Hewitt cantilever lifts and tournament ski boats (fin clearance)

[SilentSeven]

Found a deal on a used Hewitt manual cantilever lift. 3600lb "wide" model. Lift will be used at a vacation property and will be relatively low use so I'm OK with this not being the perfect lift for our 2004 206. I have a Basta hydraulic lift for our main location.

Question is on bunk setup and fin clearances. This unit has the wood bunks (vs the newer and taller aluminum bunks) and keel clearance to the lift cross member looks tight. Does anyone have any experiences with setting up these lifts and ensuring the skeg fins don't hit the frame? If I have to, I think I can shim up the bunks with a wood spacer to create some additional clearance.

Any insight would be appreciated!

[gcam4]

Post a picture of how that lift is setup.

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[SilentSeven]

Ah..yes. Here it is. Note how low the crossbar is close to the bunks.

[SilentSeven]

Another view. You can see some bang marks in the crossbar from the Malibu (?) that was kept on the lift.

I think I can just reposition the bunks and get them higher but any pragmatic experience appreciated.

[MN Ryan]

Can you buy different bunks? My BIL bought a used lift (I think it's a ShoreStation, but we've had Hewitt's in the past) last year and had to convert it for an inboard. It was only a couple of hundred bucks for new bunks that were more adjustable.

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[zigs]

I have that same hewitt lift that I used for my 01 super air, and you just need to order the v bunk kit for it and you will be good. Should come with aluminum bunks with carpeted 2x4's and risers to raise the bunks up.

[SilentSeven]

Thanks. What bunk kit does this look like? (If not a v bunk kit?)

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[CHassmann]

Just give Hewitt a call and they will be able to tell you exactly what you need. I have the same lift and purchased new aluminum v bunks from one of their dealers.

[gcam4]

I agree, give Hewitt a call. When I was looking they had numerous bunk kits depending on the boat type.

Fyi, SilentSeven, you will quickly get tired of raising that thing! A friend has a manual lift and after using it 2 times, I knew I wasn't going to buy one!

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[SilentSeven]

Yeah. We'll see how it goes with the cranking. It's going to be a low use lift and the $$ are right.

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[SilentSeven]

OK - Hewitt says new bunks needed. You guys rock. Coming next - new thread on how to float a lift. Thanks.

[MN Ryan]

You can get a bolt on wheel to crank it up for $600 or so. Google "boat lift buddy." We have one on a pontoon lift, and it's way better than manually cranking it.

I see them used on Craigslist occasionally.

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[srock]

why not just lower the lift more hmmm...taller bunks require the lift to go deeper for loading so either the cradle itself or water depth can sometimes be an issue. I had a mark on my lift so I knew it was deep enough to clear both fins and propeller shaft and I had another mark on the boat to confirm the position on the lift was correct.

[CHassmann]

I bought a motor for mine and love it! I got the one with the wireless remote and Bluetooth.
http://www.lifttechmarine.com/ac-motors/

[MN Ryan]

why not just lower the lift more...

Lowering the lift more won't help. The problem is the crossbar. You need the bunks high enough above the crossbar so that the tracking fins, etc. will clear that crossbar.


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