Boat lifts

[S. Shaner]

Hello. I'm moving the Hunter 22 to a new lake with a residential dock at the house we'll be using. Attached to the boat dock is a boat lift, which is something I've never used before. I've commonly seen them used with motorboats, but not with sailboats. The fellow doing the install says it should work fine, just a matter of adjusting the cradle to fit the Hunter. Does this sound reasonable to you all? I could moor the boat, but then come the consequent hassles of a dingy.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Charlie13958]

If the installer knows what he is doing(CB clearing the aft cradle) should be fine. Have kept 2 sailboats on lifts, but both CB,s were within the hull. Since the mast has some wind resistance, I kept a strap across the beam of the boat.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Most boat lift builders know squat about lifts for sailboats. You will need a keel tray to put the swing keel down upon it. In addition, make sure the bunk boards are laying flat and curved to the hull. If they say upright is fine, bunch of baloney as you will have only one contact point on each board and it will seriously damage the hull.

I assume you have a trailer. Tell the builder to build the cradle to fit the hull as it is on the trailer. Best advice from a former dealer.

 

[S. Shaner]

Very good. Using the trailer cradle as a model makes great sense, and sounds simply done. I will follow trough.

thank you.

Steve

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I had a customer who did not follow my advice and had the bunk boards up sideways and his hull nearly collapsed. He threatened civil lititgation anyway but his attorney who also was a sailor called his client a dummy. Thanks for listening to my comments.

 

[inarathree]

it might be the same thing that Dave is saying, but motor boats have flatter bottoms than sailboats, which can be quite round. If the sailboat doesn't sit just right, i have seen a sailboat roll a bit - not all the way, but enough to freak people out. Its the same reason that my previous marina won't lift small sailboats out with the same "fork lift" they use on motor boats.

I know that there are a couple sailboats in different marinas around here that are on lifts, and have been for years. So you just have to find someone who knows what they are doing.