Lifts & Docks?

**jharris** · 04-26-2012, 06:32 PM

azeus17,
The Instant Marine dock runs about $725 for a section. There are special add on parts to make 90 degree turns or end caps that add on but $725 is the basic price per section last time I checked. Rick runs Instant Marine and he is great to work with. Send him a sketch of what you are looking for and he will come back to you with a quote pretty quick.

**wakerider107** · 04-26-2012, 07:38 PM

the brock sections from DH dock are indestructable. although i prefer the look of the cedar with aluminum frame, the cedar fades fast and will eventually splinter.
our main dock is brock, which we have had for 10 years or so. with a powerwash each spring it looks like new.
our boat dock is cedar. just installed it last year. looks great but it has faded already. i also find the cedar/aluminum to be easier to put in yourself since you can float the cedar panels out.

**modog** · 04-26-2012, 09:32 PM

I have a FLOE lift, new last year, and it's great. It is very fast (I'm guessing at least twice so) compared to older style lifts, and it is quiet. The overall quality seems very good. It has dual batteries, a solar charger, and remote key fobs. I think the main downside to them is that they are very heavy and that the quick adjust legs tend to seize or corrode over time and not work (so I'm told--haven't experienced this myself). I pay someone to move it in and out, so the heavy part doesn't bother me--it's a 210 size lift and it takes at least two strong guys to do the job--using floats.

The vinyl bunks seem really nice and I suspect they will hold up better than carpeted bunks.

I think it's a top quality lift, but I would compare the weight specs if you plan to install yourself and plan accordingly.

**azeus17** · 04-27-2012, 07:06 AM

I have a Brock dock now. Not sure where it came from as it came with our house, but the stringers are treated 2x6's encased in plastic. It is heavy as ****. Minimum two guys to put in the straight section and 4 guys to put in the 8x10 platform. That is why I am looking for an alternative and something I can do myself (not have to rely on other peoples schedules) and not have to get wet doing it sounds good to me.

**SkiTundra** · 04-27-2012, 02:16 PM

azeus, I believe Brock only makes the vinyl decking. They used to sell it as BrockDock and recently changed the name to BrockDeck. Dozens of dock mfr's use Brock.

From what I've gathered (others please correct me), the 'not get wet' systems, like Pier Pleasure, are indeed nice from a standpoint of a single person doing the job by themselves without getting wet but take an extremely long time to install. One person I talked to said his took him the better part of a Saturday vs his new post dock which takes he and a neighbor about 90 minutes (they do both of their docks in about 3 hrs).

**bubba** · 04-27-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by SkiTundra View Post

azeus, I believe Brock only makes the vinyl decking. They used to sell it as BrockDock and recently changed the name to BrockDeck. Dozens of dock mfr's use Brock.

From what I've gathered (others please correct me), the 'not get wet' systems, like Pier Pleasure, are indeed nice from a standpoint of a single person doing the job by themselves without getting wet but take an extremely long time to install. One person I talked to said his took him the better part of a Saturday vs his new post dock which takes he and a neighbor about 90 minutes (they do both of their docks in about 3 hrs).

Actually I have 8 sections of the Pier Pleasure sectional docks and it took me a smidge over an hour to put them all in myself. It is very slick system. I also invested in the winch system to remove the docks in the fall and it took me about 1 3/4 of an hour to pull them in the fall. If you have any accesories they take a little time to put on but it is pretty painless.

**wakerider107** · 04-28-2012, 03:32 AM

does nobody use waders? brock with aluminum frame is a 2 person job. doesnt take long

**bubba** · 04-28-2012, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by wakerider107 View Post

does nobody use waders? brock with aluminum frame is a 2 person job. doesnt take long

Water is too deep for waders at the end of my dock. I used a dry suit and diving boots. Now I stay dry, comfortable and warm; plus I do not need to wait for someone to help me. However my buddies seem to have a sick sense when I am installing my dock so they come for beer and moral support.

**SkiTundra** · 04-28-2012, 11:12 AM

Bubba, thanks for that. Good to know.

Wakerider, that's pretty much what I'm hearing from most people (along with beer).

