Question about using a "lift"

[emoney]

Ok, so this is my first house with a lift and the first time putting a boat on the same. Would someone with experience take a look at these pics and make sure it looks like it's on there correctly;

I've got a pretty "stern heavy" boat and thought it made more sense to push the bow further out to get as much support back there as I could. If I need to move it back, let me know. Also, while we're on the subject, how does one get to the drain plug easy and/or to put muffs on to flush it? I have to admit, I tried a little balancing act Sunday only to see myself falling in the drink. :facepalm: It's ok as I was extremely hot at the time, but there's got to be a better way. There's aluminum side platforms both starboard and port but obviously nothing across the bow or the stern. Could a person safely put a scaffolding platform across there or am I overthinking it

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

i also use a lift, a little different then yours, but the concept is the same. I think your boat looks fine - the majority of the weight is being supported by the lift.

As for the drain plug, I feel your pain. I live with the small amount of bilge water that is not pumped out by the pump b/c I can't get to my drain plug easily either. Probably only a few gallons of water in there anyway that doesnt get pumped out...

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

It's hard for me to tell from the pics how high your boat is above the water. I use a sit on top kayak for pulling the plug and lubing the outdrive on my boat, but it's on a floating lift. Would a small "tender" like a kayak or small row boat work?

-RW

 

[emoney]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

You know, rolling, I thought about just that. We've got kayaks and that's probably what I'll do. The lift is easily adjusted to the tide, so height wouldn't be a problem. However, if I could get my hands on one of the painter scaffolds that they use to put between two ladders as scaffolding when painting the eaves of house, etc., then I'd only need a way to clamp it down to make myself a little temporary gang plank. (this is where the trouble always starts; with me "thinking")

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

(this is where the trouble always starts; with me "thinking")

Lol...I know how that is. Pretty soon you'll have a second "lift" that lowers a working platform all around the boat complete with a sweet permanently attached cover. Let the plans begin...

-RW

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

We have a "maintenance platform" in our marina for just such things. It is essentially a 4' x 6' piece of floating pier. Get on and paddle away (Think Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn). Maybe you and your new neighbors could go in on it together? I am not sure what the rules are governing such a thing - is it a boat or a pier - but it does come in handy!

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

I was always told to let the stern sit off the lift by about 2 feet as this is where the majority of the weight is. My Marina said it will cause more strain on the lift if the stern is all the way up the the back of the lift. I do like the nice angle of the bow higher, helps with the draining. My fist time I had my bow too low, always collected water!

 

[emoney]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

I think I have more than 2' off the stern. Maybe I should move it forward. You can tell where the lift beams are based on the white PVC guides. They're right on the beams.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

Hard to say if it's on the lift correctly from the photos. Look and see how it sits on the bunks. I had to readjust mine for my boat, and it gave me an extra 4" of water depth once it was adjusted properly. You want the hull sitting centered and evenly on the bunks. You are correct, positioning the boat more forward distributes the weight better.

As for access to the drain plug and other stuff on the transom, my lift has these platforms on both sides, which makes it really easy to work with. I still have to lean a bit for the plug, but I never feel like I'll end up swimming. Just don't drop the plug once you have it out (don't ask how I know). Excuse the bird poop....

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: Question about using a "lift"

I was always told to let the stern sit off the lift by about 2 feet as this is where the majority of the weight is. My Marina said it will cause more strain on the lift if the stern is all the way up the the back of the lift. I do like the nice angle of the bow higher, helps with the draining. My fist time I had my bow too low, always collected water!

I'm not sure I'm buyin' what your marina told you.

If you lift a 4000# boat 1 foot in the air, then from my recollection unless you've use some sort of mechanical advantage, you've basically done 4000 ft/lbs of work. Once it's up in the air, it doesn't matter from which points its supported...it's one solid mass and no part of it is "supported by the air"...all of the mass is still supported by the lift. Think of a teter-toter with two 300# guys sitting at either end. They may be sitting there appearing to float in the air as their weight cancels each other out, but the poor supports still must support the mass of the teter toter and the two 300# guys.

From a lifting standpoint, I don't see an advantage either. Think of lifting a shovel with 2 hands (a lot like a stern heavy boat)...If you don't lift with the center of mass between your hands then you'll have to fight a torquing force...on a lift this would flip the boat off the lift. As long as the center of mass is between your hand, then you'll lift the shovel...then next point is weight distribution. Stern hanging off the back moves the center of mass back and puts uneven strain on the lift.

In theory the center of mass of the boat should be over the center of the lift.

All of that is great in theory, but in all reality I'd look at two things. One, is it stable? Two, is the hull fully supported? I believe I've heard many a time that if a boat is stored for a long period of time without bunks extending fully under the stern that the hull is succeptible to developing a hook.

...sorry for the long winded post...I've got a M.S. in physics and too much time on my hand tonight apparently.

-RW