Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

I have talked with a couple of the roof and rack guys here in houston/clear lake, no one really wants to rack a cat.

How do you guys do it ?

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

Special bunks have to be built especially for a skater. The wash rails must sit on the bunks. However, the big problem is lifting them out of the water more than on dry dock. If the forks are brought up at the wrong angle you may actually puncture the tunnel.

I ramp the cats and have lifts at the house.

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

I just learned this recently. I knew I had to change the bunks, but didn't know about the wash rails until a few days ago.

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

When you say bunks do you mean sponsons ?

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

NO. If you set a skater flat on the sponsons it may crush them (especially if not lowered evenly. The wash rails are the inside section of the sponsons that would rest on the trailer bunks. They are only 2-3 inches wide and run essentially the length of the boat.

Look at the pic below. The boat is rested on the trailer bunks. The section of the boat setting on the bunks is the wash rails. That is also how it should be supported on a lift.

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

Also reference post #2. Click on it to enlarge. Note directly above the rear cross beam of the lift and you will see a little section of lift bunk peaking out below the sponson. The wash rails have a slight upgrade to them as they move forward toward the bow. Therefore the remainder of the bunk is hidden. The bunks are made of two 2 x 12's.

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

We Built A Cradle That The Boat Sits On Then The Fork Lift Picks Up The Cradle. And Sets The Boat In The Water When You Come Out The Fork Lift Picks Up Your Cradle And Sets It In The Water. Back Boat On The Cradle And Lift The Boat Out The Cradle Forks Never Touch The Boat Works Slick Call Me If You Have More Queistions Jim 248 909 0240

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

Does the roof and rack make the mods or do you have to pay for them ?

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

This is my Ocean Express. The boat is designed like a Sherman tank. The spread of the lift forks were designed so the bulkheads rested directly overhead. The boat manufacturer blessed this style lift and the support or lift points.

Put the Skater on this lift and it would do significant damage to the hull.

Re: Racking your skater anybody do It ?
 

Jimkid could you post some pics of the cradle, having a hard time visualizing it.