deerfield
03-06-2009, 03:34 PM
I need to alter the orientation of my lift due to a change in boat slip assignments for the upcoming season. Rather than having a pier on both sides of the boat as I did last summer, this season there will be only one pier and it will be on the starboard side of the boat. The boat lift will be rotated 180 degrees from how it was positioned last season so the manual wheel remains accessable from a pier.
Here's what I want to know: Who has kept his boat on a lift with the bow pointed out? In other words, when it's time to go play you simply pull out in a throttle forward position and when it's time to put things away the boat gets backed into the lift and sits with the swim platform pointed toward the shore?
Direct drive in reverse is a hasstle. So I'd have to figure out how I would get the boat back onto the lift. However, I like the idea of having direct access to the swim platform from the main pier. It would make getting the cover off/on and entry into the cockpit more convenient. Also, the swim platform could double as a sort of a table for food and drinks. Just set some chairs on the main pier and raise the boat a few feet.
The water is deep enough that the cradle sits well below the prop, rudder, and skegs. There would be no danger of damage to underwater parts.
Is this backend-in-first idea crazy?
Here's what I want to know: Who has kept his boat on a lift with the bow pointed out? In other words, when it's time to go play you simply pull out in a throttle forward position and when it's time to put things away the boat gets backed into the lift and sits with the swim platform pointed toward the shore?
Direct drive in reverse is a hasstle. So I'd have to figure out how I would get the boat back onto the lift. However, I like the idea of having direct access to the swim platform from the main pier. It would make getting the cover off/on and entry into the cockpit more convenient. Also, the swim platform could double as a sort of a table for food and drinks. Just set some chairs on the main pier and raise the boat a few feet.
The water is deep enough that the cradle sits well below the prop, rudder, and skegs. There would be no danger of damage to underwater parts.
Is this backend-in-first idea crazy?