SeaLift Ordered

Sprint27c

Member
Jan 26, 2008
42
Clyde, Ohio
Boat Info
55 Sundancer 2009
470 Sundancer 2013 (For Sale!)
Engines
Man 1100's w/ V-Drives (55 DA)
Cummins 480 w/ Zeus Pod's (470 DA)
Just placed an order for SeaLift's (relatively) new platform hydraulic lift for our 420 DA. I almost bought one of their cradles last year and now I'm really glad I didn't as this platform looks really great. Only 3 feet added on the back with automatically-retracting, self-adjusting chocks for the dingy/waverunner. So now our 42, I mean 45, is actually a 48. Maybe the cheapest way to get a bigger boat!

The guy I talked to (Alan) mentioned that they are doing all of their own installs now, but will be switching over to dealers by May - along with increased dealer pricing. So anybody that would like to get a better price and "factory" installation might want to get on the phone.

Apparently SeaLift is working side by side with SeaRay to provide OEM setups for the new boats...so that is reassuring. Though I've read that previous OEM efforts for SeaRay platform lifts were less than robust in many cases.

I also like the single piston design the ensures and even lift without one side tilting more than the other. Ours is rated for a 900 lb. load which is pretty impressive. One question though...is it advisable not to leave a load on the boat for longer periods - like during the week sometimes when we're not there?
 
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I've always wondered how a boat's running attitude can be affected by hanging nearly half a ton so far aft...
Unless the boat is designed to run with that much weight aft, you'd think it would be slow to plane and run bow-up. It probably wouldn't make as much difference on a 70'er, but I can't imagine having that much weight aft-like 5 or six people- on the swim platform on a boat in the 40' range (mine included).

Have you been able to determine that the boat will trim/run properly with that much weight aft? How do they design a boat to run properly when the weight is there as well as when it's not?
 
I think that is the same lift sea ray puts on the 48 sundancer as an option. We have one our 2006 48 sundancer. It is great. We put our vx110 waverunner on it 760 pounds. I see no change in the attitude of the boat. I can't even feel any change in performance. I think you will really like it.
 
I have a 560 sedan bridge that had the OEM TNT lift. I leave my 11 foot noverania on it all the time and have never had an issue. you are right about the single cylinder though mine has 2 and when you raise it comes up uneven. you have to jockey it up and down to get it level. Other than that I could'nt live without it.
 
I've always wondered how a boat's running attitude can be affected by hanging nearly half a ton so far aft...

That was a concern of mine...until I bought this 42 DA with the Diesels. My boat before was a 34 DA with gassers, and that thing was hard to plane with a full boat of people.

However, we had 14 people (approx 2,500 lbs. of flesh), 7/8 fuel, and full water on the 42 last summer for a day trip and I was real curious to see how she would run. Got to open water, advanced the throttles as usual, and up on plane and running as usual --- I mean like there was nobody on board. There was virtually no discernable difference in the handling of the loaded boat vs. when it was empty.

With that I'm confident that the design, horsepower, and size of this boat is adequate for the Sealift and have not read otherwise yet. Can't wait to get it out there!
 
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Also as a side note, the Sealift rep said they were commissioned to design and supply the lift for the much anticipated new 35 DA. SeaRay specs ordered no more than 900 lbs. gross weight of the system and load.

So if 900 lbs. (total) on a 35 is ok...then 1,250 would seem to be about right for a 42 (45 actually). The apparatus itself is about 350 lbs.
 
Update:

Just to be sure, we contacted SeaRay for an official position on the installation of this lift for our 420 DA.

They officially only endorse GHS/Florida Bowthruster installations as it is the only one they have tested and recommend no more than 800 lbs. of dingy weight for our boat.
 
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Update:

Just to be sure, we contacted SeaRay for an official position on the installation of this lift for our 420 DA.

They officially only endorse GHS/Florida Bowthruster installations as it is the only one they have tested and recommend no more than 800 lbs. of dingy weight for our boat.

I checked out the website and it looks like an interesting product. They've got the exact same dinghy setup as me, except I use a pair of St. Croix davits to carry my dinghy (engine on). Pretty effective (and a lot less expensive) than a lift, but it does block the platform and it certainly doesn't have the capacity to carry one of our PWC's.

Does the installation risk voiding your hull warranty? How do they determine whether the transom on any given boat is capable of handling the stress loads? What is the warranty on the lift- they say there is a "comprehensive" warranty but provide no details. I ask because there was a large SR at the yard with a platform lift- the mechanic said it was a POS and they could not even get parts for it anymore as the mfg. was out of business. Despite the zincs, the aluminum structure was severely eroded.

