Hydrohoist Boat lift

[MattFX4]

I plan on putting the boat in a wet slip next year sometime around middle March. I have been doing research on lifts and think I want to go with a Hydrohoist lift. I got a quote of $7,200 installed on a 6,600 lb capacity lift. I know 6,600 lbs capacity is more than I need, but I am thinking long term. Good chances are my next boat will weigh more than my Yamaha. Looking for reviews if anyone here has a hydrohoist. Can't wait until next season, I think a wet slip will be much more enjoyable than towing.

 

[jawsf16]

@MattFX4
I just bought a 6600# HydroHoist a few months ago. I found a used one for around $1300 and then had about $200 worth of repairs and another $300 to place in slip. All in, I got a great lift for $1800 customized for back in ops at my slip. The capacity is great and the lift works awesome. I have only had the slip for a couple moths but I never intend to tow again! It is very convenient. There are definite pros and cons to stern in vs bow in. I went with bow in and these are my thoughts...
Pros - super easy to board and load the boat (by far the best benefit) whether lift up or down, leave the slip, run extension cord to charger fitting, and install the cover
Cons - hard to clean the bow area of the hull, but I am tall so I can reach it from inside or outside the boat. If you are in a windy area it is way tougher to back in vs pull straight in.

Hope this info helps a bit... I am a lift rookie too.

 

[MattFX4]

@MattFX4
I just bought a 6600# HydroHoist a few months ago. I found a used one for around $1300 and then had about $200 worth of repairs and another $300 to place in slip. All in, I got a great lift for $1800 customized for back in ops at my slip. The capacity is great and the lift works awesome. I have only had the slip for a couple moths but I never intend to tow again! It is very convenient. There are definite pros and cons to stern in vs bow in. I went with bow in and these are my thoughts...
Pros - super easy to board and load the boat (by far the best benefit) whether lift up or down, leave the slip, run extension cord to charger fitting, and install the cover
Cons - hard to clean the bow area of the hull, but I am tall so I can reach it from inside or outside the boat. If you are in a windy area it is way tougher to back in vs pull straight in.

Hope this info helps a bit... I am a lift rookie too.

Wow man you got a killer deal. Cheapest I have seen a used one around here is $4,900. I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll get lucky. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Micah Thompson]

$7200 installed is actually a great price on a new 6600, and yeah, Hydrohoist is the best, pretty much the gold standard. Mine has worked flawlessly since I bought it.

I can't fathom finding one for $1300, I am guessing it is quite old, possibly a fiberglass tank model?

At any rate, I spent a lot of time getting bids and looking around back in June, and had no luck finding a used 6600 within a few hundred miles, or that was reasonably new, so had to buy a new one. Cheapest I found in this area was $7850, after taxes, install, etc. A crapload of money, but these things last for many years, and the newer models hold value very well, and in fact Hydrohoist will even take them in trade for a newer one. I just considered it part of the price of the boat, and since my wife gets totally intimidated using a trailer, it has saved our marriage, and let us use the boat a lot more, lol.

Yes, get the 6600 over the 4400. I talked to my dealer about this, and the only difference is the 4400 has slightly smaller tanks (less height, but same length and width). For that reason it's barely cheaper. If you ever want to sell it, the 6600 will be worth a lot more.

I'm actually in the process of getting mine re-configured tomorrow, for when my Jet-boat arrives. Having it setup for back-in operation, so I we can simply step onto the back platform from the dock. I figure if you're going to own a jet boat, might as well take advantage of nothing hanging under the boat!

 

[MattFX4]

@Micah Thompson thanks for the feedback. I will probably bite the bullet and opt for the new one. I was quoted $6,500 for the 4,400, $6,900 for the 5,000, and $7,200 for the 6,600. I like the 6,600 because like you said better resell value, and if I ever get a heavier dedicated wake boat, I will not have to upgrade lifts. So you are going to back your boat in to the slip?

 

[BigN8]

Boatfloater is also a great brand. I bought a used boat floater for $3500 and it never failed me.

 

[Mainah]

Or one could diy. You can buy the lift floats separately online. Get a custom adjustable frame and bunks built (aluminum would be awesome upgrade from what is sold as a kit) From there you just need a couple of high volume medium pressure blowers like the hp airhead or overtons ones, 1 inch ballast hose, 1 inch solenoid valves, and a way to power and control them. Bet it can be done for under 5k for a 6600 lb lift that would outlast the boat aside from the blowers.

@MattFX4 you are a smart guy and I bet you could do it if you have the time and can't find a cheap used one.

 

[MattFX4]

Or one could diy. You can buy the lift floats separately online. Get a custom adjustable frame and bunks built (aluminum would be awesome upgrade from what is sold as a kit) From there you just need a couple of high volume medium pressure blowers like the hp airhead or overtons ones, 1 inch ballast hose, 1 inch solenoid valves, and a way to power and control them. Bet in can be done for under 5k for a 6600 lb lift that would outlast the boat aside from the blowers.

@MattFX4 you are a smart guy and I bet you could do it if you have the time and can't find a cheap used one.

Yeah, only problem is the marina I am leasing a slip in will only allow lifts to be installed by "authorized dealers". I doubt any of the dealers in my area will install a DIY lift. Would be a fun project though!

