Jmlockwood Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 I currently have my new 2200TRS stored on a relatively new boat lift on a cradle. The only issue is I can see that in the winter I am going to have some issues getting the boat off the lift. The cradle is probably 18 inches high and I could really use that during the winter low tide months. I've read that the sling straps may be the ticket but then I have also read they put some unnecessary stress on the hull. Anyone have any experience with this? I searched and did not see any other info on the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 The stress on the hull and cap of the boat depends on how the straps are set-up. I've had a lift with straps for about 25 years and learned the hard way that straps can pinch a boat to the point of cracking the gel-coat. If the straps are set-up too close together, that's when it pinches the boat and puts stress on the fiberglass and cracks gel-coat. If you can arrange the straps at the top (widen them) so the straps do not put stress on the rub rails, then you'll be ok. Years ago, before I figured this out, my straps pinched the boat so much that I could not open some compartment doors. And every boat I owned had stress cracks in the gel-coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCW Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 I am in the same boat with a shallow water dock. I just installed a new lift with straps for my 2600 HPS. As SCFD said make sure the lift poles are spaced far enough apart to not pinch the boat while it is on the lift. Also based on my emails with Skip before the installation the boat shouldn't hang for long periods of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohson Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Interesting as I went round and round on this issue few years ago but based on draft, not potential issues with boat stress. I have not noticed any issues caused by my sling lift on my 2005 AC Coastal Bay (recently sold). There have been numerous times I could slip the boat on and off while others with cradles were more tide dependent. My lift posts (where the slings are) are set at 10 feet wide. The AC Coastal Bay has an 8'4" beam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Have you thought about renting a "mud-hog" and removing some soil under the lift? Several years ago, we had a drought here in central Fl. I could not get my boat to float off the straps. Rented a mud-hog, problem solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth move Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 my 02-2200v has been in straps all it's life. i've got the front strap lined up with the rear of the rod lockers and the rear strap lined up with the leading edge of the rear deck. no problems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmlockwood Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Thanks for all the information. My lift poles are already fairly wide. Looks like I am going to be getting a set of straps in the very near future. Not sure I could get away with a mud-hog. The house is located in an aquatic preserve. Not sure its really prohibited but also wouldn't want to try to explain myself when DEP rolls by.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted October 5, 2016 Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 not keen on straps at all for long term storage. would dredge out under lift if at all possible. jmo, fin, sorry guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headhunter Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Had straps on both the 20 and 22. No issues over 9 years. Now with the 22 I have the rear straps even with the rear bulkhead and the forward ones just aft of the rod lockers. No issues to date. We do have the Maverick on a cradle since it has no stringers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdemott Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 I have a drive on floating dock (Safe Haven) and it has worked very well. My tidal creek totally empties and the dock sits on the bottom at low tide and floats freely with high tide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Just a thought, if you are worried about leaving the boat hanging on straps for an extended time, why don't you have some pockets or loops sown on the straps and insert a couple of 2 x 6. Similar to the bunks on your trailer. Maybe even use three straps??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTUfisherman Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 On 10/4/2016 at 5:42 PM, smooth move said: my 02-2200v has been in straps all it's life. i've got the front strap lined up with the rear of the rod lockers and the rear strap lined up with the leading edge of the rear deck. no problems. Can I ask, how high out of the water do you typically lift it when you are "leaving" the boat there for days/weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth move Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 you can see the sidewalk in the pic. if i'm leaving it for more than a couple days. i lift the bottom of the boat level with the sidewalk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 Just moved into a recently purchased lake home. The straps on the boat lift are under water approximately 6 inches with no load and hoist fully raised. With a load it is unlikely they will raise the boat out of the water. Is this typical ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 Unloaded, do the straps hang straight down ? When the boat is in the straps, will it spread them wider and not reach the water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 Mod is correct. The straps will droop in the middle when empty. The longer the boat is off the slings, the more they will droop. The length of the slings may also be an issue. They may be longer than necessary. The slings and where they attach to the cables, only need to clear the gunnels by a few inches when driving the boat into the slip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert3 Posted February 20, 2020 Report Share Posted February 20, 2020 don't all strapped lifts use a spreader bar? to distribute the weight and not pinch the sides? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted February 20, 2020 Report Share Posted February 20, 2020 8 hours ago, Robert3 said: don't all strapped lifts use a spreader bar? to distribute the weight and not pinch the sides? Never seen anything like that on a boat lift, but I haven't seen everything. How would you drive the boat into the slip with a spreader bar? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsimdawg Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 Does it matter how wide my boat slings are? I'm trying to decide between four, six and eight inches. Intuitively eight inches would probably be the best. However I don't want to pay more than I have to. The boat is 23 ft long and about 4500 lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headhunter Posted August 8, 2021 Report Share Posted August 8, 2021 I use 6 inch and it works fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted August 8, 2021 Report Share Posted August 8, 2021 On 2/20/2020 at 6:40 AM, Robert3 said: don't all strapped lifts use a spreader bar? to distribute the weight and not pinch the sides? A spreader bar is used when you have davits. There is one flats boat on my canal that uses a sling with spreader bar, placed forward of the transom. Of the many times I have gone by it on my boat, it is not an ideal setup. It is rare to see it level. The location of davits on the property requires owner to detach dockside of sling to get underway (sling length does not allow clearance of poling platform). A long rope/boat hook is used to feed sling under boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe D Posted November 13, 2022 Report Share Posted November 13, 2022 just purchased new boat going to use slings 8" wide and spreader bar. Boat has 8'4" beam, how wide should spreader bar be? I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.