We had another customer with a sunken boat in the slip due to a bladder type boat lift fail. I don't want to be too specific with the brand name, but I think we know what I'm talking about. It was a nice 2003 28' Searay at Tower Park. Good thing the guy had insurance.
Bladder Style Boat Lift Strikes
- Thread starter towcapt
- Start date
Phil,
I understand the bladder failing, but why did the boat sink? Are they failing such that they leave the boat in an attitude where it takes on water? I think one of our posters here, relies heavily upon one of these lifts. I hope she is reading.
I understand the bladder failing, but why did the boat sink? Are they failing such that they leave the boat in an attitude where it takes on water? I think one of our posters here, relies heavily upon one of these lifts. I hope she is reading.
Dave,
That is exactly how it happens. The bladder system is made up of more than one chamber. I think three is common. When one of the aft chamber fails, it goes down. the forward one stays full. Like a teeter totter if you hold the bow way up above the normal waterline then the heavier stern has to go below the waterline. In this case, the Searay has a transom door on the starboard side that is not water tight. There are also engine vents back there below the deck edge as well as scuppers. the engine hatch is not a water tight seal either. In some cases, the boat can be flooded with a substancial amount of water before the bilge pump even gets wet. I have seen more conventional hydro hoist do this. Though usually with offshore boats with little freeboard aft and huge vent openings.
That is exactly how it happens. The bladder system is made up of more than one chamber. I think three is common. When one of the aft chamber fails, it goes down. the forward one stays full. Like a teeter totter if you hold the bow way up above the normal waterline then the heavier stern has to go below the waterline. In this case, the Searay has a transom door on the starboard side that is not water tight. There are also engine vents back there below the deck edge as well as scuppers. the engine hatch is not a water tight seal either. In some cases, the boat can be flooded with a substancial amount of water before the bilge pump even gets wet. I have seen more conventional hydro hoist do this. Though usually with offshore boats with little freeboard aft and huge vent openings.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
- RO Number
- 15969
- Messages
- 297
I'm the one with the air dock. I have always left the bow bladder lower then the other two. I guess this is a good thing! Even though the boat is tilting down a bit in front, it gets the outdrive out of the water with less air in the aft bladders. Makes it faster to prepare the boat before leaving to go home.
Also during warm weather, the bow bladder has a tendency to leak out the air. Since that doesn't happen in the cold months, I think it may be caused by vapor lock or some such thing. I haven't figured out how to fix this, but it just an inconvenience and looks strange. It causes no problems with the boat.
I think the lesson here may be to only fill up the bow section enough to touch the bow, but not fully support it......
I still stand by my opinion of the air dock and won't be without it!!!!!
Also during warm weather, the bow bladder has a tendency to leak out the air. Since that doesn't happen in the cold months, I think it may be caused by vapor lock or some such thing. I haven't figured out how to fix this, but it just an inconvenience and looks strange. It causes no problems with the boat.
I think the lesson here may be to only fill up the bow section enough to touch the bow, but not fully support it......
I still stand by my opinion of the air dock and won't be without it!!!!!
Flutterby:
My boat is the end tie on the shed where the boat went down. I drove up to my boat on Monday night. And there that thing was, and boy was that a sad sight.
I agree with everything you say, but you have to take it one step further. Get your bags up, just like you say, and let the air out of aft bags one at a time. Then you can see what will happen if a bag does go down. I have walked past that SeaRay TowCapt talks about a hundred times, and although the fault never occured to me, he kept that boat as far out of the water as he could get it.
My boat is the end tie on the shed where the boat went down. I drove up to my boat on Monday night. And there that thing was, and boy was that a sad sight.
I agree with everything you say, but you have to take it one step further. Get your bags up, just like you say, and let the air out of aft bags one at a time. Then you can see what will happen if a bag does go down. I have walked past that SeaRay TowCapt talks about a hundred times, and although the fault never occured to me, he kept that boat as far out of the water as he could get it.
I have had one of my aft bags be completed deflated twice: once, I hadn't closed the valve completely and the time a fisherman caught it with his hook and put a hole in it. Neighter time did my boat come even close to sinking. The only mishap was some items on the galley counter rolled to the floor. That taught me to secure everything on the boat before inflating the lift! But I have always kept the bow just a little less inflated then the port and starboard sections.
Thanks for your concern FindMe! Always nice to hear from you. Will you be joining us for dinner next Sunday at the Spindrift?
Thanks for your concern FindMe! Always nice to hear from you. Will you be joining us for dinner next Sunday at the Spindrift?
I am the inventor and owner of Air-Dock boat lifts and I would like to add some information about the Sea Ray and Air-Docks in general. We have been in contact with the owner and his insurance company who notified us he will receive the maximum settlement on his claim. We regret the accident happened and we hope he will get back on the water soon. Regarding the safety of the Air-Dock, the most important point has already been posted by another Air-Dock owner; i.e. the raised height of the boat. And another poster shared his experience with air loss as well. We appreciate your inputs.
We go to great lengths to advise our customers on safe and proper use of our products and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the safety factors mentioned above. If you know of anyone with an Air-Dock boat lift, please pass this on this information on.
DO NOT RAISE THE BOAT MORE THAN A FEW INCHES OUT OF THE WATER! This requires much more pressure in the chambers and increases the chance of a leak, it creates a higher center of gravity, and the air chambers become narrower providing a less stable platform. For an I/O, the unit must be in the trailer position and the skag 2 to 3 inches above the water. For Inboard boats, the prop and rudder must stay in the water.
Also, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RAISE IF BOAT IF NOT CENTERED (i.e. within 4 to 5 inches of center). It is no different than loading a boat on a trailer. The Air-Dock when properly set up will guide the boat on very accurately. If not centered, or not pulled on far enough, and/or if the valves are operated improperly, the boat can slide off.
Thank you for the opportunity to pass on information about safe and proper use of Air-Dock boat lifts.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Moody
Owner and President: Air-Dock
We go to great lengths to advise our customers on safe and proper use of our products and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the safety factors mentioned above. If you know of anyone with an Air-Dock boat lift, please pass this on this information on.
DO NOT RAISE THE BOAT MORE THAN A FEW INCHES OUT OF THE WATER! This requires much more pressure in the chambers and increases the chance of a leak, it creates a higher center of gravity, and the air chambers become narrower providing a less stable platform. For an I/O, the unit must be in the trailer position and the skag 2 to 3 inches above the water. For Inboard boats, the prop and rudder must stay in the water.
Also, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RAISE IF BOAT IF NOT CENTERED (i.e. within 4 to 5 inches of center). It is no different than loading a boat on a trailer. The Air-Dock when properly set up will guide the boat on very accurately. If not centered, or not pulled on far enough, and/or if the valves are operated improperly, the boat can slide off.
Thank you for the opportunity to pass on information about safe and proper use of Air-Dock boat lifts.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Moody
Owner and President: Air-Dock
Ken
Through my personal experience, I agree with everything you have posted above. One more thing I will add: don't just put the boat on the Air-Dock. Secure sufficient dock lines and fenders as well. By centering the rig in my slip with dock lines, I have prevented any damage from the boat rocking and rolling during storms. I've been told my boat will "almost hit the shed supports" during a windy storm. But the dock lines prevent any actual blows and possible damage to my boat.
The Air-Dock will do what it is designed to do, but care must be taken to use it in a proper manner.
Through my personal experience, I agree with everything you have posted above. One more thing I will add: don't just put the boat on the Air-Dock. Secure sufficient dock lines and fenders as well. By centering the rig in my slip with dock lines, I have prevented any damage from the boat rocking and rolling during storms. I've been told my boat will "almost hit the shed supports" during a windy storm. But the dock lines prevent any actual blows and possible damage to my boat.
The Air-Dock will do what it is designed to do, but care must be taken to use it in a proper manner.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12084
- Messages
- 20
I use one on a 34footer for the last 3 years and have found it to be pretty good. I have never had a problem with the bladders except for one time when it had a slow (and I mean very slow) leak. The harbor master called and I got right out there and fixed the problem. Since then never have I had a problem. Just this last winter the boat was on the bladder from December through February with me checking on it once and the bladders held the boat up very well.
Lost in the delta
Lost in the delta