Baller Edmund Posted April 6, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 6, 2011 I need some advice on boat lifts. I purchased a lake cabin in December and with the weather finally warming up here in Kentucky it is time to actually start using it. I want to replace an old (very old) boat lift currently on my dock with a new one. I need one that is installed in the ceiling and lifts the boat with cables, not one that floats or raises the boat from beneath. I have been looking online at various websites and wanted to see if any of you could steer me in the right direction. I have looked at boatlifts4less.com, eastcoastboatlifts.com, and tidetamer.com. Any experience with any lifts from those companies? Any others you would recommend? I have a 1998 SNOB (it’s my baby; still showroom new!). Thanks. Edmund Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherwood Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 www.boatcradles.com Great people and a great product. I also think they are a good value. I have the Kit HSK 4500 model. With the pole (you supply) off to one side so the grease doesn't drip on my boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted April 6, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted April 6, 2011 why not lift a cradle ? your boat would be happier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Edmund Posted April 7, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 Sherwood: I will take a look at boatcradles.com; I missed that one Thanks. Richard: The cradle in your picture is similar to what I am looking for, plus I need the entire system: motor, cables, pulleys, and the cradle. Is that your cradle? That is nice. Are your bunks wooden and are they covered with carpet or coated with something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JC McCavit Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 This seems like a good discussion to ask a question I have been trying to find out for quit some time. Why do Ski Nautique owners put expensive cradles under their boats when using the overhead hoist option? I have been told Nautiques were designed to be lifted and stored using the lifting rings. Can anyone shed some light on this? I understand, Correct Craft is the only boat manufacture that designs the lifting rings for this purpose. The other manufactures suggest only using the lifting rings to hoist the boat temporarily because they do not engineer and integrate them into the hull to insure the boat can be stored in this manner indefinitely. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ski6jones Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 For me it was a matter of convenience. Drive on/Drive off. No need to mess with cables hanging down behind the boat when your ready to back out of the slip. No need to connect/disconnect cables. Less risk of getting a loose cable in the windshield or somewhere else it shouldn't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Edmund Posted April 7, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 JC: Even though the lake I am on is small for a public lake (around 400 acres), my dock is on the main lake and is exposed to the wind. So with a strong wind, I am guessing the boat would swing quite a bit if held up only by the lift rings. A cradle seems more secure, plus convenient as ski6jones stated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JC McCavit Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 It sounds like convenience is the most determining factor...drive on drive off. I know boats swing in the cradle in strong winds too. I wouldn't think there would be much difference in the wind using lifting rings or the cradle. It might be necessary to secure either during heavy winds. What I was most interested to know is, is it acceptable to use the lifting rings for long term storage on all years of Ski Nautiques? I am not sure what a good cradle cost, but they look expensive. One could always be added later, since it uses much of the same equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jordan Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 I wouldn't use lifting rings for any thing more a momentary lift...like taking a boat off of a trailer and putting it on blocks. Anything longer than that and I would want a cradle to support the hull properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Dirt Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 We had our MC on a hoist that looked very similar to the Boat Hoist USA. Ours had the drive motor on one side as Sherwood said. It worked great. Our neighbor had a Malibu hanging from the lifting rings for years and I never saw any damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ski6jones Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 I bought mine here (http://www.boatliftdistributors.com/contact_us.php) It's more or less what was shown in an earlier photo. Installed myself, all the hardware was less than $1500. The kit was about $1250 as I recall, plus a couple 2x10's for the bunks and some indoor/outdoor carpet. Best money I ever spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JC McCavit Posted April 7, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 7, 2011 Jordan, is your concern structural integrity of the hull or is there something else? I have never heard of a Ski Nautique hull being compromised using the lifting rings for storage. Like I said previously, the other manufactures do not engineer their boats to be stored this way, but from what I have read in the Correct Craft manual and heard on other forums is that Correct Craft engineers and integrates their lifting rings into the hull design so the boat can be lifted and stored from the lifting rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted April 7, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted April 7, 2011 Know a guy that hung his 92 MC via rings no prob. Also know someone with a 08 196 hung by rings. Both setups required very heavy metal weights at the end of the cable as well as big metal hooks. Had to deal with the possibility of them hitting the boat. Was kind of a pain. Always wondering if the weight would slip out of your hand or