I wonder why they only sell with "professional" installation- it doesn't look like it would be all that complicated for a talented DIY'er.

Good luck, enjoy and let us know how you like it.
 
Does the installation risk voiding your hull warranty? How do they determine whether the transom on any given boat is capable of handling the stress loads? What is the warranty on the lift- they say there is a "comprehensive" warranty but provide no details. I ask because there was a large SR at the yard with a platform lift- the mechanic said it was a POS and they could not even get parts for it anymore as the mfg. was out of business.

Alan at SeaLift recommended no more than their 900 lb. capacity lift. His reasoning is that the SeaLift with 900 lbs. of "cargo" is equivalent to the heavier GHS lift at the SeaRay mandated 800 lb. maximum.

I'd assume that because SeaRay has not endorsed this product that they will walk from any hull damage associated with it. I don't believe that if we had a hull problem in an area not directly affected by the lift that there would be an issue. That said, if the lift caused an issue directly caused by the SeaLift - I'd sure think there would be a cause for legal action against SeaLift directly. That is one reason why I like their own people installing it - only one finger to point at in the event of an issue. No doubt not a road that we want to go down...but probably the path that would need to be taken.

I've read some ugly things about TNT lifts - which were once a SeaRay OEM item...goes to show you that because a manufacturer brings them on board doesn't necessarily mean its a good idea. Not sure what lift you may be talking about.

Finally - here is the warranty from SeaLift...pretty standard stuff - 1 year duration. As with anything - life is not without risk. I've evaluated the product the best I can and now I'm going to go for it, stop worrying, and enjoy the thing...Can't wait to have a boat on my boat!

...SeaLift warrants to the Customer that the equipment installed will be free from material defects in materials and workmanship. Warranty claims must be made by the Customer in writing within sixty (60) days of the manifestation of the problem. SeaLift’s sole obligation under this warranty is, at the option of SeaLift, to repair, replace or correct any such defect that was present at the time of delivery, or to remove the equipment and refund the purchase price to the Customer. The “Warranty Period” begins on the date the contract work described on the front is completed and continues for one (1) year. This warranty covers parts and labor (except zinc nodes and external stainless steel hoses – which must be inspected every 6 months and replaced as needed)...
 
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Shawn,
Keep me posted how this goes. I have been on the fence since day one.....When do they start drilling ? The fact that they have to cut out 2 sections of the bottom portion of the swim platform took me by surprise. Post pics etc.......

Rob
 
Shawn,
Keep me posted how this goes. I have been on the fence since day one.....When do they start drilling ? The fact that they have to cut out 2 sections of the bottom portion of the swim platform took me by surprise. Post pics etc.......

Yes I've read some of your comments in other threads...I was waiting for you to take the bait and get it done so I wouldn't have to be the guinea pig. :lol: They say it'll be about 6 weeks before they make it up here --- though I just visited my boat in the big barn yesterday and it's going to be a task for the marina guys to get me the 6 feet of clearance they need for the install. Its jammed in between about 6 boats fore and aft.

I'll post pics but it's going to be awhile yet. :smt089
 
I GOT ISSUES!!!!! I was all game for this until they showed me pics of cutting into the swim platform... then I got the willeys...... what color is ur hull ?? Maybe ill grow some stones now that ur doing it .....

Oh nad good luck.... : )


Rob
 
I was all game for this until they showed me pics of cutting into the swim platform...

You sure the SeaLift platform is the one you saw the cutting with? I've looked at the drawings, video, and pictures and I can't see where they would do that on our molded in platforms. In fact the video even says "...no need to pay for costly fiberglass or transom modifications. Our SeaLift system is mounted to your transom without drilling into your swim platform..."

BTW, I've got the blue hull. In fact our boat looks identical to the 44 that they show in all the pictures...this really helped with evaluating how it will look. I'm not a fan of that giant platform out back...but it is smaller than the GHS systems and much more functional than the cradle style. Can't have it all I guess.
 
Oh heck.... im 100% wrong. Im sorry. The freedom lift is the model that needs to be cut in. The mind is a terrible thing. Again sorry for misinformation.

Rob
 
Yes I talked to Alan from SeaLift today (on an unrelated matter) and he did confirm that their setup bolts solely to the transom and cantilevers out around the swim platform completely. No contact and no cutting. He did also confirm that it was the Freedom Lift that requires the cutting --- which would be an absolute deal-breaker in my book.
 
Yea im putz..... May we inquire costs ? Rob

Sure - $18,500 + tax. Works out to about $19,000. They say that there is a $1000 price increase in about a month - who knows that could be a sales pitch.
 
