Floating boat storage

J

JeffK

New member
I'm a C-brat want-to-be. I currently store my 26' Imemsa panga on a Dock Blocks floating dock. I use engine power to get my boat up and out of the water. I winch it back enough for the lower unit to get a good bite, then power the boat back in the water. Question: do you think the C-Dory hull could safely do this operation without damage? I spray silicone on the blocks that make contact with the hull. I don't need to use full power.
 
I saw in a photo that one of our members has one of those floating docks. The dry lube will help with power on--not sure about power off--if there is rain waves, etc it may not stick for any long time.

Another option is the docks which sink, then air displaces the water (Shop vac type of air source).
 
It sounds no different than powering on/off a bunk trailer. A lot of us do that at the boat launch and the hull is strong enough to handle it. Bottom paint can get scuffed up this way if you have it, but its easily touched up.
 
It is a little different than a bunk trailer, which can be put into the water and the boat floated into position. The floating blocks are above the water and the boat powers on--and is then "high and dry".
 
That's true Bob. I was just thinking how bass boats often do it at the launch. Not backing into the water all that far and using the engine to power on and off the bunks. I personally don't trust the lumber on the trailer bunks enough to choose that route, but have done it before with no problems. These types of plastic on/off dockage are pretty popular along the intercoastal tributaries in Georgia.

I really like your description of the shop vac powered inflatable dock. Ive never seen that version and that sounds like the best of both worlds and without the mechanical problems of a hoist.
 
One of our close friends has a floating PWC dock and it has rollers for him to push it back into the water. The PWC water jet and cooling is not functioning unless the boat is in the water. However the biggest PWC weigh only about 1,000#.

Perhaps keel rollers for the C Dory sized dock?

One of the most popular air displacement lifts is the "Hydrohoist". They require 1 to 3 PSI in the lift chambers. There are a number of variations of that technology.
 
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