Probably a dumb question, but how do you handle the tide with little boats (like in the pic below) or PWC.

I just use a PWC hoist at LOTO, but I don't think that's going to work around Cape Coral on the intercoastal, how's it done.

Even though I've got a trailer for the silly little thing I'm not going to put in the water everytime the kids want to use it.

Any ideas.

there a few different ways to combat the tide. Most criss cross the lines at the transom and leave enough slack to allow the boat to move side to side without hitting the dock and up and down with the tide. And along the same for the spring lines. I have seen some cool tide rings like n the pic below...they roll up and down the pileing when the tide changes. And some marinas have tideslides mounted to the pileings that move up and down with the tides..

We installed a tide tamer in 2003 for our jetski. Great set-up and haven't had an issue with it yet. Lifts up to 1,500 lbs and is completely out of the water. You can swing the entire boat onto the dock to service it if needed.
They make a number of models:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...r&merchID=4005

Would that boat fit on one of the pwc floats that u drive up on???

For my 353 I'll just have the normal lift, but $2,300 for a lift for the baby boat, the whole darn boat/engine only cost me $4,500 with the trailer.
I guess that's just about what a normal fresh water PWC lift like I already have would cost at LOTO, don't have to worry about the tide at LOTO.
The Overton lift looks pretty cool though, thanks.

Probably so, the hull is mostly flat, somewhat like a PWC and it's no longer (less than 12' long) than a PWC either, how do the drive on ones work down that way.

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/2235572016.html
something like this would be a low cost way to keep the hull clean, as well as protect the boat from sinking. Just drive right up on it, and when your ready to leave you lift up on the bow, and it rolls right back into the water. I had some for my jetskis that were great. you can find them between $250-$1000. They are light enough for two guys to carry,

Got a couple of options now, looks like both will work fine, now just to find a house down South to put the boats at.

Thanks guys.

I say keep it on the trailer, and teach the kids how to launch it with a golf cart if you have the facility to do so. I pull my MH around with this:


Even a $250 used garden tractor will work if it has good brakes.

Do you have a "pic" of your mini hawk, I thought about selling my V-hull up here before we come down and getting something like you've got, if I could ask, how much.