inflatable lifts
 

Anyone have any experience with the inflatable lifts? Specifically...large pillows sitting under the boat with a compressor (though the manufacture says a vacuum can inflate the pillows) on the dock...manouver the boat into place tie off and infant the pillows to lift the boat out of the water.

My concern is more the durability of these units. From what I can guess for my boat it would be about $7500.00 US with no local supplier support.

Thanks in advance
Pete35

I have an Air Dock for my 34 Super Hawaii. It works great. Very easy to use. Airs up in about 3 minutes, down is about the same. compressor plugs into 110 volts on the dock.
I had a problem with a small mouse hole at the start of my third season. But I didn't clean the tubes at all when I pulled it out in the fall. That may have attracted the mice. Seems like I spent about half that amount 5 years ago..

Thanks. appreciate that. Exactly what I was looking for

Depends on the weight of the boat and lift and also any options you may want (Remotes, Decking, lights, ect). My last lift cost me 7500 plus transport and installation 2700.00 used but it was rated at 18000 lbs. Have a quote with a 16k lift, full decking (Back, Front and sides) will run me 15,000.00 new. I loved our old one never had an issue with it and the guy that bought it from me says its still going strong. Make sure you do not get a galvanized barrels, poly only.

I haven't used them myself. But in my parents hood every in their neighborhood has beach access. And you can set up a mooring buoy for a boat. Lots of people also have floating lifts on buoys now. Works great.

The company everyone uses is in Delta, BC and Kelowna. Even if you don't buy from them. Maybe give them a call and they can hook up with the right company in Ontario.

Its called Paradise Boat Lifts.

Here is a pic of my boat in it's Air Dock. Dock may be for sale.[ATTACH=CONFIG]566014[/ATTACH]

Does that drain the water out under the keel when inflated?
Also, how wide is it approximately? outside to outside dimensions

Yes, the water drains away underneath the hull. The bags are maybe a foot outside the hull when in inflated. It doesn't appear to be fully inflated in the picture. I would have to look up the dimensions.

How far out from the finger dock does the lift stick out? I guess what I'm asking is how well would that lift work if it was attached to a really short dock compared to the length of the boat?

There are 4" pvc plastic tubes that run the length of the air tubes. The have spreaders to hold them apart. The air tubes are tied to them to keep them in position when deflated. The pvc and air tubes are tied to the dock. As long as the pvc tubes can safely stick past the end of your dock you will be fine. The end of the pvc tube has a foam filled riser pipe that floats, letting you know where the end of your lift is.