What to do with rusty hose clamps?
What happens if you don't check in on a boat?
What happens if a cockpit hatch leaks?
What are the holes in a Mercury boat?
Why does my drive bellows rip?
Can dockside sinkings be prevented?
Can a boat have a cockpit scupper?
See 4 more
About this website
What causes a boat lift to sink?
Since boat lifts have galvanized steel or stainless steel cables, they are prone to rust, and a faulty drum winding, overloading, misalignment, and inadequate tension can cause the cables to wear out as well.
Should boat lift bunks be level?
The front and rear of your lift should be level to each other to distribute the pressure and weight of your boat more effectively. In many cases, the back legs will be longer than the front legs if the slope of the shoreline goes down, and depending on your waterfront, there might be changes between seasons.
Is it OK to leave boat lift in water?
Keep Your Dock Lift Out of the Water Leaving your boat lift in the water could result in damage from freezing conditions, especially if you live in an area where ice movement is common.
How do I stop my boat lift from swinging?
One thing that will help is to attach heavy duty ratchet straps to securely tie the boat to the lift. You can also use the straps to secure the boat to any available dock cleats or dock piles. This will prevent the boat from blowing off the lift or being carried away with the surge.
Where should my boat sit on a boat lift?
Your watercraft should always be centered on your boat lift, which means a balanced front and back and even sides during elevation. If you place it too far forward or back, the other end becomes lighter, which makes it easier for it to come free and move with the help of the waves.
How deep of water do you need for a boat lift?
three feetMost boat lift options work best with at least three feet of water, but shallow shorelines still have options. Go with a sling-style option to compensate for the lack of depth. Shallow water or kicked cradles are also beneficial for water that's more shallow on one side of your slip than the other.
Can I leave my boat lift in all winter?
Many people choose to leave hydraulic boat lifts in over the winter. This is possible in areas where ice flows aren't a concern. However, it is only possible so long as you properly flush the lines to ensure there is no moisture, and verify that the hydraulic fluid is formulated for winter weather conditions.
What do you do with a boat lift in the winter?
Unless you're planning on cold weather boating and have a system designed specifically for ice, we recommend simply removing your dock and lift at the end of the season to store safely out of the water.
Does a boat lift need to be removed in winter?
Remove the Lift from the Water Lifting your boat lift out of the water is the best way to keep it from getting damaged by the elements over the winter. Just one step means that your boat lift avoids freezing conditions, ice movement, and related damage.
How high should I raise my boat lift?
Answer: Most lifts add approximately 12” to the required water depth over and above the draft of the boat. The exact distance that the lift adds is the height of the cradle beam plus the amount of clearance between the centerline of the boat and the top of the cradle.
Can you leave your boat on a boat lift during a hurricane?
We do not recommend securing your boat to the boat lift during a hurricane. A boat lift is not the ideal place to store your vessel during a hurricane, as the storm surge can rise higher than your lift.
How high can boat lift go?
Vertical boat lifts are not restricted by H frames and therefore can lift much higher than a cantilever lift. Most vertical lifts can lift at least 60”. That means in 30” of water a vertical lift raise a boat 30” or more out of the water.
How do you set bunks on a boat lift?
1:543:24How To Adjust Your Boat Lift Bunks | ShoreMaster Lifts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith the vertical adjustment is. You don't want the keel of your boat resting on this beam rightMoreWith the vertical adjustment is. You don't want the keel of your boat resting on this beam right here you don't want the keel to take the weight of the boat you want the bunks to do the work for you.
How should a pontoon boat sit on a lift?
Always be sure that your boat is sitting straight on the lift, not too far forward, and not too far backward. This could put a strain on your lift and possibly lead to damage.
Are boat lifts necessary?
Clearly, you need a boat lift to protect your boat, maintain its value, and enjoy the water. They're well worth the investment when you consider the extra cost and resources that would result from water damage and deterioration.
How long should pontoon bunks be?
