Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

scoot_gt · Jun 7, 2006

Hi all - I recently purchased a property that included a covered slip with a standard cradle, 4 pulley, steel cable lift (made by ACE). I think I can handle moving the bunks to fit my ski boat, etc. What I can't handle is the big 2800lb weight limit sticker on the gear box

. My ski boat is 3300 with no fuel, gear, people. I'd like to upgrade the lift to at least 4000lb. So my question is - what do I need to do? Here are some details. The lift uses 1/4 inch steel cable (this appears adequate from what I've read). The motor is 3/4 HP - I assume this isn't adequate? Is the gearing adequate? I'm also unsure of the mounting of the lift to the ceiling joists - although it appears completely adequate. I need to review the pics to verify but if I recall, all mounting points of the main shaft and pulleys are mounted on tripled up 2x10 joists (meaning 1 ceiling joist that is 3 2x10s thick). I would happily get a pro to come take a look but since I'm in the middle of nowhere, that has been difficult. I would greatly appreciate any help since this is shaping up to be a DIY job.

Pics

Thx in advance!

scoot_gt · Jun 8, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

More pics

Bondo · Jun 8, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

That's a Pretty Tough Call,........ I'm more concerned about How those 2X 10s are Supported............ And,.... I know Nothing about your Motor,+ Gearbox....... Pictures Always Help............

flashback · Jun 8, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

Hi scoot, I just went thru the same situation with my place. the dock and lift were set up for a 18 foot bass boat and I have a 21 foot chris that weighs in at 3600lbs. the lift bars were 4x4x1/8 thick box steel. well I picked up my boat and left it about 4 inches above the surface of the lake, 7 hours later, about 2 in the morning, I hear this loud pop... the rear box beam just popped in two.. clean as whistle...anyway .....to make a long story short, I replaced the box beam in the stern with an I beam and put a double purchase on all the cable which means running the cable thru a block on the lift beam and back up to the frame of the dock.. this means 4 extra blocks and new cable as the old cable is not long enough.. heres the catch. this will work fine if the level of water in your area remains constant. Because the double purchase on the cables will only lift the boat half as high as the single purchase.. and you can only have so much cable rapped around the drive pipe before it starts to double back on it self.. not good.....the 3/4 hp and gear box is not safe for your application unless you use the double purchase.. also like bondo said, how are the 2x10's supported and what span are they???????

scoot_gt · Jun 9, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

Thx for the response Bondo & flashback. I added pics to my first posts. I reduced the resolution but can provide higher res if needed! You can kinda see the 2x10 support structure in some of the pics - I'm no construction expert but it appears very adequate. My dock is on piles, not floating. I didn't measure the piles but they are circular and larger than 4x4s. The 2x10 span is the width of the slip + about 3 or 4 feet (didn't measure that either). The other slip is a wider span with the slip width + 2 walkways. I also have not measured my steel crossbeam thickness but they are I-beams. I'll be out there this weekend and will measure all this and post up Sun nite or Mon. Anything else I can provide or look into this weekend? Unfortunately, I have no phone service (landline or cell) much less internet service out there

Ahhh, I love that place...

flashback · Jun 10, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

scoot, the installation looks pretty good to me. I think I would replace the drive with a 4000lb unit tho and keep the single purchase. I have a 4000 lb unit and it runs on a 1 hp motor and the gear set is a bit beefier. one other thing, I don't like the fact that you don't have any vertical support under the 3 2x10s, especially in the back where the most weight will be. I would add a 4x4 post directly under the beams and down to the band..which is probably a double 2x10 or 2x12..there should also be some weight limits stamped into the turning blocks that the cable runs thru, that also would be a concern..

Bondo · Jun 10, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

Ayuh,........ And,... That single pulley in the 5th pic looks like it's bolted to a Single 2X10,...... Not Tripled 2X10s..........

flashback · Jun 10, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

good catch Bondo, I think your right.. and it's probably the back one at that...

tommays · Jun 10, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

I can tell you in the world of gears (i repair mixer gear boxes)Thats a really small gear ? 3/4" wide with the full load on about 3 to 4 teeth

i am quite sure there worried about the teeth on the ring shearing off which is why they only put 3/4 HP on it tommays

scoot_gt · Jun 21, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

Thanks to all for your input! I finally tracked down ACE lifts (company info is Ace Lab, Inc. 2211 S Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL - 800-826-3573 - http://www.aceboathoist.com/ ) At any rate, I talked with Curt at ACE and he was VERY informative and provided excellent customer service. In a nutshell, the 2800lb and 4000lb lifts share the same gearbox, motor, cables, pulleys, etc. Only difference is they double purchase to allow the smaller horse motor to lift the load (as flashback suggested). Another option I had was to upgrade to the 1HP motor which again uses the same gears but it uses a thicker steel plate to mount everything on to account for the extra weight of the motor, extra torque, etc. ACE also provides two I beams. There is an 8ft long by 4inch tall model that supports up to 2800lbs and a 9x5 version that supports up to 5600lbs. Luckily, I've got the 9x5s

Curt suggested that if my motor will lift her, no worries with the rest of the hardware holding her. (BTW Bondo, the 5th pic is tripled up - just hard to tell in that pic. The diff colored area is actually the bottom of the 3rd joist - its hard to see the line separating the 1st and 2nd joist. If you stare at it long enough an image of Mary will appear) Hope this helps others! Enjoy...

tashasdaddy · Jun 21, 2006

Re: Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

sound like all you need to do is recable for the double purchase. good luck. thanks for the info also.

Boathouse Lift upgrade question (pics added)

Recruit

Recruit

Moderator

Captain

Recruit

Captain

Moderator

Captain

Admiral

Recruit

Honorary Moderator Emeritus