AirBerth boat lift...............

[Nautical]

Thinking of buying one of these, just about to antifoul ours and thought maybe good idea to look at these jobbies. Never have to antifoul again, save money on leg services, no need to change anodes, never have to lift out again for winter storage just shrink wrap her where she is, better mpg cus hull is alway shiney clean and better top speed.

Downside is the model that takes up to a 42' sports cruiser is £21,000 + delivery and installation, however if what I am told is correct and you can recover 80% of the purchase price second hand, then after three years you are at break even but your boat is worth more because it is as if it were almost dry stored all its life.

I am missing something, has anyone had one or does have one?.

AirBerth

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I had a Hydrohoist. Great for small boats; I wouldn't want to keep a big boat on one. My one was one of the smallest ones you can get (2.5t capacity) and it took ages to sell it. The other big issue is finding a marina that will let you install one.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nautical]

Thanks Jimmy, I checked with marina and they are ok with it but I have to pay a small premium over the normal annual cost as they can not rent out my berth if I am not there cus the lift is in the way.

Any reason why you would'nt want to put a bigger boat on one, seems thousands of them all over the states and australia up to nearly 50'.

thanks

Trev

 

[Vara]

It certainly reads very well.
A problem that might arise in this country is that in winter the boat out of the water would get much colder than if it was in water,so you would have to pay more attention to draining systems or heating the boat.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Sorry for being a bit negative, But I'm slightly sceptical! I'd like to see how other folk got on with something like this for 10 years or so before investing in what could be yet another white elephant idea. Couple of points:

1. Getting on and off boat must be awkward - high free board
2. How safe or stable is boat when on the lift in high winds (high CG)
3. Winter use - boat much more vunerable to frost out of water
(water is a natural insulator)
4. Photo always shows a clean lift, similar ones I've seen are green
weedy messes and seem to attract more sea life. They look a total
mess on a marina berth. Also require a bigger berth, and boats in
fingers beside you wont like the view or the mess.
5. Stability and safety when operated by novices, insurance clauses, etc
6. Damage risks when coming into mooring and making a bobo?
(ie drifting sideways in high winds, no underwater fenders).

Many of these ideas can be fine in ideal conditions, with a skilled operator or on paper, but I'd be interested to hear the opinions of folk who have used them on large vessels for a minimum of five years. Proof is in the eating, etc!

 

[Nautorius]

Trev,

I have seen several used well. In this country down at Essex boatyards a lot of the Ski Boats are on them, and they are popular (if a little expensive). In Spain I saw a Targa 37 on one and was amazed at the great condition it was in. Being on the Aqua lift meant it was easier to clean and polish the boat so although about 9 years old with a Turquoise Hull she looked in cracking condition. I have also witnessed people using them at Essex and they are fast and efficient. I would consider one, they do seem to work.

One major advantage is winter use. If you get a still winters day you just drop her back in which means full year use. Also easier to do servicing I would have thought,

I would go for it but the price is prohibitive and the second hand sales seem to be slow..

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[GC1]

I have looked at them, in the end it was the ugly appearance that put me off, not a very nice object to give neighbours to look at. The principle is great, they just need to work on the asthetics some more, perhaps then they will beome more popular and increase the second hand value. You wouldn't want to step off one after a few beers in the night at that height, you would soon know about it of you fell off /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Ever thought of putting your boat on a dry stack, seems GeoffS has it right with his in Poole, boat looks like brand new and it's nearly a day old /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Mine was the first Hydrohoist in the UK, and I had it for about four years. The underside of the floats did get weedy - but no more weedy than any other un-antifouled boat. For small (sub 25ft) boats I think they are a great idea.

I suppose my reservation about larger boats is based on two things - one is that when you are lifting the boat out and dropping it back in, there's a lot of weight being moved about, which is ultimately being held by just a couple of lines. I had a line fail on mine once and it launching my boat backwards into the water. I'd hate to think what that might do to a larger boat.

My other concern would be about the boat losing it's shape because it is permanently out of the water being supported on just two or three points along it's length. I've heard of boats that are on blocks in the boatyard for an extended period doing this - just little stuff like you can't close the internal doors, that sort of thing.

OceanFroggie's right about getting on and off - it was always a bit harder because you've got to clamber over the floats to get at the boat, which is effectively 18" away from the finger

On the other hand, mooring is actually easier cos you've just got to aim the boat between the static floats and you're in. You wouldn't be able to moor stern-to though (at least not on my model of lift) - your outdrives would foul the submerged structure. And once your boat is in the lift, you're completely protected from the mooring skills of your neighbour...!

