Hoist Removal

Neighbors,

This page is for the benefit of all those on the lake facing the chore of having to remove their boat hoist in the coming weeks and do not have readily available four strong sons, friends or neighbors to help.

Do you have an effective technique for removing your boat hoist that is easy on the back and every other muscle that is subject to strain from such an effort? Do you have a way for using floats, winches, pry bars, carrying handles, portable ramps or other devices that make it easier to get your hoist out of the water? If so, please describe in detail your process -- what tools and devices you use and how they are used.

If your clever technique is to hire someone to do it -- who do you hire, what do they charge, do they do a good job and what is their contact information?

Please email neighborlink at lcneighborlink@comcast.net.

Responses will be posted on on this page

Share your ideas and save your neighbors from injury.

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Hi Neighbors,

I have a small farm tractor with a "boom" on my 3-point hitch along with a power winch. I pull the tractor down to the lake and use the winch / boom to pull my pontoon hoist out over my seawall. It's very effective and pain free. I wouldn't want to be on too steep of an incline in the back yard however if I am using the boom due to the center of gravity. I wouldn't mind helping others but they need to be there to participate in the event as well.

Thanks!

Bob Callison
rlcallison@cmsenergy.com

517-581-0685 Cell
Bay View Shores Director

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Hi Neighbors,

Here is pictorial information on some of the ways boat lifts can be moved and removed. It is a rough description but should get the idea across.

The boat method is what some lift manufactures used to design their lifts to do without any other additional equipment.The float method is what most professional installers use.

The tube float is a manufactured unit and can be purchased at places that sell dock and lifts.

Thank you,

John Dale

lmjadale@comcast.net

NOTE EACH PICTURE IS A DIFFERENT METHOD

BELOW IS THE BOAT METHOD

BELOW IS THE FLOAT METHOD

BELOW IS THE TUBE FLOAT METHOD

John Dale
lmjadale@comcast.net

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Hi Neighbors,

For years I had to find the strong family members to help with hoist removal. Now I can do it with my daughters.

Fortunately I have a deep yard and I can drive a truck or SUV near the lake. My hoist is 80 out into the bay on Kingsbury. I tie an anchor rope to the front vertical posts of the hoist and loop the rope around the trailer hitch on the SUV. One person driving and one person to keep the hoist away from the dock, we simply pull the hoist close to shore. I use a temporary ramp of 2 x 12s to get two of the hoist legs onto shore. I leave the other two hoist legs in the water but then jack the two legs out of the water so that the hoist is level and support them with cinder blocks.

The cinder blocks stay in the water all winter but the hoist is completely out of the water, I can then stack my dock on the hoist.

In the spring time, I jack up the two legs that are over the water, remove the cinder blocks and use the large white float under the front cross support. Since the hoist isn't loaded with water, it's much lighter and fairly easy to move back into place for another season.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Jim Malinowski
125 Kingsbury
jfmalin@aol.com

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