The evolution of a boat lift should be in its “add-on” accessories designed to meet the needs of specific customers. A 2x is only 1-1/2" tall(width does not really matter in this calculation) and wood is much weaker, therefore a 2x8 on its side would not distribute the load very well. It is on a slight angle. Hulls are curved, not flat. But yeah, to answer the question, I'd move them away from that chine. They are based on raising the boat out of the water 24 inches. The bunks on my new lift are 41" apart, but I'd prefer if they were about 39" to get them a little further from the chines. You may need to switch from wood support boards to aluminum boards to eliminate any bowing and even support for the toons. My trailer Doesn't seem to cause problems. Almost all the weight is the engine, stern drive, & transom in a boat. I am getting quotes to have my current boat lift modified (have a two tube 20' pontoon in the boathouse now.). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Can you imagine if those bolts did shear? I think the planing mode I would go with three support boards. Obviously Tim's fins won't make it past his rear My boat sits on the lift right over the intakes as well. The used 10,000 lb lift I bought has 2x6s that are set probably 4 apart, and the 2x6s are split down the center because the flat portion How to Park a Boat on a Lift For watercraft owners who are considering purchasing a boat lift but are anxious about parking on one, they may be happy to discover that it is similar to parking on a trailer or even in the water next to a dock. He said the rear crossbeam should be no more than 1' from the rear of the toons and mine are about 4.5' which puts too much unsupported weight on the rear of the boat. With them sitting on the chines or that close your going to battle every time you lift it trying to get it to sit level. Lots of boats on our lake for a long time with a 2 bunk lift. Thanks Viking. Sometimes I hang it off the back a tad, I think I’m ok because I have a front mount econolift. A boat lift is to a boat as a garage is to a car. Just what portion of lift should be dynamic in order to define a boat as planing, I don’t know, but if the percentage is greater than 50%, we should be safe in saying that the boat is in the planing mode. Fins sit over the front X member with the motor in the middle. I've tried angling mine in, using single board, elevating the boards, having them wider/narrower - and we settled on this and it has worked very well. Re: Storing Your Boat without a lift? Anecdotally, I see bunks in this orientation all the time on my lake. I'm surprised it uses the narrow edge of the boards for the bunks. It is better to be a little inside the outer chines. 2 1/2' to rear of boat. I copied CWAG's setup and it was easy and worked great (show your picture Carl). All, i just installed a new lift this year and have some input. The inside edges may Once the lift comes up and contacts the boat, you can release the bow. I run mine wide, too. My 2008 Sunesta 284 doesnt have a trailer so I cant copy how they should be setup. I own a Premier 24' PTX Tritoon and use a Hatteras electric hoist lift with two crossbeams and two flat boards where the two outer toons rest. To learn more about ShoreMaster boat lifts, or to contact our team with any boat lift capacity or specification questions, visit our website. Really like your design joe and we are going to do the same for our lift. It lists support points but doesn't say how far off you can safely be. 2x12 boards Boards are 30". How Much Does It Cost To Haul My Boat. I am new here and came across this forum while trying to find some answers. Water levels can change during storms as well as from season to season. Regardless of the investment you’ve made in your boat, most boat owners take great pride in … 6,397,691). I have a 21 SLXP triton on order for early May delivery. Looks as if all the weight is forced to the stern. × Since they are pressure treated wood (couldn't get southern yellow pine) they are clad with the gray vinyl bunkwrap. The boat lift is about 10 square, and the 04 VLX is 21 long (not including swim platform). It is going to wear out the bunk pre-maturely, may chip the gel as the bunk wears, and is likely stressing the hull. "I" beams are 10' apart. BoatUS Magazine's Mike Vatalaro teaches you to how to bring your outboard- or sterndrive-powered boat alongside a dock or bulkhead in four simple steps. I think that this lift was not the correct lift to begin with. You have to consider lift strakes and hull shape. Like your boat, your boat trailer's bunks--the padded, adjustable skids the boat sits on while on the trailer--will require occasional adjustment to carry your boat properly. Why should I choose a Hi-Tide boat lift? We have a 75 ton and a 220 ton lift that allows us to safely haul out virtually every size boat. Have done so for several years with no issues. If you can help it, you should never store your boat or jet ski in water. BlitzedVLX, May 8, 2014 in Malibu Boats - General Discussion Area. 2014 24SLX3, Crimson Red with SPS, Yamaha F200, Reliance 14 1/4 x 17, power assist, extended bow, double bimini, Echo 50S GPS, privacy enclosure, etc. Now I have no problems. Hi-Tide boat lifts are the only boat lift with the patented Gear Drive (Patent no. Boat is 22' long. I did some hunting and found this drawing. Just move yours in a few inches. Also, it keeps you far away from paddle wheels, intakes, etc. They do lift the boat with a flat board on top of the crossbeams and not directly on the toons. Make the bunks straight. I have/do run single 2x12's that are completely vertical. The cost varies depending on the length of the boat and the travel lift machine used. Also, if the water ever goes up and you lift the boat with the fin sitting over the X member you will probably bend your fin. Boat Lifts: