Boat U.S. - September 2008 - (Page 58)

Jet Dock An alternative to a mechanical boat lift is a drive-on docking system like those offered by Jet Dock. “It works like a boat lift and a dock all in one,” says Bill Beatty, director of sales for Jet Dock. “You get a full, 360-degree walk around so you can wash your boat, flush the engines or put the cover on. And the boat is at water level so we are preserving your view.” Jet Docks are made up of modular 20 inch squares, which allow each one to be custom built for your needs and can be changed later as necessary. The units are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) a tough plastic, and come with a lifetime warranty. The only variation in the squares is in the thickness, which changes the amount of buoyancy they provide. Thinner, less buoyant squares are used at the rear of the Jet Dock so when you begin to power on with your boat, the squares dip down underwater. The whole Jet Dock gently flexes under the weight of the boat. As more throttle is applied and the boat climbs the dock, the more buoyant squares further up the dock start to lift the boat and the stern rises. This reduces the bite of the prop and prevents you from driving on too far. A winch mounted at the front of the dock allows you to fine tune the placement of your boat. A Jet Dock with a 10,000-pound capacity would cost between $12,500 and $17,500 depending on the length of the boat. with extreme tidal ranges or locales where the water levels change regularly or seasonally due to water releases. Air Dock Boat Lifts offers a simple, straightforward design that cradles your boat on three or more cushions of air. These durable, low-pressure inflation chambers are anchored at the corners of your dock or anchored to the bottom. “It’s an inflatable mattress that your boat glides onto,” says Ken Moody, BoatU.S. Magazine September 2008 president of Air Dock Boat Lifts. “Then you add air to the air chambers to float it up out of the water.” A vacuum cleaner motor supplies the air for the chambers. Adjusting the relative pressure of each of the air chambers allows you to trim the boat in the up position fore and aft as well as side to side. Air Dock’s portability and design make it extremely useful in areas where drought effects water levels. Many boat lifts require a water depth greater than what the boat draws to allow for clearance between the bottom and the lift cradle. Air Dock air chambers collapse almost completely flat and therefore don’t require a water depth greater than the draft of the boat. An Air Dock rated at 10,000 pounds will run around $4,300. An Air Dock lifts the boat by adjusting buoyancy as does another

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - September 2008

Boat U.S. - September 2008 Contents Behind The Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum List Locker Aluminum Can Do Cruising in Crossovers Second Guessing Seasonal Forecasts A Cradle for Your Baby Badlands Boating The Inns and Outs of Penobscot Bay All in the Family: The Butler Did It Stealing Back Peace of Mind DIY Boat Owner Files Good Foundations Boat Smart 2nd Time Around Hot Tips Tangled Line Seaworthy Ask Chuck At Your Service BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - September 2008

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