Using the lift stern first, ok?

[tabbibus]

My 242 lives at the marina on a slip, with a lift. When I got the lift initially it was set up to dock bow first, since I sucked big time at reverse. Well I have since added LTs and I'm pretty good at backing in stern first now, and it is way easier to board and deboard from the stern. To officially change the bunks to "stern first" config will cost me a pretty penny.

What say the collective wisdom about continuing to use the lift stern first with the bunks in bow first config? I've looked underneath and nothing looks terrible wrong. The only downside that I can see is that the boat sits slightly bow down, so drainage is compromised a tad. Is that a big deal? Will I damage the hull somehow?

Picture just because.

 

[anmut]

Would it be safe to assume that the bow is higher due to the cabling, or is it actually the bunks themselves? If it's the bunks, could you just bolt on some "riser" bunks to the current bunks to kick the bow up more when you back it in?

 

[tabbibus]

Would it be safe to assume that the bow is higher due to the cabling, or is it actually the bunks themselves? If it's the bunks, could you just bolt on some "riser" bunks to the current bunks to kick the bow up more when you back it in?

sorry. this are hydrohoist type lift. No cables. Big ol plastic type tubes fill with air. I honestly don't know if the bunks are what makes the incline or if it is the tubes. If you look at this pic you can see how the back of the tubes are slightly more under water than the front.

 

[Babin Farms]

sorry. this are hydrohoist type lift. No cables. Big ol plastic type tubes fill with air. I honestly don't know if the bunks are what makes the incline or if it is the tubes. If you look at this pic you can see how the back of the tubes are slightly more under water than the front.


View attachment 156460

I'm so jealous of your setup!!

 

[tabbibus]

I'm so jealous of your setup!!

Thanks man. Love it. Only thing better than my set up would be to own a lake house. ha!

 

[Nfinlay1]

My dad just had the bunks on his lift reversed so he can back his new 255S into his slip. It gives him easy access to the flush out ports, drain plug, and cleanouts. Definitely a nice upgrade for a 70+ year old.

 

[anmut]

sorry. this are hydrohoist type lift. No cables. Big ol plastic type tubes fill with air. I honestly don't know if the bunks are what makes the incline or if it is the tubes. If you look at this pic you can see how the back of the tubes are slightly more under water than the front.


View attachment 156460

You know, the rear of the boat is the heavy part - is it possible it's lower back there simply due to weight? If you back the boat in now, lift it up, will it sink a bit in the rear?

 

[biffdotorg]

This has me perplexed, as I can't think of why I never put my boat in the lift backwards. Yes, you do need to adjust the bunks, as mine are higher in front as well to adjust to the shape of the bow. And yes, you do want it at least level, if not bow up slightly for drainage.

My bunks are pretty easy to adjust, and actually, I would bet yours are too with an impact and a measuring tape. As easy as my boat is to back in, it would be much nicer to have our stern backed up to the dock.

Now when the water is low though, the bunks do stop the boat in the lift. When high, the bumpers on the dock section stop the bow. There is really no reason I could not back in though. The LT's are the bomb for sure.

 

[biffdotorg]

I think the bigger issue is if the hoist drops deep enough to clear the bow bunks when backing out, as they are higher. I think that is my issue on my left, the bow bunks allow the bow to go through, but the stern would never clear the bunks. We just don't have the depth to drop them that low.

 

[anmut]

This has me perplexed, as I can't think of why I never put my boat in the lift backwards. Yes, you do need to adjust the bunks, as mine are higher in front as well to adjust to the shape of the bow. And yes, you do want it at least level, if not bow up slightly for drainage.

My bunks are pretty easy to adjust, and actually, I would bet yours are too with an impact and a measuring tape. As easy as my boat is to back in, it would be much nicer to have our stern backed up to the dock.

Now when the water is low though, the bunks do stop the boat in the lift. When high, the bumpers on the dock section stop the bow. There is really no reason I could not back in though. The LT's are the bomb for sure.

Looking at the bunks on his lift, they seem just bolted on - looks like old Erector Set bars (I just aged myself). I would think a guy could just remove the boat, climb on the lift, and just move the bunks himself up or down.

 

[tabbibus]

You know, the rear of the boat is the heavy part - is it possible it's lower back there simply due to weight? If you back the boat in now, lift it up, will it sink a bit in the rear?

Huh, never though of this. Good idea. I'll check next time I'm out. Also will take pics of how the boat sits on the bunks.

This has me perplexed, as I can't think of why I never put my boat in the lift backwards. Yes, you do need to adjust the bunks, as mine are higher in front as well to adjust to the shape of the bow. And yes, you do want it at least level, if not bow up slightly for drainage.

oh dude, this is life changing. Makes everything so much easier. Including installing the mooring cover.

I think the bigger issue is if the hoist drops deep enough to clear the bow bunks when backing out, as they are higher. I think that is my issue on my left, the bow bunks allow the bow to go through, but the stern would never clear the bunks. We just don't have the depth to drop them that low.

Not an issue for me. Plenty deep!

 

[TimW451]

@tabbibus I would try to figure out what is different/what they would change. Two things I would look at is the how the bunks change from front to back, width and height (assuming tanks are level) and then the tanks location/level without the boat in both raised and lowered positions. I could see how the bunks are maybe V shaped, from overhead, narrowing at the front. The tanks could also be raked lower in the back to facilitate getting on and off without overshooting the front. If it is all even then you should be able to do what you want.

My air lift has individual controls by the corners, so I can tilt however I want, and the bunks are practical parallel. My problem is the TVs would hit the bunks unless I manually raised them before backing in.

 

[Bayou boater]

My 242 lives at the marina on a slip, with a lift. When I got the lift initially it was set up to dock bow first, since I sucked big time at reverse. Well I have since added LTs and I'm pretty good at backing in stern first now, and it is way easier to board and deboard from the stern. To officially change the bunks to "stern first" config will cost me a pretty penny.

What say the collective wisdom about continuing to use the lift stern first with the bunks in bow first config? I've looked underneath and nothing looks terrible wrong. The only downside that I can see is that the boat sits slightly bow down, so drainage is compromised a tad. Is that a big deal? Will I damage the hull somehow?

‘Before I received my boat last November, I noticed that there were multiple Yamaha boat owners on the nearby Bayou as well as Pensacola Bay all of whom backEd their boat into the lit. As you can tell from my profile picture I do the same. It makes all the sense as it’s so much easier to both board the boat and flush the motors after use. I did have to have my lift designed such that it is slightly inclined towards the front so that water will drain out the back.

 

[rkluck]

I had the same lift and just adjusted the bunks to fit my 242. It was easy. You may simply look at the set up now and see how different it is from front to rear and then just reverse them.