Hydraulic Swim Platform

R

Rankco

New Member
Oct 9, 2013
32
Vancouver, B.C.
Boat Info
SeaRay 2004 320 Sundancer
Engines
Mercruisers 496/BravoIII
Looking at buying used 420/44 Sundancer. I love the idea of the hydraulic platform for launching, and retrieving either jetski or good dinghy setup. Seems to be the cat's a//. I would like to find a boat with one already bought and paid for. Up here in BC I've had quotes of $30-40K. Some SeaRays I know have them installed when new, others have had them installed later by serious boat owners. Any comments on factory install or Sealift add ons. Please comment on likes, dislikes, pros, cons, anyone had one installed wishing they didn't. I hear if you maintain they they work well, neglect them and you are in for misery? like anything else on a boat, in salt water. Besides the huge cost any other negatives. I know the one for a 44 has a capacity around 1000-1100 lb. jetski can be around 700-800lb and a console dinghy w/motor maybe 400 depending so it looks to be fine. Although put my butt on the jetski and now your over 1000lb but only for launching not cruising. Is 800lb too much strain, even though its rated for more. Seas are quite bumpy here.
Thanks in advance for your feedbacks.

Steve
 
I went through the all the options available and my choice on a hydraulic was a sealift cradle style. It was going to be about $ 25k installed. In the end i installed the St Croix davit system, which is a manual system with pulleys, but it works and for $4k, it was going to do the same thing as the hydraulic. That being said, i only run a 10 foot dink with an 8 HP motor wieghs under 250lbs. Im not sure i would put an 800 lb jet ski on the back of this boat. Remember that you will add another 5 feet to the back of your boat and hanging another 1300 with the lift back there was a bit much. Just my opinion.
 
You could be right. I'm hoping to sea trial one with the setup. It appears the factory installed versions are wider like you said closer to 5ft. Sealift looks narrower, better fit, but I'd have to do more research. I think if I had to add one I might go different route too $25k - 40k..ouch. Might be fine for dinghy but I'm not sure about 800lb jetski + lift. That is a lot of weight hanging so far aft, might actually magnify the effect because of leverage and effect the overall weight balance of the boat. Best to drive one with and one without if possible. Hate to spend that much only to regret it.
Anyone have this set up on 40/44. Better yet anyone added it and can comment on the true effect it had on handling and performance.
Thanks,
Steve
 
I just traded my 2005 420DA, I installed a SeaLift last year. It worked out great for me and it added another 3.5ft to my existing swimplatform. I carried either a 11ft AB center console tender with a 30hp motor or a 11ft Waverunner, both weighing in around 800 lbs. It really didn't affect the performance too much, higher fuel burn and needed to use the trim tabs a little more. Cost to install by SeaLift was low 20's. Here is my old boat for sale with pics of the lift. http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/200...784/Grasonville/MD/United-States#.Ulh93zK9KSM
 
Thanks for the reply.The Sealift systems that I have seen look better IMO than the factory installed system. I was on a 2007 44 w/factory installed lift and while it gave you so much more room it looked too long for the boat, about 5 ft. add and the chocks were fixed. I like the flush adjustable ones. 3.5ft would look better. Low $20k for install (where) not in Canada I bet. So you where quite happy with the Sealift system overall. What did you trade in for? Your 420 was pretty darn nice. How much did your fuel burn change, I'm guessing not much and using your tabs? A few people have said they didn't need tabs, without the lift, that was articles I read. Do you need tabs with this boat or did you find it something you yourself preferred. I am not patient getting on plane myself and would probably use them like you, and then there are times when I just couldn't be bothered and will wait a few more seconds, if that's all it took. Did it handle aft heavy? Could you feel the extra weight back there? The boat weighs around 25,000 loaded I would guess so adding another 1000+ wasn't too much. I think the system sounds awesome if it really works well. What more could you ask for, a nice boat and a Waverunner too. My broker plays with a friends boat, same setup, and says with good diesels no problem. Wouldn't work with gas. That said I would never by gas boat this size. Lots of diesel on the coast here.
Steve
 
I guess one more question I should have asked, I noticed your boat had a bow thruster. Some say needed others say not so much. Also how well does the factory thruster work? Nice to have even if you don't use. Is it like they say "better to have and not need it than to need it and not have it"
Thanks again
 
I bought the SeaLift directly from SeaLift and had their installer drive up from Florida to install, with that being said there are many qualified local installers now.

