Shore Station - Adjusting bunks and Canopy - New owner needs advice

[tlzkaasen]

Good Afternoon,

I'm looking for advice on 'bunk' placement for a 1990 Nautique? I recently purchased a 4000Lb shorestation from my neighbor in northern WI. We floated it over to my pier, but now I need to level, add the covers and change the bunks as well as remove the I/O bar that was put on this lift. The former owner of the lift also added a a couple extra bunks and kept a pair of wave runners on it. So, I completely understand the movement, but how should I align it for the Nautique? Slightly confused/concerned.

Also need top 5 advice for putting the cover on Have a bucket full of bungees, metal straps, and a cover.

Feel a tad overwhelmed when looking at all of this.

Any advice is appreciated

[harddock]

I put mine about the same spacing as the trailer at the stern and narrower ( by a couple inches) towards the bow. I left about 2" clearance for the skegs. I adjust my lift legs so I can float on/off before the lift bottoms out. My lake level fluctuates (goes down) over the summer and I don't want to have to readjust anythiing. Also my boat is center with about 2' +/- hanging off the rear of the bunks. An I/O would have been pulled all the way foward because of the engine weight in stern.

[Quinner]

Like the Dock said above, use your trailer as a guide for distance apart. You may want to measure your skegs to confirm how much height you need however if your lift is similar to mine you will need to raise the bunks as high as they can go to ensure the skegs will clear. I would adjust the canopy front/back so it is mostly centered as that is how you will want the boat on the lift also.

As far as installing the vinyl, hopefully it was rolled/folded up from one end, place the vinyl on top of the bars and begin unrolling it towards the other end, be sure it is top side up. Once the vinyl is in place and centered secure the ends first which use the bungee chords. you should have (4) metal straps, match them in lengths as a pair, insert the metal straps down the fabric slot on the sides just below the round side tubes, there should be an opening in the slot near the center point of the side, push in there toward either end for both sides. The springs should have one end that is "U" shaped and the other like a "V", the U end actually pierces through the vinyl around the metal strap at each arched roof bar intersection, pull along the roof bar using the round fingerhole until you can get the "V" into the small slot/hole in the roof bar.

You may want to go look at another neighbors installed canopy before you begin, you will need to find one which is not newer as the vinyl shorestation uses now is a different and much easier system.

PS, when I mentioned the springs "pierce" the vinyl, the holes in the vinyl slot should already be there, use those whenever possible. You may want to check Shorestations web site also, they may have instructions for installing the older style vinyl available.

Good Luck!

[tlzkaasen]

Thanks Guys!