Help with ordering a lift and canopy for my SAN 230

[Jeff88]

Hey guys....just bought a 2014 SAN 230 and am in the process of ordering a floating lift and canopy. What is everyone doing with their towers under canopy? Folding the towers up each time or getting a higher canopy so it's drive in and off without raising? I like the idea of the latter but wanted to here pros and cons. Should I be worried about wind blowing that canopy around? Should I get longer valances to protect more? Most likely will be a poly lift floating lift and shorestation canopy.

[SANonTellico]

I bought a Craftlander V60120 (6000lb capacity, 120" wide) with a 24v motor and the Tower Canopy.

When we're not using the boat for several days or more (during the week) we put the tower down and lift the boat up all the way up as in the attached picture. During the weekend while we're using the boat a lot, we leave the tower up and can still lift the boat completely out of the water, it just doesn't tuck up into the canopy like you see in the picture. When raised all the way up it is fully protected from the sun and elements.

The canopy has zippers in the back to allow the boat to get on and off the lift with the tower up.

Raising and lowering the tower takes less than a minute - very easy to do.

This past summer was our first season with it and we were very happy.

[Jeff88]

I bought a Craftlander V60120 (6000lb capacity, 120" wide) with a 24v motor and the Tower Canopy.

When we're not using the boat for several days or more (during the week) we put the tower down and lift the boat up all the way up as in the attached picture. During the weekend while we're using the boat a lot, we leave the tower up and can still lift the boat completely out of the water, it just doesn't tuck up into the canopy like you see in the picture. When raised all the way up it is fully protected from the sun and elements.

The canopy has zippers in the back to allow the boat to get on and off the lift with the tower up.

Raising and lowering the tower takes less than a minute - very easy to do.

This past summer was our first season with it and we were very happy.

Thanks. I like the canopy setup. My problem is with a floating lift its usually either up all the way or down....there isn't a happy medium like a stationary lift. And I was told the Bimini on the new boats have to be moved along with the tower to get them down? I know that our tower comes down very easy, but haven't messed with moving the Bimini too.

[Quinner]

Set up like Sherman with my canopy, works tower up or down, which IMO is an ideal setup for a couple reasons.
To get the boat completely out of the water with tower up will require a really high canopy, may also want/need side curtains.
Canopy's a mile in the air like that are pretty fugly, eyesore to neighbors and might possibly detract from your own view as well.
Higher the canopy the more birds/gulls are attracted to hang out up there and use it as their personal toilet and dining room.
Putting the vinyl on/off is a tougher job unless your like tallredrider and 6'-13" tall.
More $$$

Can also appreciate what you are saying about having to break the bimini down to fold tower, with my tower I have to do that and it does take some time but it is only once a week at the most if I know that boat won't be used for several days or if bad weather is coming.

Check with the lift dealer, would think if the lift u want only has up or down it could be adjusted via bunks or other means so at up the running gear is all just a couple inches above the water

[Jeff88]

I bought a Craftlander V60120 (6000lb capacity, 120" wide) with a 24v motor and the Tower Canopy.

When we're not using the boat for several days or more (during the week) we put the tower down and lift the boat up all the way up as in the attached picture. During the weekend while we're using the boat a lot, we leave the tower up and can still lift the boat completely out of the water, it just doesn't tuck up into the canopy like you see in the picture. When raised all the way up it is fully protected from the sun and elements.

The canopy has zippers in the back to allow the boat to get on and off the lift with the tower up.

Raising and lowering the tower takes less than a minute - very easy to do.

This past summer was our first season with it and we were very happy.

Sherman......do you have a Bimini on your boat? Do you fold that forward with the tower when you fold the tower?

[SANonTellico]

Sherman......do you have a Bimini on your boat? Do you fold that forward with the tower when you fold the tower?

Yes, I have the bimini on mine, there are only 2 threaded pins holding it in place. To lower the tower, just need to remove the two pins on the bimini and put them in their secondary holes then release the tower and gently fold forward. Both my bimini and the tower have struts making it very quick and easy.