Floating a Basta lift across a lake.

Wish

Need to float one across a lake in deeeep water. Any ideas?? We do have floating dock cubes..4 of them. And a dozen foam blocks 4’ long 12”x12”

skihacker

Inner tubes, barrels, air mattress, air bed, row boat, our place people usually skirt the shore line to stay in shallow water,

mbabiash

Outriggers. Once it goes it goes.

DavidN

Park boat on lift, use 2 heavy duty ratchet straps (slack line’s are pretty HD), attach boat to lift/cradle, lower cradle (should lift the lift up) idle across the lake.

skimtb

Need call water and no surf boats...

I’ve seen lifts floated across lake with the 4” thick foam pieces 4’ x 4’ or so in each corner.

I’ve also seen a lift be moved by two pontoons. They were nose to nose and the lift was on the portion in front of the fence, if that makes sense.

Also could use the foam floating mats rolled up:
https://rossowater.net/products/rosso-water-mat-floating-foam-for-lakes-oceans-pools?variant=32687807725704&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2021-03-03&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgJWF1azU7wIVOQ2tBh07HgsUEAQYASABEgLehfD_BwE

skimtb

Edit. Re reading your stuff. If the 12x12 foam blocks won’t snap, 12 of them should be fine.
If they are brittle, maybe 3/4” plywood between block and bottom of hoist or a 2x8 lumber etc.

dave2ball

Place the lift on a Jon boat and have the legs drag in the water

OscawanaSkier

That lift is likely about 600-700 lbs. Similar to @davidn idea, raise lift, borrow (2) 2x4x12” (minimum) dock floats and put UNDER the main runners, ratchet strap in place (with control box on top of one of the floats, also strapped). Then hit down on remote (which will float lift feet) and then go SLOW! Reverse at the other end.

You could strap to boat, but I’d want feet as high as possible, especially at destination site.

dbutcher

I have no knowledge, no experience, and certainly no expertise. However, is it possible to float the lift on a boat trailer, and move it by land. It could be disastrous to lose that lift in the middle of a deeeep lake, not to mention time consuming and possibly expensive. I doubt that you will have control of wake boats while you do this task.

6balls

Tubes for sure. Partial full so the tube goes up on both sides of the frame to some degree. Big tubes like the Mables if u have Em. Then no problem. Test out ur set up shallow...then go. Done it many times

OscawanaSkier

One more thing...since the runners fall to the rear of this lift when in the “down” position, the lift will likely be unbalanced when you first float it. Just support the front till you get to deeper water and then use the remote to drop the legs and re-balance. One person in the water (or an extra float/inner tube at the front) would do. Raise the legs again when you get to your destination.

Good luck!

Clydesdale

I’ve moved mine with 4 55 gallon drums. Sank the drums and winch strapped one drum to each of the four lower cross members. Then remove the lower plug of the barrell and use compressor to fill with air. (Water evacuates the same hole you’re pumping air into). Then restore the bottom plug. My lift was not hydraulic though, so not sure how well this approach might work for you.

BraceMaker

We just use a rowboat ratchet strapped down. We go under the bunks but you'd have to be on top of the basta.

RAWSki

I have moved mine down a lake and back using an 8x8 swim raft. The front cross-bar was on the center of the raft the back legs were put on ski boat platform and tied off to the rear lift eyes. Idle speed and a cooler.

APB

super easy ive done it many times. go very slow in early am, foam blocks at a 45 under each corner. it doesnt take much to float them, esp if you dont have a canopy. a rope w a buoy is a good idea too.

APB

APB

you can also ratchet the foam to the top of the basta bunks..... lower the lift before you disconnect it. it will lift the legs off the ground and float it. go slow...

oldjeep

Why? No road between the 2 spots? Get 4 guys, pick it up and put it on trailer. Repeat when unloading.

Broussard

@oldjeep I'm guessing steep drop to the shoreline with no close boat ramp. Likely a public lake, not a ski ditch.

Wish

Homes are to close together. No access what so ever.

vtjc

I have moved boat lifts over water with a 14’ aluminum boat, float bags and modular plastic dock. For short and moderate distances, the modular plastic dock works best. Twice a year we move four lifts with a length of my modular dock.

For the hydraulic cantilever lift, we strap the dock to the cradle and lower it so the whole lift floats.

Now I typically use the 14’ boat to tow rather than the ski boats.

ironhorse

In Canada, we just slide them across the ice in the winter!

harddock

a pontoon style (maybe others) swim raft 8 x8 0r 8x12 will float the lift so it can be towed.