Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

[Quit It]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

I called and they said that we should just try the lift and see if there would be an issue.

That "we" would have been mighty lonely if things went south. :lol:

I have decided to go ahead and trailer the boat instead. Now I will say that I have very little practice in backing up and maneuvering boat trailers. I have some but not a lot! Everyone that I have watched makes it look so easy.

Folks that practice or have lots of experience make it look easy - so go practice and you'll be good.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

Hello all

I have decided to go ahead and trailer the boat instead. Now I will say that I have very little practice in backing up and maneuvering boat trailers. I have some but not a lot! Everyone that I have watched makes it look so easy.

Mike

It is not to hard to get the hang of it . . . mostly a matter of thinking oppositely on turning and anticipating the need to turn so you are not over reacting, etc. I got myself to the point where I could do everything with good precision if I looked backwards out the rear window as I backed the trailer. If I faced forward and tried to use the mirrors, I was a disaster . . .

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

I wouldn't say "most people trailer" but a great number do. It's often a regional thing and depends on boat size, too.

Boating is simply a leisure activity and from start to finish you pay for convenience--some pay more and have everything done for them, including launching, or pay to keep it in the water; others do it themselves. Some pay for a private uncrowded ramp and some fight the masses. Personally I would not engage in pleasure boating if I had to spend an hour or two at a ramp for every boat ride, but that's just me.

So see if you can find an uncrowded ramp. Maybe a place where you can leave the boat in the water over the weekend. A 'dry slip" is a great set-up: you leave your boat on its trailer in the parking lot at the ramp.

Practice your backing under conditions like your ramp: ours all have piers beside them so we need to know how to back straight along side and close to the pier.

Personally, I NEVER let my helpers use hand signals. Too often I can't see them when I swing; things are backwards in mirrors; people give ambiguous signals. I roll down the window and make them yell: Momback, ho dat, to me, away.

be sure whoever you boat with (wife, children, friends) know how to operate both the boat and the tow vehicle so you don't hold everyone up solo. I learned at 15; so did my daughters.

PS "they said it would be an issue" with your boat? Sounds like you avoided a jack-leg operation--although dry stack is a great way to go.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

I owned and operated a dry storage for years. I held my breath when using the lift eyes on rare occasions. If I just had to do it I still ran a strap under the bow. Lifting an inboard by the rear "lift" eyes is just silly.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

My little 18 footer has a decal / sticker above the rear tie down eyes that says "not for lifting." Just sayin'

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

.........said that Stingrays are notorious for weak transoms and bow eyes

My little 18 footer has a decal / sticker above the rear tie down eyes that says "not for lifting." Just sayin'

Coincidence? Yeah probably.... LOL

ps: posted by 90stingray

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

I saw a 'big name, expensive' boat with that same sticker at the marina while cleaning my boat yesterday. looked for that sticker on my boat -- not there and the tie down hooks are 3 - 4 X the size even though my boat is 4' shorter. Still no one is going to use those to move my boat around.

My little 18 footer has a decal / sticker above the rear tie down eyes that says "not for lifting." Just sayin'

 

[dave11]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

WTF, lifting the boat by transom and bow hooks? Never heard of that. It's stupid. They way it's done is with a forklift fully supporting the hull. That is the ONLY way it is done around here.
Sure they may be able to support that light boat, but you can count on stress cracks in the gel coat after 2 or 3 lifts. Glad It's not my boat.

I stored my boat the entire time I had that one in a hi & dry. They used a big @ss forklift truck. Try another marina.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Marina dry storage // lifting a boat

Use of a forklift for rack storage is the way it should be done. Like this.

I agree, this is the only way to go for rack storage, inside or out. As far as trouble trailering goes... going forward just use your mirrors and make wide turns. The easiest way to back up is to put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and push the steering wheel in the direction you want the boat to go in. Go slow at first and make only slight corrections at a time. If you can remember this simple trick you'll become a pro at it in no time!