Boat Lift Issues

[xrated]

Year two of having a boat and year one of keeping it on a lift and I am at a real stumping point.

 

First how in the heck do you guys wipe the top of the bow down each time? Currently I have to get in the water to wipe the boat but I can't reach up to get the top of the bow.

 

Also I setup the bunks per friends suggestions, really very skinny. The concern is when the lift is raised (not all the way even) due to the height of the uprights on the bunks the boat feels woobley or shakey while cleaning up inside. I worry that could be an issue with a high wind. The uprights are as low as the holes allow right now but I am thinking I will mark the minimum clearance needed for the fins one night and remove the boat/bunks and drill out some new holes to allow the boat to be closer to the cross bars. Should that help the shakey movement and feel?

 

 

Last question, there was a guy on here who had hung screen or something off the canopy to block sun, etc. Can't seem to find that thread via search for some reason. Anyone recall what he used or how it was attached? Mhy lift location sees constant sun from about 9-9.

 

The lift is a Shoremaster cantilever.

 

Boat is lower in the pics from wiping down.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/6FA912F6-63F4-4F9E-8E55-017FB41E984B_zpsh1uhbjxx.jpg

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/01EB2E61-22A2-40D7-BF1E-64B6B8FD1B82_zpsa6shkbzl.jpg

[LeonL]

Item one, I guess you can step over the windshield, but I would build more of a walkway. That takes care of item two, wiping the boat from the water. Item three, it does appear that the bunks are very narrow. Is that the style of lift that cables run through the frame? I would spread them a bit. As far as being shakey, I say the whole lift is wobbling, not due to the bunk height. Lastly buy yourself a waterline cover.

[oldjeep]

Those bunks look crazy close to each other. Hard to see on this picture, but on my inlaws LXI the bunks are about where they are on the trailer - out towards the step in the hull. It sits nice and stable there.

 

As for wiping down, one of the guys I used to ski with had a step that ran the full side of the lift - clamped to the legs. That allowed him to walk down the side of the boat since his dock is set up like yours with a bump out that keeps you from reaching the front part of the boat.

 

 

[xrated]

Thanks guys. I double checked with another bud with the same lift and a 97 Nautique. He has his bunks 41" apart.

 

Think tonight or this weekend we will get the boat off and spread the bunks out and then check clearance for the fins with the new bunk location. Maybe toe the bunks in slightly at the front to act as a stop when coming in.

[The_MS]

@xrated check with @thager on the netting. He had a great system for his lift and knows how to get you set up.

[Zoro957]

I have a "T" dock section just in front of the bow to do a good wipe down. I also have a car washing pad that is mounted to an extending pole that can be used for a wipe down, or a quick wax. Got it a Walmart.

[thager]

@xrated

Try this. Nothing more than 2x 50 ft tennis fence netting, 3/4 inch square pvc frame. zip ties, some cheap pulleys and rope to raise it. Keeps the sun off and fishermen away.

[thager]

Almost forgot, some 9inch bungies. Maybe $100 into it.

 

[xrated]

Thanks @thager

 

 

Spread the bunks out to about 42 in back and 39 in front. Sits better, but still wobbly. I currently have 9" from the bottom of the front fin to the front cross bar, so with the fin being about 6" I can lower another 2.5" or so right?

 

I noticed the bunks aren't sitting exactly centered and not hugging the hull the same on each side. Is this bad or just the nature of the beast and something I should not worry about?

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/C6CFE48A-19DD-4788-BA05-C2D9C2417435_zpsg0h7xmyl.jpg

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/70DA95C1-B01F-4EDD-99EB-01144922C236_zpsvbmccytw.jpg

 

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/82AA7B39-EE14-4532-A3BF-5705C9A26262_zpsykpqhu5s.jpg

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/09E143F2-4CD8-425A-AB55-AEC52A76D029_zpsgjkupt2p.jpg

 

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/11B9C6CD-9705-4FA1-831E-FB51AE285FFC_zpszkfcn2ak.jpg

 

 

[xrated]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/82352445-18F9-41E9-A8A3-660F60580A49_zpsww893wt3.jpg

 

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/yz125x/184E90B7-E2DA-4EE4-B91E-5A5845984A41_zpsvzrigsjm.jpg

[Andy]

@thager that is a great idea.

[m_pags]

This set up solved my problem for wiping the boat down. I started with a hand built 2' wide dock around the boat and added the aluminum sections over a few years.

[thager]

@Andy It actually looks pretty good too. Going on 5 years now so my investment has been pretty cheap. Surprising how many boaters stop by and want to look at it. Always want to know where to buy one.

 

@xrated I would spread it out even more and you might want to consider removing the steel bunk boards and replacing with wood carpet covered2x6s if possible. The wood will mold to your boat shape giving the hull more support. If possible I would also lower the supports so the boat sits lower in the bunk. You're good as long as the prop shaft in not resting on the bunk cross beams at the desired position on the bunks.

 

 

 

[braindamage]

Set up your bunks the same dims as your trailer. Check to make sure all the clearance points ok. Definitely replace with wood carpet.

[mopowpow]

Ditto for @m_pags, we have a VW dock and added a 4' slip around our boat. We've just had 2x6s across the corners to reach the bow the last couple years, but filling in the corners this summer. Before that we had to rely on my husband's ape arms to reach as far as possible to wipe down the bow, and me hanging off the dock to get the rest.

[Fast351]

 

This is where I run the bunks on both my Nautiques. They sit just about under where the stringers that support the engine are. I figure that's the bulk of the weight, and it's worked well for the last couple years. You just need to be careful not to go too far under power and get the boat sideways into the lift. I pinged the prop on the ski boat once on the side of the upright.

 

 

[MDB1056]

Your "skinny" bunks set up looks WAY too skinny. Simple set up is to measure them to match your trailer bunks for same position. Agree with earlier comments 100% on getting 2X6 and carpeting for best support etc.

[xrated]

Last 5 times or so we have been working on figuring out where to stop the boat front to back in the lift and the bunks have been "settling" or cradling the hull much better. Also helps that as soon as the front starts to come out of the water I hop in and double check.

 

Netting for @thager's idea gets delivered today,PVC gets picked up tomorrow! Excited to quit having pine pollen all over everything.