‘Variable Width’ option for mobile boat hoist

After months of design, manufacturing and rigorous factory testing, Marine Travelift has announced the introduction of a ‘Variable Width’ option for its line-up of mobile boat hoists. This revolutionary customisation option is available on both the BFMII and C-Series machines and will allow marinas and shipyards around the globe to safely and efficiently optimise space for service and storage.

The first Marine Travelift model with the ‘Variable Width’ option is a 75BFMII (75 metric ton lifting capacity) and was delivered to The Marine Group Boat Works’ San Jose del Cabo location in March. This model offers 9 ft of width variability and can seamlessly expand and retract under full load in 60 seconds.

The most important benefit this option will offer is the opportunity to block vessels closer together in order to maximise space previously unavailable because of overall width dimensions on a standard fixed width boat hoist. This means marinas and boatyards can maximise valuable service and storage space to serve more customers within their existing footprint.

The ‘Variable Width’ option can also provide the ability to move vessels through a doorway that was previously not an option with the width of a standard machine sized to fit piers. This would eliminate the need to double handle vessels when moving them in and out of the building. The design allows for handling a wider range of vessels, providing marinas and boatyards more flexibility to grow into different markets.

Whether an operator is storing boats indoors for the Winter or wanting more space for hurricane storage, the width variation gives them the ability to fit more vessels in the same footprint without the use of yard trailers. This allows the yard to reduce equipment and also makes the operation more efficient when time is of the essence.

This new option is powered by a hydraulic ram, housed within the telescoping top beam, and is assisted by Marine Travelift’s Patented All-Wheel electronic steering option. These two components are also teamed with a control loop system that includes angle sensors, a distance sensor and wheel encoder to keep the machine square and ensure safe expansion and retraction throughout the full range of variability. These functions can occur on either side of the machine for flexibility and maximum manoeuvrability. It is also designed to handle full load across the entire width spectrum and can stop anywhere within the full range of variability, with or without a vessel in the slings.

To be certain that this option reached all the goals set for it, Marine Travelift teams performed months of rigorous factory testing that included countless hours of use both with and without maximum load, on different grades, and a mock-up of the end user’s existing pier infrastructure.

Making the machine easy to maintain for the customer is a key feature, so serviceability was considered at every stage of the design and engineering process. Strategically-placed access holes are included to be able to access the hydraulic ram and it rides on tracks inside the top beam, so when disconnected it can simply be rolled out for any required service/ repair. In addition, the expand and retract functions operate on a greaseless system using high performance composite pads instead of a lubricant that could potentially contaminate the vessel or environment below. These pads are accessible from the exterior of the beam and have a high precision clearance to ensure no change in the machine’s geometry while the width is being changed.

Marine Travelift Inc sales@marinetravelift.com www.marinetravelift.com