How do you dig out your boat when the water gets really low on the lakes?

[ra6991]

My boat is just getting to the point of not being able to get it in and out of the boat house due to the low water. Has anyone tried ways to dredge out the sand under the boat house so the lift will drop down lower? We used a hoe and shovel and got about a inch or so more but I was hoping for a more efficient way of getting the silt out from under the boat house to lower the boat more?

thanks in advance.

[CradGen2]

I would check to see if your lake has a crew you could hire. They will bring in equipment to dig you out. They use to dredge our canal very couple years. Nice thing is they hull away the sand.

[WakeSlayer]

I have a friend who used a power sprayer in a silty bottom, slightly rocked channel. Said it was a biatch to do, but it did work. In MN, I have the exact opposite problem. Already pulled the Mustang 3 weeks ago until I can get a crew to move my lift. Dock is level with the water as of this afternoon. May have to pull the SAN as I am going on vaca Saturday..... just the craziest weather patterns ever this year...... I hate.

[oakfu]

You can use a 3" Trash pump if there is plenty of water to suck from. This is how I have put in new docks and also increased depth at the edge of docks. Rent a 3" Trash pump, 3 or 4 20' suction hoses. Connect 1 suction hose to intake of pump. Take the other hoses and connect to discharge. Make a "jetter" with 2" pvc with 3"connector and put on discharge side. Prime pump and let it rip. It will create a larger volume "pressure washer" and will quickly move all mud and small stones out into the lake.

[gride]

At least in bama u have tomget permission from fish and wildlife or else u get in ALOT of trouble. I'd check first.

[AirTool]

At least in bama u have tomget permission from fish and wildlife or else u get in ALOT of trouble. I'd check first.

Good point...dredging is generally illigeal and messing with wetlands will get you hung.

[oakfu]

I guess I assumed that people would know that they need to get permits or permission. Check your local laws.

[j2nh]

First, a disclaimer: In most States the riparian owner does not have rights to the lake/river bottom in front of their property, that bottom belongs to the State. So proceed at your own risk. Permitting can be an arduous process and is generally only good for one time.

http://www.de-icer.com/ I have a friend who knows a guy who might have the 1/2 hp version of the Kasco de-icer that is mounted on their optional dock mounting pole. Essentially it leaves you with a sand blower on a pole. Unit is 110v and MUST be plugged into a ground fault outlet. This unit will move sand/small rock at an incredible rate and can lower a boat lift or blow out a boat house in less than an hour with no muss or fuss. Expensive, but when shared in a group it saves countless hours of shoveling, trash pumping, or water jetting.

I have no first hand knowledge but this is what I have been told.