Boat Lift? Confused

[dmbisbest]

Hello All,

Went to the boat show this weekend to find a boat lift for my recently purchased 2009 Z1 (3700 lbs dry).

They all look alike!!! Wth!

I seemed to like:
* ShoreStation
* Hewitt (based on recommendation here)
* Floe

Any positives or negatives on each? Anything special to watch out for?

I know I need extended legs to accommodate the tower and am in Minnesota so need to bring it out of the water in the winter.

Help!

[bspot]

I have experience with the floe and the shorestation. Floe is a very nice lift but lots of moving parts, most likely more maintenance over the years but very easy to extend and retract the legs. Shorestation is a very nice simple lift. I had one before selling my RZR and needed a bigger lift and now have a shoremaster for my Z3 and love it. With boat lifts you get what you pay for. Buy local so when you need parts in the future they are easy to come by.

[boardman74]

We have shorestation and haven't had any problems. I am also looking for a new one after upgrading boats. My advice...find a used one. About half the cost and the things really don't wear out. Your going to want a canopy and make sure it has a good wheel kit.

The lift legs have nothing to do with the tower. Legs are what sits on the bottom and levels it. I think you are talking the posts for the canopy. Most get pretty high and will be ok with the tower up. I also suggest the extended sides on the canopy since you can't get the boat as far up into the canopy with the tower up.

Tons of used ones around. Craigslist to most of the new sellers have used. Let me know if you need a hand or places to look. I'm local in the metro.

[dmbisbest]

We have shorestation and haven't had any problems. I am also looking for a new one after upgrading boats. My advice...find a used one. About half the cost and the things really don't wear out. Your going to want a canopy and make sure it has a good wheel kit.

The lift legs have nothing to do with the tower. Legs are what sits on the bottom and levels it. I think you are talking the posts for the canopy. Most get pretty high and will be ok with the tower up. I also suggest the extended sides on the canopy since you can't get the boat as far up into the canopy with the tower up.

Tons of used ones around. Craigslist to most of the new sellers have used. Let me know if you need a hand or places to look. I'm local in the metro.

Thanks!

You are correct, I meant the posts for the canopy. I like the idea of the extended sides, they were talking about them at the boat show this weekend.

I will keep checking craigslist but I dont want to put my sweet new boat on a boatlift that is too small, too big, falls over, etc.

[boardman74]

Plenty of used ones out there. Probably need at least a 4000 lb. Most are 108 inches wide. If you by used you will probably have to buy the inboard specific bunks. Most are set up for I/O runabouts. For what you are looking for you can easily spend $6000+ new. Used you can cut that in half. I would also recommend a vertical lift over the older cantilever style.

[jacques2727]

I went with a Hewitt and it is a very good lift. Very robust and well built. However last year two of my neighbors bought the FLOE and I'm a little ticked at how easily they go in/out of the water. We spent an hour getting my Hewitt in and set up and they just float theirs out on the float kit that they purchased with the lift. I also have to dive down to re-adjust the pins for water level as the summer goes on, and they just attach a drill and adjust the legs from the dock. If I had to do it again I'm pretty sure I'd go with the FLOE just for the adjustability and ease of installation/removal. A 2 person job vs. a 5 person job with my Hewitt.

[bmoorewiz]

http://www.sunstreamcorp.com/v-lift.htm

The VLIFT is awesome!

[dmbisbest]

HS - boat lifts are expensive. Seems like everyone at the boat show wants between $8k and $10k for their lifts. Been looking at Craigslist but nothing there that seems to fit the Tige!

Any suggestions where to find one in the $5k-$6k range? That will still last!

[boardman74]

I can give you a couple places you can buy brand new ones for that. I guess it depends on what you want.

The used ones I am finding by the cabin are in the 2500-3500 range in excellent condition.

Lifts I have been pricing are 4000 lb verticals. With canopy, no extended sides(making them myself for cheaper), inboard bunks, and wheel kits for getting in and out. Most are shore stations. Guy in town quoted me right around $5000 for the same thing brand new floated to my dock.

[dmbisbest]

I can give you a couple places you can buy brand new ones for that. I guess it depends on what you want.

The used ones I am finding by the cabin are in the 2500-3500 range in excellent condition.

Lifts I have been pricing are 4000 lb verticals. With canopy, no extended sides(making them myself for cheaper), inboard bunks, and wheel kits for getting in and out. Most are shore stations. Guy in town quoted me right around $5000 for the same thing brand new floated to my dock.

Yeah, hook me up. My z1 is 3700 lb dry so people have been quoting me 4600 - 5200 lb lifts. Overkill?

Where is your cabin? I used to be in crosslake w the X. But she kept the runabout and I got to buy the new wakeboard boat

[boardman74]

I am going to the cabin here in a couple hours. I will try to get the name of the places up there I have been too. They are way cheaper than down here. You might have to move it down here but most will fit on a snowmobile trailer and I know a dealer who rents those by the weekend pretty cheap if you don't have one. I will shoot you a PM Sunday or Monday with the info.

Our cabin is in Battle Lake, which is about 17 miles east of Fergas Falls. About a 3 hour drive.

[dmbisbest]

I am going to the cabin here in a couple hours. I will try to get the name of the places up there I have been too. They are way cheaper than down here. You might have to move it down here but most will fit on a snowmobile trailer and I know a dealer who rents those by the weekend pretty cheap if you don't have one. I will shoot you a PM Sunday or Monday with the info.

Our cabin is in Battle Lake, which is about 17 miles east of Fergas Falls. About a 3 hour drive.

Thanks man. Really appreciate it. I am talking to a guy in D Lakes already.

Let me know what you find out!

[M&M]

2000 20CI, Misouri Ozarks. I am a furniture dealer. I traded 2 La-z-boy Reclina Rockers for my Hydra Hoist 30 years ago. Zero problems with the unit. It has fiberglass tanks. I have replaced the vacuum motor. My pontoon sits on a Boat Floater and zero problems. This unit has poly tanks. I have replaced the vacuum motor on this one too. M&M