**SkiTundra** · 04-28-2012, 01:35 PM

Thought I'd post some of my notes:

Avoid: Hewitt, Shoremaster, Vibo, Newmans
Maybe: Dockrite, Midlander, Harbormaster
Recommended: ShoreStation, FLOE, Pier Pleasure, Sunstream (all 4 very well made & supported)

ShoreStation: Lift rings bind if unit gets out of perfect level. Canopy is extremely short and basically useless. Horizontal Bar gets in way. However, some people like the bar and use it as a step or sit on it and swing in to the boat. They do now offer a 'drop side kit' but unsure if this compromises overall strength/stability. Bolted together, no welds to break.

Pier Pleasure: Some people have had problems with the clutch/brake seizing or not releasing.

FLOE: Leg adjustment is a big plus though some people have had them seize up after a few years. Very deep canopy provides good protection for towered towboats. Screw drive is fast, quiet, and battery efficient. Numerous comments that it's a great lift with great features, but not worth the extremely high price.

Other common Comments:

- Shore Commander is great after-market motordrive and some have bought these for their new lifts instead of mfr motordrive. No comments on Boat Lift Boss and Lift Tech Marine.
- Remote is really really really nice! Makes life much easier to pull in to lift and press the button while in boat and holding boat in position.

**SKIER206** · 05-20-2012, 07:44 PM

We have a Shorestation lift 24' x 120" with the shore commander motor for our SN206 and all in all it has been a fine lift the canopy just fell apart last fall so we have to order a new one. For the dock we have the Hewit roll-in with the viynl top this is the fastest and easyest dock I have ever installed, we just hook it to the yard tractor and back it in or pull it out, you can do it with two people by hand if you want. It is 32' long and we are adding 8' to the end this year to help with re-fueling. Hope this helps.

**Quinner** · 05-23-2012, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by SkiTundra View Post

Thought I'd post some of my notes:

Recommended: ShoreStation, FLOE, Pier Pleasure, Sunstream (all 4 very well made & supported)

ShoreStation: Lift rings bind if unit gets out of perfect level. Canopy is extremely short and basically useless. Horizontal Bar gets in way. However, some people like the bar and use it as a step or sit on it and swing in to the boat. They do now offer a 'drop side kit' but unsure if this compromises overall strength/stability. Bolted together, no welds to break.

Another who has had really good luck/experience with Shorestation. Never had a problem with the lift rings binding even when the lift is out of level, they are rubber and more to guide then anything else. Have seen SS Brand long and short side curtains, longer the better. The side rails can be a good thing or a bad thing, it depends how high your boat gunwales are and the top of dock elevation. They have never been a problem IMO. If you will be taking the lift in/out yourself look at the feet shape and size, the SS slide and move easier then most.

**SkiTundra** · 05-25-2012, 06:09 PM

Thanks for everyone's input. I drove up to Nisswa and got 10 more sections of DH w/ Brock vinyl to match the 10 sections we already have. I really prefer the look of wood, but my wife doesn't like cedar because of splintering and the way it weathers. Ipe' looks great and only needs varnish sprayed on every couple of years to keep looking that way, but panels are heavy as lead. Relatively happy w/ the Brock so far. Biggest complaint is the sound with every single step but I think I've got some rubber that might help that. We ended up having to use all the sections to get out to deep enough water (200') so I'm headed back to Nisswa next week for a couple of more sections to make a platform on the end.

Speaking of... Do most of you have your platform even with your lift or do you go a bit past the lift so you can see by it when relaxing on the platform?

Ended up getting a FLOE 5000lb lift. So far very happy. Quiet, fast, deep canopy.

**scottb7** · 05-25-2012, 06:14 PM

I would have to disagree with avoiding shoremaster. I have had 2 different ones and they were great. And when I drive around lake many other brands are crooked or bent or something.

**Beachrat** · 05-25-2012, 08:52 PM

I'm on my third season with a floe vsd lift & have been very happy with it. I previously had a shoremaster which worked great & built like a tank but the floe is much faster, easier to adjust with fluctuating water levels & it's easier to move in/out of the water with the air filled wheels adding boyancy to the lift. My only complaint with the floe lift is it isnt as solid or sturdy as my shoremaster was.