There isn't an exact length of bunk boards that are required for pontoon boat bunks but in general around 75 percent of the length of the boat should be the length of the pontoons and you'll be good. So for a pontoon boat that measures 16 feet your best bunk length would be right at 12 feet.
How Do You Cover Your Boat When Tied To A Dock?
I have had my Sylvan Explorer now for going on 12 years. To say I am emotionally attatched to her would be an understatement. The only rain that she has ever seen is if I am fishing on her. Other then that, she has a cover on her. At my old campground, I had a mooring. So, when I wasn't at the ca...
How much weight can a boat lift hold?
Think of setting your boat lift and boat in your lake — and say the total weight is 4,000 pounds. If you have four foot-plates that are one square foot each — then each one must hold 1,000 pounds. That’s a lot of weight for soft soil. No wonder your lift sinks.
Which area holds more weight on a boat lift?
As for weight distribution, the area closest to the foot plates on your boat lift will always be holding more weight than the edges of the BoatLift-Mat. How much more? You’d need a geotechnical engineer doing some pretty fancy calculus to figure it out.
How does a BoatLift Mat work?
If you looked at our BoatLift Mat material with a big magnifying glass , you’d see it looks like a lot of tiny pyramids woven into the fabric. When you place this fabric on submerged soil, the first thing it does is trap soil particles in the tiny pyramids. It creates “interlocking” soil particles.
What is a boatlift mat?
The Boatlift Mat distributes the weight of your lift and boat over a larger area — plus it locks soft, mucky soil in place, preventing your lift from sinking. The BoatLift Mat distributes the weight of your lift and boat over a larger area — plus it locks soft, mucky soil in place, preventing your lift from sinking.
How to reduce sinking on boat lift?
The first and cheapest option is to enlarge the size of the base pads you are using on your dock or boatlift as to expand the surface area the system is resting on, this distributes the weight of your equipment more evenly and helps from excess sinking to occur. In many situations, a base pad that is 8″ x 8″ is just not going to be large enough to not continually sink further down into the mud and silt. Upgrading to a larger 12″ x 12″ base pad or even a 16″ x 16″ pad can greatly improve a docks stability and prevent sinking.
How to clean a lakefront?
These sweeps push an incredible amount of water constantly along your lakefront. They utilize the concept of aeration and current to naturally remove silt, muck, weeds and rotting debris from the surface and bottom of the water column. This action, over time, creates a clean and clear lakefront for your property. AquaSweeps can clear an area 50 – 100ft around of all the types of mucky mess and debris we all dislike so much to swim around and install lifts and docks in. Removing these types of material from your lakefront clears the water column, eliminates odors or rotting marine debris and creates a healthy home for aquaculture by preventing extreme stratification where access sediments pose issues. Simply mount a muck blaster to your dock, turn on the oscillation feature and watch the system move the water in every direction and before you know it your lakefront will be clear. After some time the light layer of silt on the lake bottom under your dock and lift will be blown away by the HydroSweeps current and the harder bottom will be available to install your dock and lifts on, finally giving you a solid surface to work with.
What is muck in a lake?
Muck is a part of many inland lakes, rivers and canals. With everyone trying to have the biggest and best boat lift and dock systems on their property no matter how bad the bottom is on their lakefront, things like AquaSweeps and HydroSweeps are going to become ever more popular and necessary for keeping these areas workable and ready for installation and play time.
What is the toughest obstacle to overcome in a lakefront situation?
Muck is by far the toughest obstacle to overcome in any lakefront situation. It can prevent you from ever leveling your boatlift, creating a stable walking surface on your dock and is very unpleasant to swim around or step into.
What to do with rusty hose clamps?
Do regular checks on all below-the-waterline fittings and connections. Replacing rusty hose clamps with one, or even two, quality stainless-steel clamps on hoses below the waterline is a good idea, as is replacing worn hoses with sturdy, reinforced ones.
What happens if you don't check in on a boat?