 

[BigN8]

Or one could diy. You can buy the lift floats separately online. Get a custom adjustable frame and bunks built (aluminum would be awesome upgrade from what is sold as a kit) From there you just need a couple of high volume medium pressure blowers like the hp airhead or overtons ones, 1 inch ballast hose, 1 inch solenoid valves, and a way to power and control them. Bet in can be done for under 5k for a 6600 lb lift that would outlast the boat aside from the blowers.

@MattFX4 you are a smart guy and I bet you could do it if you have the time and can't find a cheap used one.

I would check with my marina first before I did this. Most marinas have rules on what lifts are allowed and not allowed.

 

[Mainah]

Good point. Marina owners have to worry about all the other boats there so it makes sense they would make that a requirement. I was just looking at it from the only thing these really do is displace water in a open bottom orfice vessel by pushing air in or releasing it from the top of the vessel which is trapped by the water in the bottom of it. The amount of air volume in the vessel will determine how much water the vessel displaces which is where the boyancy comes from. Not that hard to accomplish but if built or installed badly then bad things would happen.

I get that galvanized frames save money but you would think that aluminum would be the go to material for these given the use case.

 

[WickedPorter]

I've had my 6600# Hydrohoist holding up my AR240 for the last three years now. Never a problem, love it dearly. It's a great lift! I paid about the same price.

 

[Micah Thompson]

I've seen the beating a lift gets during rough weather, or when there is a ton of boat traffic in the lake, and there's no way I'd even THINK of DIY a boat lift for a nice boat, unless I had extensive fabricating capabilities, ie. it was basically my career and I built airplanes or something, lol. I DIY just about everything too, but no way. Not with a $65k boat sitting out there at its mercy 24/7.

Yeah, they are "simple" in operation and concept, but they have to be designed right, and hold together, and be very reliable to protect your boat in the worst conditions. Not to mention it is lifting and lowering ~4000 lbs, has to do it reliably, and safely, or it could be dangerous as hell. I hate to be the over-protective guy, but just really not something you DIY, unless maybe you are lifting a 12-foot skiff with a 9.9 HP Johnson on the back, lol.

And yep, most marinas would never allow it anyway. That said, I have seen numerous stories of guys finding older lifts, refurbing them, etc. like was mentioned earlier, and saving a lot of money. I was more than open for a used lift, but I personally didn't want an old one I had to refurb, and my lift-dealer told me when they DO get a used Hydrohoist in trade, they are gone in 48 hours or less. I just bit the bullet, bought a new one, so I get the warranty, latest technology, no hassle, etc. It will basically last my lifetime if I take care of it, so I just consider it an investment for years of convenience.

My new boat is still on order, but I had my Hydrohoist 6600 re-configured today, for back-in operation. It's setup so the back of the boat will be 8-12" from the rear of the dock, so I can step right on or off the swim platform to the dock.

Yeah, will be more effort to back the boat in, but I learned in my demo that backing the Chaparral is total cake, much easier than the stern drive I traded. I'm pretty sure with practice I'll be able to pull into the marina, pivot the boat, and back in. At least that's the plan, lol.

Just made a video today testing it (no boat on it.)

 

[Evildwarf]

Go with the Hydrohoist.
Ours has been no problem at all...bought a refurbed 6600 with install from the same people who you are probably looking at buying from.
Which Marina around Acworth are you in?
We may be slip neighbors...
Backing in is easy-ish depending on wind/wave action...sometimes I look like a pro and other times like a guy who really wanted to hit the dock twice....

 

[MattFX4]

Go with the Hydrohoist.
Ours has been no problem at all...bought a refurbed 6600 with install from the same people who you are probably looking at buying from.
Which Marina around Acworth are you in?
We may be slip neighbors...
Backing in is easy-ish depending on wind/wave action...sometimes I look like a pro and other times like a guy who really wanted to hit the dock twice....

@Evildwarf I haven't officially got a slip yet but it will between Park Marina or Glade. Glade is full, so I put my name on the waiting list. She said they were installing two new docks that should be done around March. I have friends with boats at Park, so I may just go there since I know the marina, and like it there. I got the quote from Marine Specialties. They will not be able to install if I go with Glade though because Glade sells Hydrohoist also. Where are you?

 

[Shuck Water]

I'll throw my 2 cents in. There are definitely some other quality lift builders to consider. Boat floater was mentioned, also Shoremaster makes a good lift. I personally owned a Shoremaster and had no issues, but ended up trading it for a Hydro Hoist. The trade was because I needed a side by side vs a front mounted lift and nothing to do with quality issues. The rule of thumb is never pay more than $1 per pound for a new lift or more that $0.50 per pound on a used lift (install and tax extra).

 

[MattFX4]

I checked on boat floater but they wanted $1,000 more. Will look into Shoremaster. I was quoted $5,958 for the lift. Labor seems high but probably where they are making up on the lower priced lift.

 

[Evildwarf]

MattFx4 we are at Victoria.

 

[MattFX4]

MattFx4 we are at Victoria.

Cool, what area of the lake do you hang out? We will have to tie up one day next summer.