down the road.

I'll probably also have to build an extention for the dock so I have somewhere to park when not using the lift. We have a few boats and we're already out of spots.

Thanks for the info! Much appreciated. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[JY]

BM: now that you've gone this far, you should get a skirt to attach around the bottom of your canvas. Your hull will be in great shape 15 years from now from not sitting in the water and your gel will not be oxidized or coloured bec. you had the entirety of the hull covered from the UV. I wish they made lifts for 20 feet of water - my only option appears to be an inflatable boat lift... nice job.