Anyone have a Canopy on their boat lift?

[mattbroad]

When I bought my Shorestation lift the dealer discouraged me from getting a canopy because of the tower, but I've had another dealer tell me he has done a bunch of them and they work great. Anyone out there have experience with this?

Thanks,

Matt

[Sinkoumn]

RE: Anyone have a Canopy on their boat lift?

I've got a canopy on the lift and I have no problem getting in and out without touching the tower. Not too sure what the dealer was worried about, but I've never had any problems

[Ribit5]

We are also planning on getting a lift. We have a 211 and our dealer says a 4000 lb would work fine. I would think loaded with gas and gear the 211 is more than 4000 lbs.

Did you have to get extensions to lift the canopy in order to be able to drive under it ?

Thanks

[pj]

If you figure that a 211 weighs about 3500lbs and it holds 38 gallons of gasoline at approx 6lbs per gallon, then with a full tank you're looking at around 3700lbs. So, based on that a 4000lb lift would probably work, depending on how much gear you have stowed. We have a ShoreMaster lift for our SN. The only difference between the 3000lb 3500lb and 4000lb model lifts is the type of winch they install on it. We bought our lift used and just upgraded to the higher capacity winch. We also have a canopy that is height adjustable and would allow for a tower.

[Quinner]

Our 206 fits on the Shorestation tower up or tower down, set the canopy up high and it is no problem. Once you put the canopy on you do not want to leave the lift for any extended periods without a boat on it, heavy wind will take them away like a kite.

Just put ours back in the water today, the season has finally arrived!

[Nates78Ski]

We've got a canopy on ours, and absolutely love it, over weekends no need to put the boat cover back on, but when we're away for the week toss it on & keeo the critters out. I dont have a tower on my boat, but my buddy has a 216 with a tower & they just had extentions put on their canopy & it works perfectly, only thing i would say if get the covers for the sides of the lift too, cuz if youre gonna store the boat with the tower up, it makes it impossible to really get the boat up & tucked under the canopy like i prefer, so you can keep those hard driving rains out.

Nate

[Mikeski]

I have a 4000lb hydrohoist for my 211 (floating airtube lift). With a couple pop-products bags, a few wakeboards, and a full tank of gas it just barely stays afloat with me no board. As soon as somebody else jumps on board it the lift sinks. It's really close, no real margin for error but it works.

I also have a canopy over the lift that the tower just barely touches, everything about my setup is at the limit.

[jeffsv211]

I have the exact lift shown by Quinner (above).. Mine is a 4000lb lift and I have stored my 211 on it for 2 years with no problems... unfortunately, I like my baby tucked up under the cover and have not found the sides for a shorestation like this -- so I keep the canopy low and put the tower down each time.. There is a 3rd party manufacturer that makes a canopy (and universal adapters) that are made for towers.. the end of the canopy is split and has magnets that make the canopy close after the tower goes through. The canopy is shaped like a barn roof. It might be a little tall to be pretty, but it looks like it should work.. If I can find a web pic, I'll ad it in here.

[WakeSlayer]

I have the Shorestation 5000# lift. I have the extension legs on it as my tower does not flip down. It is awesome. I have at least 18 inches of clearance driving in. The thing about the 5000# is the frame is bigger, and the capacity make it so I can leave lead, locker bag, fat sacs, all full if i want. I had a local canvas shop make me an 8 foot curtain that hangs from the canopy frame on both sides and the front and effectively makes me a garage for my boat. The only time anything gets wet is a hard rain from the north as it comes in at the back and I am uncovered there. no big deal, doesn't come past the motor cover. I can hang suits, towels, and all like in a closet under there. Also, no one being able to see what is in there gives me, perhaps falsely, a sense of security. I can post pics after Saturday if anyone wants to see. It is a pretty sweet setup.

[jeffsv211]

please post... this is something i've been considering

[Nates78Ski]

Also, a nice addition to a lift, more so if you get a canopy for it, are the storage nets that you can hook under the canopy, throw tubes, life jackets, whatever up there. definitely a nice addition.

Nate

[Hollywood]

You can have your canopy legs all the way up, but don't forget to lower the feet too to get the entire setup high as possible (while still getting on/off. lake levels usuall drop in fall for us so make sure you have a little extra drop to get off) else you might still not have enough tower-canopy clearance.

[Quinner]

To Hollywood's point we have adjusted both the canopy height and feet depth a couple times to find the perfect position which now allows the boat to come completely out of the water with the tower up or down. Because most canopies leak at the seams we always cover the boat particularly if it will not be used for a couple days so have never found a need for the side curtains beyond what the standard vinyl top already has.

[WakeSlayer]

with respect to the using a cover instead of curtains, in MN we are super humid and that guarantees you mildew, etc. is it not as humid there? you guys aren't that far away from me.

[Quinner]

Slayer,

We definitely get the humidity here in Northern Ill as well, I normally won't cover it until everything has aired out and try to open a corner of the cover often to let things breath, my cover is sunbrella so it does breath pretty well even when covered.