Air Dock question
 

Hey guys, I have an 88 260 Nova II that I keep in a canal on an island in the Detroit River. I've been looking for a way to keep it out of the water and recently came across a guy with an Air Dock that he wants to sell because he is going to a different style of boat. He has a 38 powerquest so obviously this air dock is much larger than what I need, but I figured since it is a similar hull design and the beam is close enough it would probably still work. I called air dock to ask about it and the person I spoke with said there was no way it would work, the boat would not be heavy enough to lower into the water, etc, etc.
His boat weighs 8500 or so, mine weighs 6200. I can accept that it might take longer to bleed the air out and drop the boat in the water, but it seems hard for me to believe that it would not work at all. I am starting to wonder if they were just trying to talk me out of it so I could buy a new (correctly sized) air dock. Anybody got any experience with putting a boat on an air dock that is longer than the boat? Thanks, John

I say BS, but I don't really know how the air dock works. If it works like a hyrdohoist then it will just take a little longer to go down.

sorry Andy, but not BS.
I had a 24pantera on a D-2 airdock.
I weighed in the mid 5000lb range and it would take a LONG TIME to get the air out. I actually hooked up a small shopvac to suck the air out.
How much does this guy want for his air dock?
I also know someone who will be selling an airdock.
i can find out the size they have.
But for your size boat, you should be in a D-2.

I liked it. I can help more if you want.

that 38' PQ wieghs more than 8500.
More like 11K I would think with any fuel in it.

The guy wants 1500, the dock is 2 yrs old and sounds like he has taken good care of it, has it cleaned at the end of the year and stored inside. I was thinking if it would work for me it would be an awesome deal. Here is the weight for that powerquest right from NADA. I thought it would be heavier too. I have to figure out something before spring, don't want to torture this boat with another year in the water.




Boats and Personal Watercraft
2000 POWERQUEST BOATS
380 AVENGER
Stern Drive Power Boat


Length: 38'
Model Name/Description: 380 AVENGER
Boat Type: Stern Drive Power Boat
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Beam: 8' 6"
Engine: 2
385 HP
Gasoline
Net Weight: 8500

get the right size for the boat.... that's my $02.
Or contact FT525. He's usually in the Pantera Forum. He'll be selling his.

On the other hand, buy that big one, just always carry 8-10 REAL fat chics on your boat.;)

LOL :D:D I didn't want to say it

Thats a good deal. Surely he could nig rig it up until he buys the 38 footer :evilb:

u150 you would be able to use the air dock that is made for the 38. It will take longer to deflate but there are a few things you could do to help. One is you will not need the front pontoon. You also may not want to inflate the inner cambers as much to reduce the boancy when it is deflated. I never did get my 22 one my air dock but it does deflate with out anything on it just takes forever.

Without a vacuum, it would take well over 20minutes to deflate.
i bought mine figuring i'd be in a 28-30 in a few years... being optimistic.
I Shoulda bought the right size.
Maybe you could lose the front chamber, that's what would never deflate, since there would be no pressure on it. And a good vacuum could suck the air out.
You asked for opinions...
good luck.

How wide is an air dock for an 8' beam boat?

The d2 is 12-13ft wide.
For longer boats it will get wider.
There is also a spacer that can be installed between the rear 2 chambers.

I have not ever looked at a air dock so my ideas might be worthless but why couldn't you add ballast to it?

huh, ballast?
Weights are added to it, like 10lbs, to help keep the inner chambers low in the water so you can ride onto it.
Not sure what you mean by ballast.

I meant ballast/weight. The rating has to be based on buoyancy, so anything you can do to replace air with weight (water) would help. I realize it would help if I knew what it looked like but are tanks polyethylene (plastic) or rubber . I was wondering if you can add some water to them in addition to the air you pump in and out.

they are rubber air pillows.
you wouldnt add water to them.
i guess you could fill them with anything you wanted(ie:apple juice), but its not what they are intended for.
Set them up incorrectly and your boat falls off, sux for you!:p

2 words-JET DOCK

no doubt jetdock is better, but this guy doesnt want to spend more than 1500.

Do those things work in salt water?

Hey guys, just got back in town, gone for a week. I ended up passing on that air dock, just seemed like too much of a hassle trying to rig it up,etc. Also the more I thought about it, I would also need to get a frame for it, as I am against a seawall, just started to sound like a lot of work for something that might not even end up working for me at all. Thanks for all the info. John

By the way, rjr, airdock says they are unaffected by saltwater. When I spoke to them on the phone, they said the material they are made out of is pretty tough stuff, designed to last 20+ yrs.

mine was in saltwater, just need to bottom paint it.
if you are fairly handy you can assemble. AFAIK, they are the only boat lifts that can be installed/ un-installed by hand. I did mine by myself 1yr. Try doing that w/ a hydrohoist.

Stormrider,
by the way, how much does your friend want for his air dock? Where is he located? Also, when you had yours, did you have it in a marina or was it against a seawall? did you have a frame to hold it in place? If I do end up finding one, I would need to tie one side to the seawall and would need some kind of frame for the other side.

i had a half frame for it to hold it off the dock.
look for FT525 on the board here.
you can find his posts in the pantera forums or just do a search for him.

I would be interested in one that would fit a 38 Formula. If you guys have taken a pass please send the info to me.