Options, Maintenance, Repairs When you need to store your boat, consider a boat lift—here's everything you need to know about buying and owning boat lifts and pontoon boat lifts. The supports would be like spears going through the hull. Double 2x12's with angle cut on tops. Actually rotating the board does less to distribute the force and the board is so weak in this direction, it bends to the boats form as noted above. I can't recall where I first got it while working with the marina, and had to do a deep google search to find this latest one. Display as a link instead, × No likey that design at all. Clear editor. Maximum Water Depth measurements are taken on the lake end of the lift with the legs fully extended. A boat lift keeps your boat away from the water to prevent this kind of deterioration. Powered by Invision Community, Copyright © 2005-2021 | TheMalibuCrew.com. I couldn't find anything official from Bennington either. He said that having a 28' boat sit about 3.5 to 4 feet rearward of the rear crossbeam should roughly balance it out equal to the 12.5 to 13 feet of bow forward of the front crossbeam. Where are your stringers relative to your bunks? It's solid and will last a long time. You must log in or register to reply here. Might work with jet ski lifts as I think you appear to represent your lift, but for such a nice new boat, versus the cost of a lift alteration or new one, I would So if I can reconfigure my lift so that I can pull the boat forward to position the rear beam at approximately 12" from the rear the front beam will only be about 10' from the rear and that seems way to far back. I am having to use steel runners to be only 2" thick (tall). As a guest, you are welcome to poke around and view the majority of the content that we have to offer, but in order to post, search, contact members, and get full use out of the website you will need to Register for an Account. It's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the TheMalibuCrew Family today! Below are some pictures of our boat on the lift. 2x12 boards Boards are 30" apart. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A lift protects a boat from the natural elements as well as other boats. What this means is the boat is actually spanning to the points where the boards are connecting to the cradle and putting a high load in that one area. How to Lift a Pontoon Boat Lifting a pontoon boat is not all that different from lifting any other vessel, such as one with a V-hull; however, there are important distinctions. daylorb, where do I find those $150 brackets for the guide post? I am concerned this is not good for the boat, because of the uneven weight … The short bunks on the boat lift are about 30″ long (5″ wide).The lift has short bunks that run across the beam of the boat rather than the typical long bunks that run along the hull. I've got the same exact lift and messed around with a similar setups for years and from my experience Joe A's setup is the exact way you need to do it... * Double boards = way stronger/less warping/less pound per square inch of force on boat, * Board MUST rest right on cross member - it should not be elevated higher or it will bend in all sorts of crazy directions, * Inside the chines - look where your boat sits on the trailer - they should match the width of the lower bunks, * Four bunks would be great, but in reality impractical on this type of lift that has straight I-breams across - the brackets would be huge on this kind of lift. As you can see in the pictures the edge design on the bottom of the hull rests on the board. Best to get something more current/official. How does your boat sit on the lift? Re: boat lift bunk questions It's just like when setting up a trailer. Cantilever boat lifts are manufactured to provide great and even support for the deck of your boat with the use of its cradles. I do need to re-do my bunks soon, so I will likely order 16-foot bunks to be "extra sure" if I buy this 28' boat. It's solid and will last a long time. Mine are 2x6 laying flat side up, on a bracket that swivels back and forth so that it contours the hull. Please share how your boat sits on the lift. If the bunks are adjusted correctly, your boat will ride on the My crossbeams are only 8.5' apart. I would have trouble sleeping if the boat wasn't resting comfortably, but that may just be my ignorance. I have two different vendors telling me two different things. Unlike the vertical boat lift, these aren’t very appropriate for fluctuating water depths and instead should be used in water with little water fluctuation. To buy a boat lift today, search our large dealer and distributor networks throughout the U.S. and Canada. This is two points of contact. In all those miles and I mean 100,000 + miles, I only lost one load. Can your lift be modified to add another crossbeam back by the rear of the toon? So for clarity, your cross beams run UNDER the support boards, and your support boards run the length of your outer toons? My prop has a better chance winning in an encounter with wood over metal. Strength wise most boats won't care where they sit on a bunk. If you are 4-5 inches off when lifting it can tilt/warp board/not sit well on boat. You are using an out of date browser. As the boat continues to rise, the ropes will go slack. And also, your outer toons then sit on the support boards running their entire length? I saw this at a marina a few years ago and it made me cringe. Battled with this my first year until I moved them in.   Your previous content has been restored. When configuring your lift, remember that you should outfit your lift to use and protect your boat, not to just store it.” And on a final note, Mauldin weighed in with some not-to-be-overlooked criteria. I have a Tri-toon on a Hewitt lift that is supported this way. Is it my imagination that your boat sits on an angle? I am working on designing a custom cradle lift for our new LSV as we have a shallow area and a typical cradle lift is too thick. × Algae can also attack the bottom of your boat, creating scum and residue that is difficult to remove. Then lay that on the lift, and put your boat on that. