A few questions to ponder--looking for insights from the gurus

[sailor55330]

So, as I sit in the dead of winter, hating every minute of it, I'm confident that better things are in the works, but still with the idle time, thoughts do be running through my head.....so in no particular order (but of differing degrees of relevance), I thought I'd throw them out here for the heck of it, so here it goes. Feel free to play along or pass, your call....

The boat show---did you/will you have one....did you/would you go? Ours was cancelled, but would have passed if it was open.

Boat lifts...how much capacity is enough. An R3 weighs 4400 dry, probably max 4900 weight wet. How much lift do you need? 5,000, 6,600, 10k? Seems like for an R3, 6600 would work well. And no, not playing for the future of "bigger boat in 2 years", playing for the now.

Boat Lifts---new or refurbished. Would you consider a refurbished lift from a dealer or only go new? Seems to be about a 40% price difference. Since some of the lifts have lifetime float guarantees, it makes for interesting discussion.

How much clearance is needed for an R series on a lift with the standard Bimini? I'm guessing about 10ft, similar to on a trailer.

EOH for the trailer vs surge. Would you do it? On flat ground, probably not, but in hills country? Is a quote of $450 max to install them (by a very reputable trailer shop) a good one? Doesn't include parts. Sure, I could do it myself, but I hate messing with electrical. Plus I'm the guy who always runs into something. Every 2 hour project I've ever done has taken me 8 hours do to unexpected issues.

Trailer tires...Good Year Endurance still the best out there?

Oh yeah, I think I'm supposed to say "asking for a friend".

[ajcampen]

So, as I sit in the dead of winter, hating every minute of it, I'm confident that better things are in the works, but still with the idle time, thoughts do be running through my head.....so in no particular order (but of differing degrees of relevance), I thought I'd throw them out here for the heck of it, so here it goes. Feel free to play along or pass, your call....

The boat show---did you/will you have one....did you/would you go? Ours was cancelled, but would have passed if it was open.

Boat lifts...how much capacity is enough. An R3 weighs 4400 dry, probably max 4900 weight wet. How much lift do you need? 5,000, 6,600, 10k? Seems like for an R3, 6600 would work well. And no, not playing for the future of "bigger boat in 2 years", playing for the now.

Boat Lifts---new or refurbished. Would you consider a refurbished lift from a dealer or only go new? Seems to be about a 40% price difference. Since some of the lifts have lifetime float guarantees, it makes for interesting discussion.

How much clearance is needed for an R series on a lift with the standard Bimini? I'm guessing about 10ft, similar to on a trailer.

EOH for the trailer vs surge. Would you do it? On flat ground, probably not, but in hills country? Is a quote of $450 max to install them (by a very reputable trailer shop) a good one? Doesn't include parts. Sure, I could do it myself, but I hate messing with electrical. Plus I'm the guy who always runs into something. Every 2 hour project I've ever done has taken me 8 hours do to unexpected issues.

Trailer tires...Good Year Endurance still the best out there?

Oh yeah, I think I'm supposed to say "asking for a friend".

It’s funny, I am about to buy a vertical lift myself from a company called rgc marine out of Buffalo. These r the type that is on the bottom of the lake and lift boat up. Someone told me they test them with 1500lbs more than the 6000lb limit I am buying mine specked for. I would buy used but can’t find one.

I bought endurance tires because they have better specs but I can’t prove they r worth them money.

[tgrace98]

My R7 Dry is 5600lbs and I have a 6600lb lift and it lifts it no problem with me in it all our gear and a full tank of fuel (78 gal)

I have a floating lift since I am on a flood control lake (Core of engineers lake) so its poly tanks and mounted to the sides of my slip. I purchased mine new mainly because I got a deal on it. Bought it from the marina I'm at in the middle of winter when revenue was 0.

[Big Block Power]

I would buy a bayliner it weighs less and can get a 3000 lbs lift and you don't need brakes because cares if it stops. I played. Love ya Sailor!

[sailor55330]

BBP—-so glad you played! I gotta tell ya after not posting posting for a while, I sure missed A7!!!

J/k. Loce you man! The Bayliner comment was a good one!! A former neighbor had a tired bAyliner and I don’t think I would have trusted that think in a rainstorm on a high hill!

[Big Block Power]

BBP—-so glad you played! I gotta tell ya after not posting posting for a while, I sure missed A7!!!

J/k. Loce you man! The Bayliner comment was a good one!! A former neighbor had a tired bAyliner and I don’t think I would have trusted that think in a rainstorm on a high hill!

