Stokes Marine Blog

Boatlift Accessories: Holiday Gifts for Boaters in Southwest Florida

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

The holiday season can be a stressful time of year and finding the perfect gift for your loved ones is probably at the top of your to-do list. If your friends or family members live on the water and enjoy the boating lifestyle, dock and boat lift accessories make great holiday gifts for boaters in Southwest Florida. Below are a few great suggestions to help determine what dock and boat lift accessories are perfect for the boater in your life.

Would they enjoy better access to parts of their boat or motor(s) that are difficult to reach from the dock?
A walkboard, stern access platform, or stern cross overs make washing the boat or installing a cover much easier as they allow for 360 degree access to the entire vessel.
Could the fishermen on your list benefit from a cleaning table on their dock?
The only thing better than having a great day out fishing is having a place to filet that prized catch before cooking it for dinner. A cleaning table out by the dock minimizes mess in the kitchen and adds convenience.
How hard is it for the boat owner on your list or their family to get on and off their boat?
If getting on and off the boat from the dock presents a challenge, then a retractable boarding platform will make stepping on or off the boat comfortable and easy.
Would they like to improve the look of their dock?
Two common dock accessories that spruce up the look of even the nicest docks include pile caps and furring strips. These items add a great deal of aesthetic value to the pilings above the deck. The furring strips are available in most synthetics and can be matched or coordinated with any type of decking already installed on the dock.
Do they enjoy backyard gatherings?
- Snook lights are a big hit for the entire family. Kids love walking down to the dock at night and checking out all the fish that gather and feed in the light.
- Chickee Huts are also a really popular way to gather friends around a dock with a glass of wine at night.
Remote controls and automatic stops offer great convenience for boaters:
The convenience offered by a remote control and automatic stop would be a great gift for a boater in Southwest Florida. Remote controls allow you to run your boat lift from in the boat or anywhere on the dock. The automatic stop prevents slacked cables and the boat lift from going off balance. The auto stop and remote prevent frustration in having to manually rewrap lift cables – a great gift for any boat lift owner.

Other ideas include ladders, fenders, tide slides, lighting, etc. For a full list of available gifts for boaters in Southwest Florida, please visit the Stokes Marine accessories gallery. All of the items in stock are available for immediate delivery and installation. Installation can be arranged in time for the holidays or scheduled for immediately after your holiday, as a surprise. If they do not already have a dock or boat lift to accessorize, we also provide dock building and boat lift installation and will be happy to put a large red bow on it when it is complete.

Contact us today for help selecting the perfect dock, boat lift, or boat lift accessory for that special boater on your list.

Happy Holidays from the Stokes Marine team to you and your family!

5 Tips for Purchasing Used Boat Lifts in Southwest Florida

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Many Southwest Floridians have a passion for the boating lifestyle. Your boat takes you to all of the beautiful beaches and great fishing in the area, and taking care of it is important. In order to protect the investment that you made in your boat – you should consider purchasing a new or used boat lift. Used boat lifts can offer a significant savings over a new boat lift, especially if you’re taking on the additional investment of installing a dock. A used boat lift can be an excellent alternative to reduce the budget needed to install your dock and boat lift combination. Here are a few things you should remember when purchasing your used boat lift in Southwest Florida, or anywhere else in Florida.

Is it made of aluminum or galvanized steel?
Both materials are sufficient and have been used since the first boat lift was built. One concern with galvanized steel is the cradle will eventually begin to rust, especially where the bunks are secured to the cradle. Make sure to check the condition of the steel under the bunks and surrounding the bunk brackets. Aluminum will not rust and will last much longer in the harsh environments we experience in Southwest Florida. Aluminum lifts also allow for additional flexibility if the lift needs to be modified for your pile foot print (when you have existing pilings already installed) or when you need a specific slip size based on your permitting requirements. Aluminum can be cut, drilled, and bolted where steel would have to be galvanized again if it was cut or drilled to prevent it from rusting.
Confirm the bunks will properly support your boat.
Do you have a “V” hull, catamaran hull, stepped hull, pontoon boat, etc. The bunks need to be capable of properly supporting your boat based on the design of the hull. Different hull designs require different bunk configurations.
Place a value on any included accessories.
The list of possible add on boat lift accessories is long. Many of these items offer additional convenience or additional access to the boat. However, there are costs associated with these items when buying a new lift. Oftentimes a used boat lift in Southwest Florida will come with a remote control, automatic stop, walk board, top beam cover, stern access platform, etc.
Confirm the capacity and required pile setting.
Make sure the lifting capacity is high enough to pick up your boat. This requires knowing the loaded weight of your vessel when it is full of fuel, water, gear, and people. It is also important to know where the center of gravity of your boat is located as the maximum lifting capacities listed for each boat lift assume the weight of the boat is equally distributed. If your boat is not applying the weight equally in all four corners of your boat lift, it is not capable of lifting the listed maximum capacity. Different lifts require different spacing on the support pilings. If you are installing a used lift on existing pilings you will need to know the distance between your pilings as well as the required piling foot print that the lift is made for.
Hire a professional to install it.
A trustworthy marine contractor is the only way to know that your boat lift will be installed properly. A marine contractor will be able to assist in selecting the right lift, installation, and foresee and repair any issues with your boat lift and or dock.

Buying a used boat lift in Southwest Florida is an additional investment beyond the investment you made when you purchased your boat. Make sure that you purchase it from a marine contractor that you trust. If you’re looking for a used boat lift, browse our used boat lift inventory

Fort Myers Boat Show

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT

The 39th annual Ft. Myers Boat Show is this weekend at Harborside Event Center & City Yacht Basin. Come and visit us inside at booth B/H 33,34, and 35. You can leave the show with a written proposal for your dock, boat lift, or seawall as we are completing custom designs and delivering proposals on the spot at the show. Come and see usand let us help you design your next marine improvment!

fortmyersboatshow.com/

Shallow Water Under Your Boat Lift?

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Do you have trouble getting your boat on and off of your boat lift at low tide? If so these tips may help you:

Proper boat bunking
Most lifts add approximately 12 inches to the required water depth over and above the draft of the boat. The exact distance that the lift adds is the height of the cradle beam plus the amount of clearance between the center line of the boat and the top of the cradle. The full height of the bunks on a “V” hull do not affect the additional water amount depth needed as the center line of the boat is lower than the top of the bunks. We recommend the bunks be positioned so the center line of the boat is only 2”-3” above the cradle. If the amount of clearance is higher than it needs to be one will need that much more water depth to float the boat off the lift. The attached picture shows a boat properly bunked to maximize the available water depth.

Shallow water cradles
Boat lifts that are located parallel to or on an angle in relation to the seawall generally benefit from a shallow water cradle. As the water depth on the outside of the lift closer to the center of the canal is generally deeper than the water depth close to the seawall. Measure the depth at the center of the lift piling on the shallow side of your slip and compare it to the depth 3' into your slip. This depth difference tells you how much water depth benefit you will get from electing a shallow water cradle.

For more tips on maximizing your water depth please call us today. Generally their is a low cost approach that can provide a great deal of value and keep you on the water more often!