Boat Just Got Lifted

[Gym]

No, not stolen...A friend just gave me the use of his boat lift for the season. I could use a little advice. I need to get a snap less mooring cover. My 2006 SX 230 has no snaps and I don't want to install them so I am looking for a cover that will make use of the bow & stern tie downs and the cleats already on the boat. It would probably also have a ratcheting waist strap similar to the shipping covers. Does anybody know a source for what I'm looking for. Possibly Will @JetBoatPilot carries something or knows of a source.

 

[txav8r]

I think @JetBoatPilot did make a waist style cover. I don't know if that is still available or not @Gym. But on my '08, I would have had no issue putting the cover on inside the boat, and walking to the swim deck and pulling a corner over one corner, and then standing on the cover on the swim deck, and putting the other corner over, and tightening the stern end ratchets. I actually did that a number of times when docking for a weekend. On a lift, if you can get to the side, it will work. If you have to board or exit from the bow, it won't. But the mooring and trailering cover is what I am talking about. It installs over the cleats but doesn't use the cleats to really secure it. It is a challenge to get fenders and docklines as well as the cover in place. But on a lift, you don't really use fenders, But you may secure docklines anyway in case the lift sinks. Congrats on the lift!

 

[Gym]

I think @JetBoatPilot did make a waist style cover. I don't know if that is still available or not @Gym. But on my '08, I would have had no issue putting the cover on inside the boat, and walking to the swim deck and pulling a corner over one corner, and then standing on the cover on the swim deck, and putting the other corner over, and tightening the stern end ratchets. I actually did that a number of times when docking for a weekend. On a lift, if you can get to the side, it will work. If you have to board or exit from the bow, it won't. But the mooring and trailering cover is what I am talking about. It installs over the cleats but doesn't use the cleats to really secure it. It is a challenge to get fenders and docklines as well as the cover in place. But on a lift, you don't really use fenders, But you may secure docklines anyway in case the lift sinks. Congrats on the lift!

Thanks for the quick reply @txav8r. What brand was yours and was it snap less? Did it use a ratcheting waist band? I see a Yamaha mooring cover on Ebay just not sure on its method of attachment. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-230-Series-Boat-Mooring-Trailering-cover-2003-2006-/141970493525?rmvSB=true&ul_ref=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-53200-19255-0%2F1%3Fff3%3D4%26pub%3D5574876542%26toolid%3D10001%26campid%3D5337835879%26customid%3D%26mpre%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fitm%252FYamaha-230-Series-Boat-Mooring-Trailering-cover-2003-2006-%252F141970493525%26srcrot%3D711-53200-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D1033490994586[/USER][/QUOTE]

 

[David D]

I just looked at the @JetBoatPilot site and it appears they have one. You can check it out at https://jetboatpilot.com/index.php?id_product=15&controller=product.

 

[txav8r]

@Gym that appears to be the authentic Yamaha mooring and trailer if cover. Yes, it had a web strap from bow to stern with a ratcheting tightening system. No other lines to attach except the two transom buckles that hold to the transom tie downs. It's a good cover, if you can get to the ratchets to tighten when on your lift.

 

[Gym]

@Gym that appears to be the authentic Yamaha mooring and trailer if cover. Yes, it had a web strap from bow to stern with a ratcheting tightening system. No other lines to attach except the two transom buckles that hold to the transom tie downs. It's a good cover, if you can get to the ratchets to tighten when on your lift.

Thanks @txav8r. That's exactly the information I was looking for. I'll be ordering it today.

 

[Gym]

Just ordered my new oem Yamaha mooring cover with pooling poles from Ebay for $561.16 with free shipping. I'll be hangin 23 on the lift this season. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[msavold]

@Gym, you got the right cover! I have an elevator lift so that we only have access to one side of the boat. I found that I can set the strap on the canal side and leave it alone for the season - with the boat partly out of the water, I start at the bow and work back, over cleats, put port side rear and do up buckle that attaches to the rings under the swim deck, get off the boat an tie the starboard side clip and ratchet that side strap last as the boat goes up on the lift. Only takes a couple of minutes and the boat is safe and dry. (Oh, yeah, anti-pooling poles every time - they're more of a pain in the butt to put up than the cover!)

 

[Gym]

Thanks @msavold. This is good information. I have been going over the covering process in my mind but you have answered my questions and given me the tips I needed. Hopefully I will have the cover next week and will be able to cover the boat without falling in thanks to your tips.

 

[msavold]

NO problem @Gym, just trying to pay back a fraction of all the great advice I got on this forum!
BTW, one other tip I got was when packing it up, roll from the back to the front and fold in half, trying to do it the same way every time. It can be a bit unwieldy to handle by yourself on the boat if you start unraveling it looking for the bow end...

 

[Gym]

Ah, another good tip @msavold. Do you keep the cover onboard while using the boat or is it too big to store when folded?

 

[swatski]

@Gym, you got the right cover! I have an elevator lift so that we only have access to one side of the boat. I found that I can set the strap on the canal side and leave it alone for the season - with the boat partly out of the water, I start at the bow and work back, over cleats, put port side rear and do up buckle that attaches to the rings under the swim deck, get off the boat an tie the starboard side clip and ratchet that side strap last as the boat goes up on the lift. Only takes a couple of minutes and the boat is safe and dry. (Oh, yeah, anti-pooling poles every time - they're more of a pain in the butt to put up than the cover!)
View attachment 37474 View attachment 37475

@msavold That is one cool lift!

 

[Gym]

Yeah, nice lift but I really like the passenger loading chute built into the dock. View attachment 37475

 

[msavold]

@swatski , thanks! Love the thing - especially after the couple of months we drove back and forth to the ramp. The canal is brackish so it's nice to get the boat out of the water and cleaned off.

@Gym - haha! Picture from when it was just being finished (first day on the lift when the pic was taken). Funny thing is that we now have a 2x12 "gangplank" to get on and off the boat (from the dock to the swim platform). Many comments about "walking the plank" - and several threats from yours truly and the Admiral for unruly guests! (No pictures but I plan to ask the crowd here for better suggestions.)

As for the cover, when it's folded up it's about the size of a small duffel bag. We take it with us unless I have a full boat and can't dedicate one storage area to it - it takes up pretty much all of the forward port storage (maybe room for a couple of life jackets). (BTW, I won't use the ski locker for it - don't want to deal with it wet!)