Anytime. I am the one that would go to the show. Heck I just came back from a vac in AZ. Is what it is. I wear a mask and wash my hands and then take a alcohol bath at night just in case I missed a spot or didn't wash my hands for 20 seconds.
I would buy a used lift as I got a used wife so why not get one for the boat too. She's a heavy one so I would go 6600.
Electric brakes is the way I would go.

[Anesslet]

I live in MN and we didn’t have our boat show this year. I would have gone if they’d had it.

Good question on the weight for boat lift. I think you’d be fine with a quality 5000lb lift but might as well go for 6000 if you can.

I bought a brand new lift 2 years ago. Just decided I didn’t want to mess around with used. I’m not that handy so for me it was the right move.

I don’t have much expertise on the other stuff. Here’s to summer just around the corner!

[bruceb58]

I have EOH. Installed it myself and well worth it. Wiring is not that bad.

I just bought Maxxis tires. Personally, I trust them better(been using them for a LONG time) than Endurance since they have been out forever and Endurance has been out around 4 years.

[Luv2HuntAR]

Now that duck season is closed, the winter begins .... I bought a used, floating lift for my R5 at the end of last summer when the majority of the slip leases expire. It’s about 8 years old with poly tanks. Not sure of the capacity, but it had a 6100# 24ft Supra on it. I knew it would hold my R5; it’s in great shape - no leaks that I know of. I think I paid ~$1500 for the lift. After pricing a new one just like it, I decided to go the cheap route. No clearance issue for me; I have no clue of the minimums.

Central Arkansas held its boat show this past weekend. The crowd was thin, but I did prowl around an R6 and an A29. They’re great looking boats, but neither gave me the fever for an upgrade. But, I would like something to stress my lift a little more in a couple of years.

I took my 2nd dose of vaccine last week. Traveling and crowds are not as concerning to me now.

[sailor55330]

BBP—-so glad you played! I gotta tell ya after not posting posting for a while, I sure missed A7!!!

J
I would buy a used lift as I got a used wife so why not get one for the boat too. She's a heavy one so I would go 6600.

I had to re-read this....BBP, I thought for a minute you were saying your wife was the heavy one......

lol

[Big Block Power]

BBP—-so glad you played! I gotta tell ya after not posting posting for a while, I sure missed A7!!!

J
I would buy a used lift as I got a used wife so why not get one for the boat too. She's a heavy one so I would go 6600.

I had to re-read this....BBP, I thought for a minute you were saying your wife was the heavy one......

lol

I'm saying nothing. I wrote it that way on purpose. Got ya

[MnLakeBum]

My Shore Station lift for the R5 Surf has a 6,000-pound capacity, but they can handle 15% more than that easily. There are hundreds of them on our lake, and I've never heard of one of them breaking. I'd certainly buy used if you can save 40%. That wasn't an option when I bought mine, and I really wanted the power screens, so I don't have to mess with a cover. 10 feet sound right for the clearance - I had to have mine adjusted higher after the initial install, so I didn't have to lower the tower.

[sailor55330]

Shore station is top shelf no doubt. I have a buddy who has one and it’s super nice. Problem is I don’t know if they make a floating lift. Gull’s water levels stay very stable. Hypothetically need something that can adapt to a floating dock and changing water levels

[Holy Smokes]

Went to the Overland Park (KS) boat show last weekend. It's put on by the LOMDA (Lake Ozarks Marine Dealers Assoc.) so they bring in some pretty big hitters. Village Marine always has a great Cobalt display and they didn't disappoint again this year. Attendance seemed down.

In regards to a lift, the lift guys at LOTO always tell me 15-20% more than listed dry weight. Accounts for oil, fuel, gear, etc. Floating lifts at LOTO are dominated by HydroHoist, PolyLift and Galva-Lift manufacturers. I've been told to stay with the "toon-type" round tanks versus the larger square tank systems.

I don't tow much anymore, but always hear good things about EOH braking systems and Goodyear Endurance tires.

[okielaker]

Had a 4400# lift (Hydrohoist, poly) before I got this boat... 2008 272 listed at 5250#, dry.
After some searching, I came across an older (fiberglass tanks) 10,000# Hydrohoist,
at a marina on the Texas side of Lake Texoma. Traded the smaller lift for the bigger
one, plus bunk adjustments for my hull (had to kick in some $$).

Been very satisfied with the extra lift capacity. Had a tiny air leak in one of the valves,
which stopped with a little tightening, once located. The asking price for the 10,000#
lift was less than half the price of a new 8,800# Hydrohoist.

YT convinced me that a back-in setup was the way to go, and the ones I had seen seemed
very convenient. After a season, I found backing in was maybe a little easier than nose-
first (steering is on the lead end, when backing).