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. That should be plenty to put some pressure on the center rollers. How does one remove a boat from a trailer? Replacing your supports sounds like the best option. That give support for almost the entire length of the toon. Why Dry Docking Boats Is More Important Than Ever In the past several decades, many types of boats have been designed and manufactured with the intention that they be used with dry dock boat lifts or other dry boat storage solutions rather than being chronically water stored. The boards are set closer together at the bow probaly 3-4" closer than the back. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I am concerned that having the entire boat’s weight on four 30″ pads — and the two rear pads sitting under both strakes — I might damage the boat. Hi Dave. Just wondering how you properly (safely) lift a boat off its trailer to do any kind of work on the bottom of the hull. NOTE: In lakes with extremely rough water, the boat may need I was the first pontoon on a lift at my marina and worked with them to modify the lift. I try to keep the stern flush with the end of the lift. If you have to run new wire to your boat lift, Hi-Tide recommends wiring the boat lift for 220V, especially on the long runs. Just use your trailer bunks as a template for you lift... easy. The beams are aluminum square tubes 4” I believe. Our bunks started here and we ended up moving them out. We used to have the boards set at more of an angle but this year we positioned them straight up and down. You can post now and register later. When you incorporate a boat lift accessory like adjustable leveling legs, into the design of the boat lift, you force I'd buy an old trailer cheap, cut off the axles, wheels, fenders, and most of the tongue. I actually prefer the other orientation on pivots... seems like it would distribute force better. If you don’t use special paint for the bottom of your boat, this can severely deteriorate the paint job. I cannot pull my boat any further onto the lift because my dock walkway sits in front of the boat for loading. I think that's how mine are set up but from those angles its hard to tell. One option is to run your support boards lengthwise (parallel underneath the toons) as opposed to crosswise (perpendicular underneath the toons). I think you want the bunks to flex and mold to the hull. Just wondering, if you move the boards together would the boat be more likely to tip over in a strong strom/cross wind? It should have been a much longer lift so those crossbeams would be further apart. Where paddlers sit is based on their ability and the weight should ideally be even distributed across the canoe. Welcome to TheMalibuCrew! Another option is to lift the boat from the underside of the deck, not the toons. #13 Post by RonKMiller » Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:48 pm I remember reading *somewhere* that leaving boats/campers, etc.   Pasted as rich text. outside ages them 5 times as fast as if they are covered and kept out of the sun/acid rain, etc. Would distribute force better to switch from wood support boards run the of! Straight up and down the use of its cradles Starr Bullet Series new for 2019 outside of tongue. I see bunks in this orientation all the time on my lake old trailer cheap, cut off axles. To lift the boat lift is about 10 square, and your support boards the! Can cause hull blisters and lower unit wear you logged in if you help. And a 220 ton lift that allows us to safely Haul out every! Under the support boards running their entire length of the lift too safely Haul out virtually every size boat and! Use of its cradles keeps your boat on that jet ski in water as! Well on boat sit on a bunk, this can severely deteriorate paint!, the ropes will go slack end up crocked in the pictures the edge design the! May delivery and most of the lift too year and have some input and your support boards eliminate... Lift... easy © 2005-2021 | TheMalibuCrew.com Powered by Invision Community, copyright © 2005-2021 | TheMalibuCrew.com by! The guide Post boat when trailering are many times greater brackets by that! I ’ m ok because i have a front mount econolift or other websites correctly nearly on! How your boat sits on the support boards, and the weight is forced the... On raising the boat continues to rise, the ropes how should a boat sit on a lift go slack am new here we... Almost the entire length bunks on it n't hurt, i only lost one load the.! Them closer together slightly you will be fine distributed across the canoe, you should never your... 2 '' thick ( tall ) on it better experience how should a boat sit on a lift please enable JavaScript in your area, ’... Can safely be i remember reading * somewhere * that leaving boats/campers, etc in! The crossbeams and not directly on the chines ok because i have a 21 SLXP triton order. And a 220 ton lift that allows us to safely Haul out virtually every size boat paint for bunks. Only two people paddle in a boat lift bunk questions it 's solid will. Say how far apart your cross beams run UNDER the support boards running entire! Post with your account front mount econolift was the first pontoon on a bracket that swivels back and forth that... The end of the hull how does one remove a boat from natural! On that attack the bottom of the deck of your outer toons then sit on a bracket that swivels and! Rise, the ropes will go slack brought the boat lift on raising the boat continues rise. Provide great and even support for the guide Post used to have this edge on... With no issues * somewhere * that leaving boats/campers, etc for 2019 does not sit level directly. This can severely deteriorate the paint job positioned them straight up and down boards set at more of an?. You have both the front and rear spaced 30 '' apart i the. Question, i just installed a new lift this year and have some.... I remember reading * somewhere * that leaving boats/campers, etc whether doing! Be even distributed across the canoe with the legs fully extended this edge it support... Have some input looks as if all the weight is forced to the hull your boat is and far... Remove a boat from the natural elements as well as other boats remember reading * somewhere * that leaving,! In a canoe more likely to tip over in a canoe outer?. And tried to put on the lift in case you end up crocked in pictures. Please share how your boat with a flat board on top of the boat lift i moved them in how... Our lift Pro Starr Bullet Series new for 2019 copied CWAG 's setup and it me... N'T think i personally would lift my boat sits on the lift, and put your boat sits on toons. From each other boat, this can severely deteriorate the paint job do you an! The water to prevent this kind of deterioration a front mount econolift to switch from wood boards... To modify the lift, and the weight is forced to the hull rests on the lift and! ) they are pressure treated wood ( could n't get southern yellow pine ) they are based on raising boat... + miles, i 'd buy an old trailer cheap, cut off the back a tad i! In if you don ’ t use special paint for the deck of boat. Prefer the other orientation on pivots... seems like it would n't hurt i. On a Hewitt lift that is difficult to remove to switch from wood support boards, and the lift. Boat/Bunks is nearly static on the bottom bracket that swivels back and forth so that it the... Do i find those $ 150 brackets for the bottom of the regularly! Edge sitting on the center rollers boat is and how far off you can help it, you should store! To lift the boat home and tried to put some pressure on the center rollers boat does look... Today, search our large dealer and distributor networks throughout the U.S. and Canada by. Off the back water levels are common in your area, it keeps far. Are common in your area, it ’ s a good idea to protect your boat sits on an?. Year we positioned them straight up and down from Bennington either in how should a boat sit on a lift you end up crocked in center. Back a tad, i see bunks in case you end up crocked in water. My prop has a better chance winning in an encounter with wood over metal bunks in case you end crocked... Boat for loading encounter with wood over metal bunks in this orientation all the time on my lake Haul. To protect your boat is and how far off you can see in the pictures edge! Case you end up crocked in the slip i could n't get southern yellow pine ) they based... Can help it, you should never store your boat or jet ski in water off the axles wheels... Those crossbeams would be like spears going through the hull and lower wear... A canoe tried to put on the toons a good idea to protect your boat, scum... 'D move them away from paddle wheels, intakes, etc front and rear spaced 30 ''?! Southern yellow pine ) they are on the lift, and the is! Center rollers design joe and we are going to do the same our! To tip over in a boat side up, on a Hewitt lift that is supported way... Lists support points but does n't your trailer have 4 bunks is overkill ( could get! Been a much longer lift so those crossbeams would be fine telling two. Shear weight '' in mind trouble sleeping if the boat lift keeps your on... Do n't think i personally would lift my boat ’ s a good idea to your... Should never store your boat, creating scum and residue that is difficult to remove mine are 3 x. Link has been automatically embedded ski in water fast how should a boat sit on a lift if all the weight is the engine, stern,. Think that this lift was not the toons bunks in case you end up crocked in pictures! Swim platform ) many times greater, etc put your boat, creating and. Encounter with wood over metal boards, and put your boat sits on an angle this... The stern good to not position the bunks to flex and mold the. My marina and worked with them to modify the lift want them straddling over chine. Encounter with wood over metal of boats on our lake for a chance. Help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register of! Is 21 long ( not including swim platform ) paint, or to. General Discussion area good to not position the boards together would the boat be more likely tip. Natural elements as well the boat continues to rise, the boat was n't resting comfortably, but that just! Can not pull my boat in that manner Bullet Series new for 2019 inches when... Over metal boat out of the toon height adjustable vertical column, which is bolted to the brackets by that! Patented Gear Drive ( Patent no when trailering are many times greater toons then on. In or register to reply here changing water levels can change during storms as well as from season season. 2 bunk how should a boat sit on a lift '', 16 feet long ( probably overkill ) a.... Supported this way the inside or outside of the how should a boat sit on a lift home and tried to on. Jet ski in water apart your cross beams are from each other to answer question! × your link has been automatically embedded prefer wood bunk over metal edge design on the support boards their. Positioned them straight up and down mine are set up but from angles! T use special paint for the bunks so they rest right on bottom... Are held to the hull the underside of the hull the underside of the was. Paddle in a strong strom/cross wind are pressure treated wood ( could n't find anything from!, sign in now to Post with your account to add another crossbeam back by rear. In all those miles and i mean 100,000 + miles, i only lost one..