off it's out of the way perch. Never saw either one swing in a wind. A bit heavy for that. But if u get in a 196 while hung, it does lean in the direction of weight. Startling at first. MC had 1 ring up front and 2 in back. Very stable. Mines on a cradle. Also saw the result of an improper lift of a Gekko. Cracked hull top to bottom next to the back seat. Was being air lifted by a huge tow truck. Owner was just pulling in and saw it happen. Saw it and heard it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 The user and all related content has been deleted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jordan Posted April 8, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 8, 2011 JC... A couple of things.... While a CC is a fine boat, and may well be engineered to be lifted by the eyes, you are indeed putting a lot of stress on the hull lifting it in that way. More than a few boats have warped (not saying CC) by sitting askew on the wrong trailer. Also, if you are anything like me, when the boat gets put away, a lot of equipment also gets stored in the boat...barefoot boom, various skis, life jackets, tools etc.. It can add up to a lot of weight. Just sayin', a cradle supporting the boat from underneath with properly set up bunks has to be a better solution. Clearly, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JC McCavit Posted April 8, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 8, 2011 Thanks everyone for the discussion on lifting rings, it was very helpful. I don't want to hijack the original intent of the post, which is locating the best deal for boat lifts. If I have further questions I will start a separate post under the title lifting rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old MS Accout Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 If you have the right shore line, you cant go wrong with the roll a rail. Change oil and work on the boat while its on th lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Weappa Posted April 9, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2011 I bought my overhead lift from Lunmar. http://www.lunmarboatlifts.com/ I had a 94 Mastercraft PS190 on it previously, now a 2008 SN196. The version I have has the coiling pipe mounted on the side. This prevents grease from dropping on the boat or boat cover if you should over grease. It also makes it easier to maintain and work on the unit. I have a lift on another lake that is center mounted and I much prefer the side mount. Using cradles on both lifts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GAJ0004 Posted April 10, 2011 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2011 I would always use the type of lift that is the most like the trailer. I would get a cradle system, instead of one where the boat hangs from its lifting rings. You want your bunks to be right under the stringers just like when it is on the trailer. We have an old Shorestation vertical bottom standing lift. We only have the 3 point cradle. Never had any problems. If you ever end up getting a regular free standing lift, do with a cantilever style. Easier to maintain and repair, and works better in shallow water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The least stressful method of storage for the hull is to leave it in the water. just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FischersYearRound Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 boatcradles.com gets my business. Side pipe mount for grease, maintenance, and additional clearance reasons. Like GAJ0004 said, ..'type of lift that is the most like the trailer.' Also if you hang by the lift rings, wouldn't there be a lot of pressure in the middle of the hull? Whereas a cradle system spreads the boat weight load more evenly across the hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremytom Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I found this great website to help you compare products and brands: http://www.nauticexpo.com/boat-manufacturer/boat-lift-2368.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skierjp Posted April 16, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 16, 2014 Only one place WWW.BOATCRADLES.COM 1-800-318-1017 They have everything you need The cool thing about the cradle is it gives you some place to stand while wiping the boat down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MrJones Posted April 16, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 16, 2014 I have a doozie. The cost is very low. Seems like it was about $1600 shipped. All I had to do was buy some treated 2x12"s. The "cradle" looks very meager, but I have not had an issue in a year of use. Nice people to talk to on the phone as well. This is an overhead cable lift. I planned on a hydraulic lift when building the dock, but changed my mind after seeing the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted April 16, 2014 Baller Share Posted April 16, 2014 Looks like a spammer resurrected a thread from 2011 ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller S1Pitts Posted October 22, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 22, 2021 I assure you I am not a spammer resurrecting old threads. One of my ski buds is hell bent on buying a boat lift and doing some research I found this thread. He has a 1998 BB Ski Nautique similar to the guy who started this thread and is stuck between either a Shoremaster or Floe Intl. BTW Here in Canada both exceed the value of the boat by at least double. Both are close in price and looks like both are good companies so it's kind of a coin toss. Do you guys agree? Pros-Cons either way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller cacman Posted October 22, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 22, 2021 I had a shoremaster for over 20 years never had a issue. Sold it and purchased roll and rail system to pull boat completely out of water. Never heard of Floe Intl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller S1Pitts Posted October 22, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 22, 2021 Link to Floe lifts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted October 22, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 