Just an update to this thread. Our 420 is finally out of storage and ready for the SeaLift installation. Work is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday and I'll be there to document it all.

The boys from SeaLift will be sure to know that their handywork will be on display for all of this forum to witness! :grin:


Oh, BTW - I just noticed that my old screen name "Sprint27c" was in use to start this post...we (I) am (are) one in the same...
 
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Re: SeaLift INSTALLED!!!

Well at long last the Sea Lift platform is now firmly part of my 420 DA! :smt038

The co-founder and owner of Sea Lift - Steve - personally delivered my platform lift from Florida and participated in the installation while training our local Skipper Buds tech guys to possibly perform installations themselves (as an authorized dealer) in the near future.

First I have to say that I had never actually seen in person the lift components prior to their installation on my boat. The pictures and drawings and videos provided by Sea Lift actually do not do justice to how beefy this system really is. The lifting assembly is very strong and made from very stout stainless steel assemblies. The fit, welding, and associated stainless steel hardware is first rate. Initially it is disconcerting to see something like 16 holes drilled through the transom :wow: - but that goes with the territory I guess and plenty of tubes of 5200 were disposed of during the install. While I'm not an engineer by any means - their method of weight distribution over a wide span of the transom seemed to make a great deal of sense.

The actual platform is flawless and carries the same diamond non-skid pattern as the boat. It is neatly tapered and flows very elegant compared to the huge platforms of the other systems. Again I don't think the advertising literature did justice to how nice the platform actually looks.

What impresses me most about the system is its simplicity. The single cylinder design means the lift raises, lowers, and parks evenly and smoothly. The electro-hydraulic pump mounted on the port stringer aft of the engines is well put together and clearly adequate for the task. A backup hand-pump lever is included in case the electrical part fails.

Operation of the platform is speedy, responsive, and smooth. There is a wired controller in the lazarette as well as two wireless keychain fobs. The kid in me made it a point to stand on the platform and raise and lower myself a few times using the keychain as a controller. Wheeee! What fun.

As the boat was obviously out of the water - and will be for another 3 weeks or so, we didn't actually mount a dinghy or pwc on it. Therefore I didn't get to try out the self-adjusting chocks. When unused, they fold nice and smooth with the surface of the platform with a nice rubbery gray traction material on the face. When needed, you simply pull up on the chocks and they lock into sort of a v-shape that is free to move to conform to the hull shape. The angle of the "V" stops when the hull bottoms out. To decrease the lever of the entire weight of the dinghy, these chocks slide fore and aft on a track.

When ready to head out...you just pull the tender forward and the chocks will lock in at the forward most position - putting the dinghy substantially over the original swim platform instead of hanging way off the back. When ready to deploy, you flip a lever on each chock and the whole thing slides aft to allow the dinghy to clear the back edge of the swim platform as it move aft and down into the water. They claim that a dinghy up to 6' beam can be accommodated. (My Avon 360DL is 5'8")

Like I said, we didn't have the opportunity to operate with a real load - but it appears as though the system will work very well. Sea Lift provides 4 very high quality ratchet straps that attach to 4 d-rings mounted in the platform for tying the load off.

Overall I am very pleased (and relieved!) that the system appears to be high quality and good looking. Sea Lift was very good to work with and represented their product fairly. Their price is unbeatable and I was impressed with meeting the actual owner and his attention to detail. He did mention that my intent of putting a 340 (3.4 meter RIB) on the back was certainly on the large end of what they'd like to see. Not because of weight, but size for a 44' (now 47') size boat. Perfectly centered, a 3.4 meter RIB will be flush with the sides of the 420. He mentioned that their big concern is anything hanging out the sides with could catch a dock post when maneuvering. One good catch on something and a whole lot of ugly stuff can happen in a hurry. I consider my dock skills pretty good - but I'll be sure to use super extra caution when loaded up.

Operationally, he said that accelerating/driving out of the hole is no problem whatsoever with regard to "dragging" the platform. The hole usually is about 2 to 3 feet behind even the back of the new platform and won't be a problem. What CAN be a problem however, is getting swamped by the wake on a rapid slowdown. It is possible to have that giant wake come over and swamp a dingy with a few hundred gallons of very heavy water. What was a 500 lb. load can become a 3,500 pound load very quickly. His advice was eaaaasy on the slowdowns...which tend to do anyway. Why (outside of an emergency) it would be necessary to check up a 45' boat in a hurry is unknown to me.

I can't wait to run it in actual conditions with both our RIB and Polaris Virage I PWC. I'll be sure to post further updates as they happen as I have had several people inquire as to my experience with this product.
 
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