The Sublift at Wicormarine.

[DJE]

The yard bought this machine a couple of years ago now:-

They had been operating tractors and trailers for the previous 40 years or so.

Video here.

I think it's a brilliant solution for a yard with a slipway. The engine and the hydraulic controls are mounted in watertight boxes with snorkels for air intake and exhaust. Fascinating thing to watch in action.

 

[Piddy]

There is also one in use now at Portchester SC.
It seems (to me) to be a slightly slower exercise than the previous arrangement with the crane and trailors but so far seems to work OK.

 

[oldharry]

They have been using one for years at Thornham Marina.

 

[mollyoxford]

We have our boat there and Scott is certianly getting much use out of it. I find it dead cute when it's beeping away underwater with it's 'snorkel' just poking out.

It is adjustable for width and height and enables lift/launch to be a one man operation (instead of 2 men, a tractor and a bit of shouting).

Downside (for us boatowners) is that it enables boats to be packed in even closer on the hard....