- Boatlift - Pics or Sketches Please -

[jvb]

This is a bit of a niche question:
I am curious if any of you ever came across a sturdy boat lift, or ramp, or sled on rails, or similar - capable of safely extracting/launching a mid size rib.

I was asked to build a super sturdy and ever-lasting way to take our club-rib out of the water in any condition and tidal level.

our location will have to be a rocky embankment with loads of current and waves. the tidal movement is about 3metees here.


All your ideas are welcome!
- Send Pics or Sketches Please -

THANK YOU FOR YOUR IDEAS

[Nasher]

Such a bad idea?

Nasher

[jvb]

Thank you Nasher, not so bad! But I guess the distance to be bridged is going to be too wide. The bank is quite wide and the tide range is quide big. I was thinking about a ramp or rail system with a sled on a winch?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by jvb

Thank you Nasher, not so bad! But I guess the distance to be bridged is going to be too wide. The bank is quite wide and the tide range is quide big. I was thinking about a ramp or rail system with a sled on a winch?

There's a homebuilt system used by a local club:

https://sites.google.com/site/forthy...a-small-income

they have the advantage that it was a mining town when the club started and "access" to rails, bogeys, and the associated engineering was relatively easy.

I'm not sure that once you've dealt with permissions, foundations, and getting sea water-compatible materials that there's any great advantage of rails over a normal slipway.

Certainly, it's possible to use a winch rather than a car/tractor to haul a trailer up a slip.

[jvb]

Thank you Poly,
we only have permission for a very narrow slip or rail. and it needs to be a remote controlled system because it is on an island with nobody to prepare it when arriving/leaving by boat.
its a tricky one...

i was imagining a cradle on rails pulled by a cable.

seater and tide will take their toll. so kt must be all very very low tech.

[Poly]

My concern with unattended operation (other than some fairly obvious safety concerns if there happens to be someone else around who gets in its way) is that these sort of things rarely run perfectly smoothly without someone around who can step in or spot things jamming or needing greased regularly.

I’d like to understand more about your club though - it sounds like you have an unusual arrangement - how do you get to the island at the moment? How do you store /launch the rib just now?

[paulhe35]

Not a RIB but a boat lift nevertheless. Situated on the River Tyne.

[jvb]

that lift looks interesting! we just acquired the former lighthouse to re-use it in the future. so i guess we can count in some regular maintenance for the future too.

[paulhe35]

When I'm next out, which will be after 1 March 2021 (boat in yard for the winter) I'll get a bit closer and see if I can see who made it.

[paulhe35]

And... Powerboat & RIB Magazine October 2020 did a one page article on a boatlift similar to the one I posted a picture of and the address of the manufacturer www.goldenboatlifts.com