boat lift type

Big Carni · Posted: Mar 28, 2007 8:53 am Post subject: boat lift type

I'm finally getting a lift for my MasterCraft 210, is there a perfered lift out there for inboard boats? I at least know the obvious which is that I need a 4000 lbs lift, but does it need to have bunks on it? How well does a canopy work w/ a tower and do they make certain types for towers?

What types of lifts is everyone else using and what do you like or dislike about them?

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

there are special boat lifts that fit inboards. The bunks are straight - kind of like a trailer.

I have never been a fan of a canopy, but that is because where we are we have birds that crap all over the canopy and make it really unsightly, plus, I am not really adverse to not putting a cover on the boat.

paus21 · Posted: Mar 28, 2007 9:31 am Post subject:

Shorestation is what the majority of people around here have. You can get a winch or hydraulic one. The hydraulic ones are awesome. Just push button lift and drop. Their canopy's legs can be extended so you can fit it in there without dropping your tower. The canopy is key for me. Mine tore towards the end of the summer and it sucked. My boat cover was covered in crap and the rain would puddle in it. Those rain poles dont stop everything from pooling. I would rather have crap on my canopy then on my cover.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 28, 2007 9:33 am Post subject:

It depends on the depth and conditions of your lake and where you want to put the lift. We went with a Sun Stream 5,000lb lift and it works great.

Big Carni · Posted: Mar 29, 2007 9:00 am Post subject:

i think the canopy would be really nice, because covering the boat everytime would be a pain. However, that canopy would have to be so dang high up to get the tower under there w/out folding it down. Doesn't the wind catch it?

I'll have to go check out Shorestation, it looks like there is a dealer pretty close by. Thanks for the input.

paus21 · Posted: Mar 29, 2007 9:12 am Post subject:

It doesn't have to be that high and I haven't problems with the wind. This is mine but with an old cover. The new ones hang down a little lower. The canopy is great for the times you roll in late or are too lazy to put the cover on.

Broccoli B · Posted: Mar 29, 2007 10:28 am Post subject:

This is a 3600 pound shore master with the extended canopy legs.

Kewlboarder27r · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 497 City: Mound

I like the vertical Floe electric lifts.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

I have a hydraulic lift from Hewitt. Instead of the canopy, I installed a permanent metal roof. It required a special order for the roof with custom trusses, but the roof now requires no maintenance. The additional cost for the roof wasn't hat much more than the canopy. I ordered directly from the manufacuture and installed it myself and saved 1000s. I highly recommend.

Yes you need the custom bunks, but again not too expensive.

Big Carni · Posted: Apr 03, 2007 11:13 am Post subject:

I appreciate all the feedback. As i'm finding out about the different vendors, i'm checking their websites for local reps.

thanks...

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

I see you're from MN. I'd recommend checking out what Vibo has to offer. They only sell factory direct (North Branch, MN). Final assembly is also up to you. It took two of us about 1 hour to do the assembly. When I went to pick it up, the components were already loaded and strapped down on a loaner trailer

We bought one of their 3600 lb cantilever lifts last spring for our 21' Centurion. No special bunks are required, just the full length style. They do offer a special cutout on the frame of the lift to accomodate the shaft on inboards (I think that's a $100 adder).

We didn't get the cover due to concerns about the lift flipping in a wind storm if the boat isn't in the lift. We routinely go a week or two with the boat not on the lift.

http://www.vibomarine.com/index.htm

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 04, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

I find it so weird, ive never seen one of these type of lifts anywhere besides on this site. Everyone around here has a boat house with a built in hoist.

Big Carni · Posted: Apr 04, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject:

that would be really nice to have a boat house with a hoist. We have building restriction in MN that prohibits you from building that close or in the water.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794