22, 2021 Boat Lift Distributors - Texas Co. Great products . Never heard of Floe. If you go with a cradle lift , get the V design cradles that are made for comp boats to clear the fins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skimtb Posted October 22, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 22, 2021 I’ve always seen very good reviews of floe. I think they have a EZ leveling feature if some sort? Shoremaster looks like many of the others out there. Important things: Canopy, and access to side of boat vs big crossbar in your way. Get vertical guides vs the side bunks of you want to be able to wipe boat down after use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 @PJ - the worst thing for a fiberglass hull is to be left in the water. If it’s not in use get it out of the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skierjp Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 Best cradle in the business. All you see in Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Sethro Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 Exceed the value of the boat? I’m by no means familiar with the used market in Canada, but here in the Midwest a suitable used lift with a canopy can be found easily for 2k or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller NameUnavailable Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 Most of the people at Princeton Lakes have Aluminum Boat Cradle lifts. We have switched to these pulleys: https://bh-usa.com/3-1-5-ton-painted-snatch-block/ And many have gone to a steel structure to hang the lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller S1Pitts Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 Shoremaster with manual lift, V Rack for inboards,and no canopy -14K Floe Ind with electric lift motor and canopy, side walkways to be able to walk around boat for access IE Wiping down - 28K These are new prices Cdn $$$ without assembly or install - Welcome to life in Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 @S1Pitts is your buddy handy at all? I don't know what his situation is, but you can build your own lift (buy a winch set up from ACE) and build a boat house for much less the figures you quoted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Zman Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 I like my Craftlander lift and canopy. I do have carpeted side bunks. And, they are very helpful, especially the side opposite the boat dock. I have them set about 6 inches from the boat hull, and use them to walk on (on my knees) to spray Babes on the hull and wipe it down with a chamois after each use. The standard side bunks are made with 2x6 treated wood. When one of them needed the wood replaced, I used a 2x8 to make it even better to walk on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller S1Pitts Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 @LeonL - Absolutely the opposite of handy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MDB1056 Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 Complete kit- Boat Lift Distributors was about $1600, including shipping to a freight yard. Included V cradles, motor, mounting plate, pipe supports, greasable pulleys, stainless cable, switch, power cord. All you bring is a drive pipe and add bunks. Bunk mounts are easily adjustable for your boat. Bulletproof set up. I opted for the heavier duty (weight max) than needed, as always prefer safety margin . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skimtb Posted October 23, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 Call these guys, they can ship you a kit, just need a broker to ship to Canada, which is just a phone call I guess. Not sure on $$ for that. You would need to assemble though, which isn’t bad. Either way shouldn’t be $25k. http://www.lakesidelift.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Edmund Posted October 23, 2021 Author Baller Share Posted October 23, 2021 I started this thread and ended up buying the lift @skierjp and @NameUnavailable mention: Aluminum Boat Cradles. This summer I even bought and installed another one in my second slip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Billbert Posted October 25, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 25, 2021 We have had a lakeside lift for the last 10 seasons. Great lift and the cost point between it and shoremaster was significant at the time of purchase. Also in Canada. Ordered form an outfit in BC who had it drop shipped to us in Alberta. Cant say enough good things about the service of the dealer. Reach out to Jim at High n' Dry Boat Lifts. jim@lakesidelift.com (866)-861-9456. Jim will walk you through the assembly and anything else you might need to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpattigr Posted October 25, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 25, 2021 @S1Pitts I am in Calgary area, Great thing about Ski Boats is people buy gaint wakesurf boats and need bigger capacity lifts. Always lightweight used "Ski Boat" lifts for sale. Right now 2 for sale in Alberta on Kijiji. https://www.kijiji.ca/v-boat-parts-trailer-accessories/calgary/2021-hewitt-boat-lift-5600lbs/1590399211 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpattigr Posted October 25, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 25, 2021 And This one: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-boat-parts-trailer-accessories/edmonton/shore-master-3500lb-lift-with-canpoy/1572551337 Bet both are open to offers this time of year, would rather sale and not worry about winter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jpattigr Posted October 25, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 25, 2021 And there were a few others listed right now, even a Budget unit like this:https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/red-deer/boat-lift-with-canopy/1589455203 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller S1Pitts Posted October 26, 2021 Baller Share Posted October 26, 2021 @jpattigr Thank you for the links. That is a substantial savings , now just to get it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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