Pragamitic tips needed on how to float out a boat lift

[SilentSeven]

I'm not sure how you will be able to use the barrels though. They will have buoyancy immediately and will be difficult to create lift and strap. Unless I'm thinking of it wrong.

The lift is in pretty shallow water. I can ratchet strap the barrels on to the exterior, non moving portion of the frame which is at the surface. From there I would 'lift the lift' and push it into deeper water. I think I will float quickly.

That said, the tube ideas are great...just not sure how to tie them on so they don't twist away and are stable.

[gcam4]

How long has that lift been there and how big are the pads on the base of the vertical posts? Also, is the lake bed muck or really hard? I first put our lift in about a foot too far forward, so I moved it back. It took everything that me and one other guy had to get the pads out of the muck since we had already put the tubes up. Just one thing to keep in mind.

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[SilentSeven]

Yeah, good thought. Lift is on a rocky bottom and the feet are not buried. It actually seems to move around a bit due to boat waves. This is part of the reason why I think it will float out easily...i just need a little bit of added buoyancy.

[mpost]

I once moved my lift after a storm flipped it and it was 600 yards dwon the shoreline upside down. I used 5 gallon buckets. tie a rope to the handle, put it under the frame down low and then try, I say try to sink the bucke while pullling on the rope. you definelty want them on the corners to provide stability. I think it took 6 or 8 buckets to float my 4K lift with canopy.
Innertubes work good too. put them under the frame, fold upwords and tie the toube together, then fill.

[SilentSeven]

Ah...that's how you tie on tubes! Helpful visualization there.

I wonder if I could get away with 4 of these el-cheap but big walmart float tubes?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Inf...e-45/418212309

Or, I could try 16" auto tubes - smaller but tougher.
https://www.amazon.com/Air-Loc-Inner...8411696&sr=8-8

[philb]

Ah...that's how you tie on tubes! Helpful visualization there.

I wonder if I could get away with 4 of these el-cheap but big walmart float tubes?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Inf...e-45/418212309

Or, I could try 16" auto tubes - smaller but tougher.
https://www.amazon.com/Air-Loc-Inner...8411696&sr=8-8

If your mindset is at $6.98 a corner......it will not be a good outcome ♂️

[dskier]

I put two of these in and out every year. Some times need to float them to a beach down shore a little ways. I use two tubes(the kind your kids tube on). The “larger” the tube the more stable. One under the front and one under the back. The front one might need to be favoring the crank wheel side a bit cuz it is heavier. If I am going a long distance I float under the top crossbar for more stability in the water. Obviously once you get closer to shore you will need to reposition the tubes lower. To get it on land you can pick up front and back(4 guys) and carry. Additionally If it is a Hewitt they have circle holes at the bottom of the uprights that hold 2” pipe beautifully. Slide the pipe in and carry as an easier option to get it to shore.

[srock]

I floated a sunk ski boat with only a handful of innertubes. I also lifted a single axle boat trailer after it had dropped off the end of a concrete ramp. Water displaces a lot of the weight. Depending on what you may have around...I would place a innertube at each corner. I bet it easily floats and is stable.

[SilentSeven]

..... they have circle holes at the bottom of the uprights that hold pipe beautifully. Slide the pipe in and carry as an easier option to get it to shore.

ah...this is really helpful! A few questions on this. I envision this as a "pipe handle" that sticks out from the side of the lift that you can use as a lift bar? Is that correct?

Do the legs have to be off for this to work?
I assume you need 4 pieces of pipe?
About how long should each piece be?

If your mindset is at $6.98 a corner......it will not be a good outcome

Underrated comment. What I can say? I'm thrifty!

[dskier]

Yes, 4 separate pieces. The pipe only goes in about 3-4” so add that to however long you want it to stick put to carry. 24” maybe. Feet can be in, no difference. Like I said you don’t “ “need” to use the pipe you can just pick up the lift just a little trick. 1 7/8 pipe might be a safer bet.....now that I am thinking I am not for certain 2" will fit.

[SilentSeven]

So...thanks everyone for the tips. We had a successful pull this weekend. Here's a few pics.

First, stripped the bunks off to make room for the flotation.




Next, strapped on 2 55 gallon poly barrels with ratchet straps. I was concerned about the winch side weight but it turned out to be decently stable.



I need to float the lift 120 yards to a swimming beach so we could walk it out. This is where the plan went awry. I thought I could walk the lift down the shore but the legs were too deep and hit the bottom. I flagged down a bass boat and asked them for a tow and they helped me out. Good boat karma was paid out there and then.... Can't really see it but I'm hanging on the back of the lift in my drysuit as bass-man tows me down the channel. Hillarious...felt like Major Kong in Dr. Strangelove. If one of the barrels had popped off, the lift would be in Davy Jones' locker but all was good.




From there...the crew hauled it out. Brrr. Cold and rainy PNW day.



And from there...disassembled and loaded into the trailer. My son stands triumphant over the lift....



Thanks everyone for the tips!

[MN Ryan]

Wow, you completely disassembled it?! Good job with the move. I hope you took lots of photos of labeled things well.

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[SilentSeven]

Had to disassemble...it's going to a different lake about 90 miles away. Using this as an opportunity to replace some of the PO hardware (someone used some non-stainless bolts...booo) and do a general inspection. Won't be hard to reassemble - it's pretty simple really and Hewett has good vids on their site as well.

[MN Ryan]

I'm actually surprised to see a Hewitt lift out in the PNW. They're a MN company, so I see a lot in these parts, but I figured they were more regional.

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[SilentSeven]

right. I really don't know the history of the lift except the PO wasn't the original owner. Hewitt has one dealer here in the Seattle area and 2 others in the state - both in Eastern WA. I'm not complaining....it's going to be a good lift for what I need and the price was right.