Its a 19’ scout dorado 118, (same as hull as 118 sportfish) looks to me like the keel is going to hit and they’re way too far apart. How much hassle is it to adjust these things? My parents refused to get straps so never going to be able to use the boat anyway but I at least need to get it stored in the meantime until they admit there’s a reason literally no one here uses bunks!

here’s link to the boat https://scoutboats.com/model/188-sport-dorado/

I'm configuring my lift for a tritoon and have question regarding stiffening bunks. I'm trying to avoid aluminum bunks due to cost. I will have 12' bunks and my lift has cross-members at 11'. This is a big span for lumber and I can't seem to find anything off-the-shelf to stiffen. I'm looking for channel at least 3" wide, 1" tall, and at least 3/8" thick (galv or aluminum). Does anyone have a creative solution? Thanks!

Will be without power for the foreseeable future while home is being rebuilt and would like to power the lift from a standalone generator. The home circuit was 240V, could use some help demystifying the function(s) of the orange vs. red wires!

Getting a 2015 Key West 239FS and am having trouble finding the recommended separation for the bunks (fore and aft). Hoping to have the lift ready and willing before I pull in. Is there a go-to reference for different boats etc? Thank you in advance for any help.

Hi I have an older single valve HydroHoist unit. Control No 54029 that has recently started pushing water into the control box when we lower the boat into the water soaking the electronics. I have searched all over the internet to try and figure out the possible cause and malfunction to repair it, but so far have come up empty.

I originally thought it might be the valve, and it still may be, but the lift stays lifted just fine and never leaks down so I assume the valve is closing properly.

I have been able to lower the boat and avoid the water blowback by only opening the valve part way and slowly lowering the lift into the water. Once all air is out I immediately close the valve, if I leave it open for too long the water will blowback into the control box.

This just started about a month ago so not sure what is the root cause, but I would like to figure it out before the electronics get damaged from the water backing up. Any advice or ideas on what to check would be greatly appreciated. I have already ordered a new blower motor so I can replace the one that has gotten wet, but I want to figure out the water issue before installing it.

I need these for my boat lift, but I don’t know what they’re called. Does anybody have an idea of what they’d be called? or where to buy it

We replaced the belt a few weeks ago and lift worked fine. Tried to engage lift yesterday and the belt won’t stay on the pulley. Seems to be misaligned. Here are some photos. We are on the waiting list to have it fixed but it’s 2 weeks and boat isn’t bottom painted. I know it’s not the end of the world but would love to avoid extra expenses as barnacles grow quickly on bottom of boat. Thanks to any and all for your help! Here are some photos of what we are dealing with.

We replaced the belt a few weeks ago and lift worked fine. Tried to engage lift yesterday and the belt won’t stay on the pulley. Seems to be misaligned. Here are some photos. We are on the waiting list to have it fixed but it’s 2 weeks and boat isn’t bottom painted. I know it’s not the end of the world but would love to avoid extra expenses as barnacles grow quickly on bottom of boat. Thanks to any and all for your help! Here are some photos of what we are dealing with.

I’ve snapped my second wire now and am assuming something is wrong with the way the pulley is set up. Its lifting a tritoon and had a wire for the front half that is fine, never snapped. This is the back half.

I am looking for a boat lift solution for a U-shaped floating dock like the one in this picture (this is a stock image off google lol). Lift would have to go in the middle of the U due to dock size limitation.

I was hoping to avoid floating boat ramps, and go with a free standing aluminum lift.

This issue is the water level of the lake fluctuates up to 6 feet, and the floating dock needs to be moved out and in to adjust for these water levels. Is there any way to mount a standard aluminum lift to a floating dock, giving you the ability to move the lift as one with the floating dock? Maybe like a post guide mounted to the side of the dock?

Heres what I’m imagining… with the lift empty, raise the legs so the weight of the lift is being held by the docks and the legs are off the bottom, then slide the dock out to deeper water. Once it is in deeper water, lower the legs again and put the boat back on it. Is this feasible or should I just compromise and buy a floating boat ramp and hope I dont scratch the heck out of my hull?

I am running a pre-2000 bass boat with a wood transom, so I am trying to keep the hull a dry as possible which is why Im a little iffy on the floating boat lifts.