If nobody is checking in on a regular basis, one or two minor leaks, or an unlucky rain or snow that ends up in the bilge, could sink her down. Super important point: Visit the boat. Winter or not, regular visits by you or marina staff can many times catch a boat that is starting to sink.
What happens if a cockpit hatch leaks?
If the hatches leak — especially cockpit hatches where rainwater can accumulate — then we can end up with water in the bilge, an overwhelmed bilge pump, and a progressive sinking situation. Hatches need to have good, watertight gaskets, and they need to be able to be dogged down.
What are the holes in a Mercury boat?
Your Boat is Full of Holes Mercury Marine. Your Boat is Full of Holes. Not to be an alarmist, but your boat is likely already full of holes below the waterline. These can include holes for a drain plug, mounting bolts, transducers, sensors, through-hull valves and other items.
Why does my drive bellows rip?
The bellows maintain their watertight seal while allowing the drive to turn side to side and trim up and down, but these repeated movements can eventually result in tearing from fatigue. Age and deterioration can cause the rubber to break down over time, especially if exposed to heat or other harsh conditions.
Can dockside sinkings be prevented?
The upside to that? With some forethought, most dockside sinkings are entirely preventable . Here is a 10-point punch list based on the findings by BoatU.S. to keep your boat from sinking in its slip.
Can a boat have a cockpit scupper?
It's not uncommon to see a boat with cockpit scuppers or freeing ports designed to sit barely above the waterline once people, gear and fuel are aboard. Now replace that two-stroke outboard with a heavier-by-200-pounds four-stroke and watch the scuppers sink down to the waterline before people and gear are aboard.
What to use for a soft muck bottom?
Large cast plates are the simplest option for a soft muck bottom, however if you are getting into a rough situation with more than 14” of muck you may have to use bottom boards. The way to do this is to use a small bottom plate clamped up the pole about 1.5’.
How long is a standard dock bottom plate?
Most standard sized bottom plates are around 6 ”.
Can you put a dock in muck?
Muck bottoms can be a challenge. Installing a dock in muck traditionally means getting a long pole and augering it in until it hits something solid. This can work but it takes a considerable amount of effort and in some cases you will never find the bottom.
What to do with rusty hose clamps?
Do regular checks on all below-the-waterline fittings and connections. Replacing rusty hose clamps with one, or even two, quality stainless-steel clamps on hoses below the waterline is a good idea, as is replacing worn hoses with sturdy, reinforced ones.
What happens if you don't check in on a boat?
If nobody is checking in on a regular basis, one or two minor leaks, or an unlucky rain or snow that ends up in the bilge, could sink her down. Super important point: Visit the boat. Winter or not, regular visits by you or marina staff can many times catch a boat that is starting to sink.
What happens if a cockpit hatch leaks?
If the hatches leak — especially cockpit hatches where rainwater can accumulate — then we can end up with water in the bilge, an overwhelmed bilge pump, and a progressive sinking situation. Hatches need to have good, watertight gaskets, and they need to be able to be dogged down.
What are the holes in a Mercury boat?
Your Boat is Full of Holes Mercury Marine. Your Boat is Full of Holes. Not to be an alarmist, but your boat is likely already full of holes below the waterline. These can include holes for a drain plug, mounting bolts, transducers, sensors, through-hull valves and other items.
Why does my drive bellows rip?
The bellows maintain their watertight seal while allowing the drive to turn side to side and trim up and down, but these repeated movements can eventually result in tearing from fatigue. Age and deterioration can cause the rubber to break down over time, especially if exposed to heat or other harsh conditions.
Can dockside sinkings be prevented?
The upside to that? With some forethought, most dockside sinkings are entirely preventable . Here is a 10-point punch list based on the findings by BoatU.S. to keep your boat from sinking in its slip.
Can a boat have a cockpit scupper?
It's not uncommon to see a boat with cockpit scuppers or freeing ports designed to sit barely above the waterline once people, gear and fuel are aboard. Now replace that two-stroke outboard with a heavier-by-200-pounds four-stroke and watch the scuppers sink down to the waterline before people and gear are aboard.
