| Winter storms, nor'easters, hurricanes and other | | | | as inward could cause catastrophic hull failure. |
| unusual weather patterns have contributed to | | | | Boaters want safer, GREEN extended storage |
| excessive damage not only to moored and | | | | options to reduce the risk of damage from winter |
| docked boats and yachts, but also to the marine | | | | ice, heavy rains, high winds, and other weather |
| structures they are secured to. The conventional | | | | related causes. A boat lift provides the owner |
| docking of watercraft and vessels from 600 to | | | | with the convenience of storing their vessel |
| 180,000 pounds can be avoided by having a | | | | adjacent to any seawall, bulkhead, dock or slip |
| watercraft, boat or yacht lift. | | | | year-round. Annual maintenance and storage costs |
| Federal, state and local agencies and authorities in | | | | are reduced, the need for trailer ownership and |
| some locations actually mandate their use. | | | | operation costs are eliminated, including the risk |
| Why?Because the water has problems! Big | | | | and liability that goes along with it. Go-Fast and |
| problems! GREEN, Non-polluting docking and | | | | performance boaters want a way to store their |
| storage lift systems are now the accepted state | | | | boats without having to paint the bottom, yet be |
| of the art. Boaters should have what is right for | | | | able to put their boat in and out of the water fast |
| the environment. Especially in many new marina | | | | and "on-demand." Clean, slick bottoms not only |
| facilities. In some cases the law is that, upon | | | | reduce fuel consumption and increase speed, but |
| approval of permits, you must install personal | | | | also preserve the value of the boat at resale |
| watercraft, boat and yacht lifts to mitigate | | | | time. |
| pollution. The more boats floating in the water, | | | | Let's take an example of a rough cost estimate |
| then the more bottom paint in contact with and | | | | for a lift that only includes the direct costs |
| leaching into the water, the more boats the | | | | associated with the lift system and relate it to an |
| increase of shading of the water bottom. More | | | | average boat. |
| boats increase liability resulting from dangerous or | | | | Rough Cost Estimate - 36' Boat weight = 15,000 |
| inclement weather causing unnecessary damage | | | | pounds total weight including engines,fuel, water, |
| to the environment and property. Boaters should | | | | waste, appliances, equipment and 10% of the dry |
| have security! When your 20-, 40-, 60- or | | | | weight for gear. |
| 150-foot long conventional, go-fast boat or yacht | | | | 16,000 lb. Lift with sealed gear drive winch |
| must be secure, "LIFT IT!" | | | | system (top of the line lift) = $7,300, |
| Boaters must have faster, [lift speeds to 54"/min] | | | | Permit applications and expediting = $2,100, |
| less expensive, more convenient, year-round, | | | | Four piles installed @ $550 ea. = $2,200, Lift |
| non-polluting GREEN docking, storage and lifting | | | | installation = $2,600, Electrical = $ 800 |
| systems. Boaters must have increased life of | | | | Total = $15,000. |
| their fiber-reinforced polymer laminate hull or | | | | ABOUT $1.00/lb of the boat weight. |
| metal hull. This is a must for laminate hull owners. | | | | So as the boat weight/size increases, the lift cost |
| For more than 35 years "osmotic blisters" have | | | | will go down. A lift system purchased and used in |
| been a common cause of laminate hull failure in | | | | northern U. S. waters can be amortized and |
| composite fiber-reinforced laminate hulls. Every | | | | justified over a three-year period just based upon |
| laminate vessel, no matter what size or age, has | | | | the savings from winterization and summarization |
| the potential for developing this laminate hull | | | | storage costs in a boat or yacht yard. Added to |
| disease. Osmosis and permeation of seawater | | | | that is the boat's security, safety, convenience, |
| through the laminate surface or gel coat and | | | | longevity of the laminate hull or metal hull, hauling |
| outer reinforcement layers, traps water behind | | | | and storage costs, hull cleaning, bottom painting, |
| that surface, causes a chemical reaction and then | | | | running gear maintenance, trailer costs (when |
| the evolution of gas blowing blisters into or out of | | | | applicable) and other important aspects. |
| the hull surface. Hopefully out of the hull surface, | | | | Safe and Happy GREEN Boating -- and lifting! |