I only used the trim tabs when the tender was on the lift, without I hardly used the tabs. Once on plane you don't notice the extra weight on the aft. I used to run at 2150 rpms and got .9 mpg and .7 mpg with the tender on the lift.
I got the boat with the bow thruster, I used it when needed and did a lot of docking solo, so it was a must have for me. Better safe than sorry.
 
Thanks again. Sounds like a good idea to have it anyways. I would use it for sure at times also as I will be solo sometimes too. You went up to a 48? Stupid to ask, how to you like it compared to the 420. Is that how it works. I get 420 then next the 48? I'll just tell my wife thats how the boating world works and its not my fault. Nice, I see it has the lift as well. Looks better, built on the 48.
Thanks for the info
 
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It seems the trend is you go from the 42/44 to the 48, it doesn't sound like a big jump but the 48 is a completely different machine. The layout and setup have more of a yacht like feel. If I had the funds and knowledge that I have now I would have gone directly to the 48 and saved myself so money.
 
I have a factory installed GENERAL HYDRAULIC SOLUTIONS lift on my 500DA and have had very few issues and the company is super responsive to deal with. The hydraulic lift is the best option on the yacht. We lower it just below the water and have our own beach etc. without it you are siting 2' above the water and you can carry a tender.

WarrenG
 
WarrenG said:
I have a factory installed GENERAL HYDRAULIC SOLUTIONS lift on my 500DA and have had very few issues and the company is super responsive to deal with. The hydraulic lift is the best option on the yacht. We lower it just below the water and have our own beach etc. without it you are siting 2' above the water and you can carry a tender.

WarrenG
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I agree with Warren. We have the factory-installed platform and it works great! We do the same thing regarding the fiberglass beach--we lower the platform into the water, put our chairs on the platform with water up to our knees, and sometimes add an umbrella. Best option on the boat!
 
I have a 44DB and just had a Sealift installed this year. We have a SeaDoo Jet ski that is 750lbs dry, so with fuel and gear its just over 800lbs. The unit works fine so far. I do notice that it takes some extra time to get on plane, and I have to use the trim tabs. I have not measured fuel burn yet. Cruise speed has also decreased some. The platform is 48" wide so the jetski fits nicely. The folding chocks are very annoying when I try and load the jet ski back on the platform they repeatidly collopse on me which makes it a total nightmare. I wish I had the removable chocks instead. The service from Sealift is poor from install to any issue thereafter

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I had a SeaLift installed on my 420DA with no issues. If your chocks are collapsing you might be doing something wrong or you have something wrong with the chocks. Are you making sure they are locked in place before installing the JetSki? There service is not the greatest but the product is good. I have a 48DA now with the removable chocks, yes the lift is solid but having the collapsable chocks is nice on the SeaLift. The SeaLift is great because you can hang out on the lift when it's lowered in the water, the stock lift which came on the 48DA has all the mechanical parts exposed which is not ideal. Pros and cons of both.



Johnnyg44 said:
I have a 44DB and just had a Sealift installed this year. We have a SeaDoo Jet ski that is 750lbs dry, so with fuel and gear its just over 800lbs. The unit works fine so far. I do notice that it takes some extra time to get on plane, and I have to use the trim tabs. I have not measured fuel burn yet. Cruise speed has also decreased some. The platform is 48" wide so the jetski fits nicely. The folding chocks are very annoying when I try and load the jet ski back on the platform they repeatidly collopse on me which makes it a total nightmare. I wish I had the removable chocks instead. The service from Sealift is poor from install to any issue thereafter


ameduse3.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
 
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