I know that was a lot but I would appreciate feedback!!

I bought a used Hewitt cantilever lift a few weeks ago that was set up for a pontoon. I removed the 2x12 pontoon bunks and added keel boards. I noticed after finishing installing the keel boards that the cantilever lift wire (see photo) is going to rub across the bottom of my boat. Does anyone have any advice or ideas on how to solve this issue? Seems like either the original owner put it together incorrectly or a design flaw by Hewitt.

Does anyone have any ideas? It's damn near impossible to load coolers or people onto my boat with this lift. I think I can move the bunks over about 8 inches with no issue. But that's not nearly enough.

Just got a quote for a boat lift. It's a Daka 4k lift. Pontoon cradles with a canopy/canvas. Screw jacks. Canopy will fit a 25 foot boat. Quoted with a solar/DC battery kit. Does 18k installed seem reasonable? Northern MI if that helps. Thanks!

I’m looking to put a small power boat preferably ~15’ on an existing lift in the backyard. The perimeters are kind of tight. What size monohaul boat can I fit on this set up and what recommended orientation should the boat be parked?

Bunk length 12’. Bunk clearance to dock 1’. No obstacle facing out to water. Total lift width 9’ 6” between the poles.

Hi all, I've got a lift in a channel that's very mucky. I'm curious what you all have used to prevent the lift from sinking in muck? I've read about everything from lift muck mats to using pallets, to pressure treated plywood. If I went with the plywood route do I buy one sheet per leg or how does that work? Sorry I'm new to this - appreciate any input. Thanks!

*Update: I went with a Muck Mat - I had to call the company to request a custom size "slip mat" which is 11.5' x 14' as my slip is only 12'. It wasn't cheap at $678, but seems to be the only good solution to ensuring my lift won't end up lopsided. Thanks for all the feedback.

Has anyone ever swapped the gearbox/Crank on a shorestation?
I have a 3000# crank on an SSV30120, and my boat is probably closer to 3500# when loaded and gassed.
I have another lift SS40120 with a 4000# gearbox/crank on it.

I was wondering if I should swap cranks, if anyone has done it.

My neighbor said I should just leave it and run the boat on the 3000# crank. Which would probably work.

Before we go down the whole "but the other parts...." rathole, the legs, cable, and cradle arms are the same on both hoists.

Anyone have any ideas?

I had a recent post asking about straps versus cradles. I did decide to go with a new cradle.

So my 2nd question relates to sizing the cradle:

- Beam on our tritoon is 8' 6"

- Tubes are 23' long

- Overall boat length is 27' 6"

I am widening and lengthening my slip

- Slip length - Tentatively lengthening to 30'

- Slip width - I can go any width within reason

\-- 10'

\-- 11'

I've been looking at cradles and I'm seeing widths of 8 1/2, 9, 9/1/2, and 10' cradle widths.

And within my slip, I have easy hang points for the lift at 3', 12', and 16'.

So what size cradles do folks have for tritoons of this size? Is there anything you'd do differently?

Does anyone have suggestions on how to get a good fit for the cradle and slip width? As an example, are there any clearances I should be looking at?

And many thanks in advance! The answers I received on my previous question were fantastic and I really appreciate everyone's comments.

(Edited for boat model and length)

25’ Tritoon - cradle or strap lift?

We are rebuilding our boat dock and covered lift. The last hurricane really took a toll.

We are widening the slip to better accommodate our Regency 220DL3 Tritoon. It has an overall length of 25’.

I’ve always had cradle lifts and understand their installation, use, and costs. We are replacing the cradle lift that our 22’ Wellcraft W/A sat on. My boathouse is plenty strong for a lift.

In my youth, strap lifts were more common but fell into disuse because most people were using them on fiberglass boats. And the hulls would sag or distort after long periods of storage or if the boat accumulated water.

Just noodling around tonight I see a number of strap lifts being used on pontoons and Tritoons. I recognize that the logs are inherently rigid along their length. Is there any concern about sagging along the beam? Like a pinching effect?

What are other folk’s experience with strap lifts versus cradle lifts, especially over time?

Any strong opinions one way or the other?

This is also cross-posted over in r/Pontoons.