Boat lift question

[somethingfishy]

Can someone tell me how much depth I need at dead low water for a 4 piling lift for a 30 foot boat? I have just under 4ft now but was told I need at least 5 ft. The boat itself draws 2 ft.

Thanks for response.

[boatlift]

Originally Posted by somethingfishy

Can someone tell me how much depth I need at dead low water for a 4 piling lift for a 30 foot boat? I have just under 4ft now but was told I need at least 5 ft. The boat itself draws 2 ft.

Thanks for response.

You'll need at least 16" for the cradle & an additional 2' for the draft of the boat. You certainly don't want the cradle to ever hit the mud so I'd add another 6" minimum. Total for your craft = 4' to be safe. You can go a little shallower but I don't reccomend it.

Tight Lines,
Michael Fulweber
Boat Lift Distributors, Inc.
800-657-9998
www.liftboat.com

[mz06907]

I have a lift in very shallow water. 4' at dead low is more than I have. At dead low, I have to work my boat off the lift. It is not optimal, but having a lift is better than not having one at all.

[allureobx]

i have a 2700 tiara 10000 lb boat with about 6 foot or so water depth i opted for heavy nylon straps instead of a cradel loads perfect everytime as well as no adjustments needed to lift any other boats under 12000 lbs then you wont believe how many friends youll make with that set up also build a barge 4ft x8ft for working off of people keep my fridge stocked with beer to change zinks props etc good luck

[Buoy Scout]

I have 6 feet at MLLW at my dock. Have never had any problem getting on or off the lift regardless of state of the tide, so I don't know the minimum depth requirement. My boat draws almost 3 feet, so a two foot draft boat might require 5 feet. I think I'd follow the lift installer's advice.

[BigosS]

I sometimes have really not enough water for my lift and 30' twin inboard boat. At times of very low water I have some issues, but it's not that big of a problem. I shoveled out quite a bit of mud underneath my lift beams. As said above, it's better than not having a lift at all. My beams often sit on the mud when getting my boat out, and I don't really care, just have to watch that the cables don't unwind.

[nickmo]

Originally Posted by BigosS

I sometimes have really not enough water for my lift and 30' twin inboard boat. At times of very low water I have some issues, but it's not that big of a problem. I shoveled out quite a bit of mud underneath my lift beams. As said above, it's better than not having a lift at all. My beams often sit on the mud when getting my boat out, and I don't really care, just have to watch that the cables don't unwind.

I have the same problem at low water. How did you shovel the mud? I once rented a jet pump and blew a lot of mud away from the beams but it was a pain in the butt.

[BigosS]

Originally Posted by nickmo

I have the same problem at low water. How did you shovel the mud? ......

With a shovel.... seriously now the mud at my dock is very thick like clay, with some scattered coquina rock chunks, and comes out in big heavy clumps. So I have a shoveled out channel underneath each of my two beams. Only about the first 4' of each beam end nearest the shoreline need this treatment. The rest of the water is plenty deep enough. The channels will wash in with thin particle mud I'm sure, but I should be able to wash that out with a pressure washer if needed.

[nickmo]

Got ya! My bottom is muck. You actually sink into it a bit. If you stuck a shovel in it, you'd never be able to lift it.

[Marlin009]

I measured mine this AM, 35" is my minimum. Depends on the boat and the lift.