I never had a problem in windy conditions with stability; down here (Brighton) I never had a problem with freezing either.

They are a relative unknown here in the UK, and with the resistance of the marinas to them, I guess that if you're buying one for the long-haul (10yrs+) then you're not taking much risk. If you're hoping to get back out after three years, I think that might be optimistic. My cheap ski-boat lift took over a year to sell.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jfm]

It's personal choice but I wouldn't bother even if they were £2,000 not £20,000.

Aren't they a bit of a PITA to deploy? You have to retrieve the blower box (maybe from a marina storage shed, as it looks too big to store on a 42 foot boat) from somewhere, and attahc hoses/hook up 240v, then wait for "minutes". Then you have to unattach all that and carry the thing back to the storage shed (as your boat is now too high to lift it aboard, right?). You might have to do all that in the rain. Nah, life is too short and should be about having fun not preserving your anodes, so I'd rather just step off the boat and go home.

Are you jumping from frying pan to fire with maintenance? Ok, the boat needs no antifoul/anodes, but doesn't the lift need those things?

You have to be dead sure it works reliably. If one side is punctured/valve fails the boat tips over sideways. If the front end of floats is damaged the boat is lowered bow first, with raw water going into the engine block, etc

One day you will feel like changing the boat. Buyer likely wont want this contraption. So you are left with a white elephant to sell (covered in weed), and pay berthing for meantime. No thanks, life is way too short for that kinda hassle!

 

[Nautorius]

Actually,

As we never stay on her in the Marina I wish I could find a dry stack on the Thames. I have considered dry stacking her on the South coast as well. However the odds of me still having her by next April are remote to say the least!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Blower box is permanently installed on the pontoon. Only took a couple of minutes to lift it up and out of the water; slightly quicker to drop it back in. If anything, keeping a small boat on the lift is more convenient than keeping it in the water, not less.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Solitaire]

Hi Trevor - I was doing a course yesterday on a Revenger 29 rib. The owner has one (Hydrohoist) - great bit of kit. Drive on, push a button and up it comes. It uses a vacuum cleaner motor. This particular one has a capacity of 3.5 tons.

The guy has never antifould the boat in the 4 years he's had it.

 

[bobgosling]

RE: Problem with weed on the airlift. You could always lift it out annually to antifoul it.

May be a good idea to attach a few anodes as well incase any of the hinges or hydraulics start to erode.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

[ QUOTE ]
May be a good idea to attach a few anodes as well

[/ QUOTE ]

... the Hydrolift actually has fixing points for anodes...!

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[GC1]

You could always put the hoist on a hoist to save anti fouling and putting anodes on it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

OR are we saying there is a market for LARGE dry stack operations on the South Coast /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Hugo_Andreae]

Did you read our report on these and other systems in October issue of MBY? Everyone we spoke to who had actually owned one gave them a big thumbs up. HydroHoist and Airberth are the main players but we were also impressed by BoatFloat which a Sunseeker XS owner had imported from the US (www.boatfloatllc.com). Also saw an interesting new system at the Southampton show being imported by TV Ski. Really quick, quiet and slightly better looking. Used hydraulics rather than air all powered by a 12v battery topped up by solar panel.

 

[robind]

www.Boatfloatllc.com link doesn` t seem to work? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[mjf]

We have one on our 'home' pontoon on the tidal Thames in London - can photo same if you need detail.

Works well and has a Targa 29 on it currently.


I am installing a Hydroport 2 in the next couple of weeks for a RIB and I think the whole issue of being clear of the water is massive

 

[stefan_r]

you might be able to import one but will need to py for shipping - a few thousand bucks I am sure - as well as 19% import tax based on the total cost of lift AND shipping costs.

I would be interested to hear how you get on, have been thinking of one too...

 

[Nautical]

Thanks for that Hugo , yes I did which is what got me thinking about one in the first place, was just about to put pen to cheque book for the AirBerth but managed to get info on the TV ski one ... SunStream

Looks much more professional job and certainly the speed it operates would be an advantage (30 secs up or down as opposed to several minutes), I like the walk around floats and the fact that it is solar powered. It also seems to lift the boat level rather than at angle initially as do the Hydro lift and Airberth (can just imagine everything rolling off the table!).

They don't seem to make one big enough for a 7.5 ton sports cruiser although the site seems to be quite old so I shall contact them tomorrow and find out. May also be a problem with the width as the floats seem wider than the others.

Shall report back ASAP with info.........does that make me an honorary Journalist? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif