Air dock boat lift

J

jkswor

New member
May be getting a slip at Valdez Marina and was wondering if anyone has ever used an air dock to keep the c dory out of the water to keep alge off it.
Cost is affordable compared to the hydro hoist. Of course also depends on marina allowing the use of one.
Jim
Tok ak
 
I have used one for several years. It is not maintenance free - I have to get in the water every year and pull all the mussels off, or it gets very heavy. Where I am, I can catch a low tide and do it with waders. Also, I've had the PVC framework come apart a couple of times. I think the constant movement is not typical for PVC joints, so the glue doesn't always hold so well. On the whole I am happy to have it keep my boat high and dry.
 
colvosview":2twv3wp7 said:
I have used one for several years. It is not maintenance free - I have to get in the water every year and pull all the mussels off, or it gets very heavy. Where I am, I can catch a low tide and do it with waders. Also, I've had the PVC framework come apart a couple of times. I think the constant movement is not typical for PVC joints, so the glue doesn't always hold so well. On the whole I am happy to have it keep my boat high and dry.
Click to expand...

A really useful question and a great response. I had been thinking of such a setup in the boathouse since the boat is in the water year round. I hadn't thought about build up. duh! :oops: The depth under the boat is still about 8 ft even at low tide so I would have a real problem and it would be a diver job to get it cleaned. The floats supporting the boathouse don't seem to pick up too much and I can scrape the sides, at least inside the house.

One of the neighbouring units has a type of plastic sheet that hauls up around the hull when the boat is in the boathouse. He throws in a swimming pool puck every now and again and that keeps everything clean. Of course it wouldn't keep the boat dry. I am not so keen on adding more chemicals to the ocean but that thought probably has little scientific value.

Final thought as I conclude this rambling. I only bottom paint every 2 years, it costs little and the slime that I do get rubs off after a few minutes at speed. Why don't I save my money for toys? :D
 
We have been keeping our CD 25 on an air dock and have been happy. If you are buying one you might size up the front portion of the dock to provide more bow lift, then you can be sure that the transom will be supported by the two bags under the cockpit and stern.
Eric
 
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