TNT Hydraulic swim platform on my 450 Dancer

Wow - I would say that you lucked out. It definitely makes sense to replace the other hoses but if you can defer the project then it makes sense.

Glad to hear your lift is back up and running. Interesting story...I assumed that our 2010 450DA had a TNT lift but apparently it was manufactured without a lift and with an extended (Sea Ray branded) swim platform. Prior to the initial sale, the original dealer installed a Sealift PSL900 hydraulic lift and re-used the extended swim platform. It took quite a bit of digging to get this information but I'm glad that I have it.
 
Unfortunately, Frank is right on this. The early TNT lifts just had issue after issue in salt water. The components would corrode, bind and the actuators would fail from corrosion on the ram that destroyed the seal. Roughly, 14 years ago I believe the company became insolvent and was bought by their largest creditor (a machine and fabrication shop) who now runs the company. I don't see as many failures as the first TNT generation lifts but when any component fails.....it is very expensive. Most of us would consider spending $1000 for 12 short stainless steel lines to be silly. Wait to you see the price to rebuild or replace an actuator. The last price I saw was $2,000 for TNT to rebuild one.....if it can be rebuilt.

not entirely true. I bought rebuild kits from them, not expensive at all, that was for all 6 cylinders, I think it was $160. They can custom make new ones if they aren't rebuildable, I was quoted $800 for each one, not $2k. The cost is in the stainless steel, like anything else. $1000 for 12 stainless steel hoses isn't cheaper outside of TNT. It's true the lifts are a growing nightmare as they age. Eventually the cost of maintaining them gets to the point where you start looking at a new lift.
 
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Had her pulled on Friday and they removed the supply hose that was shot. Apparently not due to wear, but looked to be damaged from something. Total job to pull it off and reinstall a new hose was $285. They offered to remove the other 4 hoses and replace for $750, but I figured I'd put off until the off season.

Yes, as the lift gets older and the pully system loses it's "spring", the lift will eat the 4 long hoses. This is something you're going to have to keep an eye on... for the rest of it's life. I took off the end caps to the telescoping arms so I can watch the hoses feed back into the transom. I go slow and help a hose here and there so it doesn't get caught in between the sections and get munched.
 
not entirely true. I bought rebuild kits from them, not expensive at all, that was for all 6 cylinders, I think it was $160. They can custom make new ones if they aren't rebuildable, I was quoted $800 for each one, not $2k. The cost is in the stainless steel, like anything else. $1000 for 12 stainless steel hoses isn't cheaper outside of TNT. It's true the lifts are a growing nightmare as they age. Eventually the cost of maintaining them gets to the point where you start looking at a new lift.

I personally installed one on my boat in 2004 after Dick bought the company. My comments were directed at the generation of lifts he inherited that had all kinds of problems. He can tell you the horror stories. I think Dick has done a great job with the company but the challenge is the environments that these things live in and the inherent design issues. In the end, it seems every boat model needs a custom built hydraulic actuator for the design. That means when it fails and cannot be rebuilt (ram corrosion) it is expensive because it has to be custom built (I haven't seen one for $800 but he may have had a few on the shelf). As you point out, you must inspect the hydraulic lines on a regular basis. The psi on the pump is 1500 so it doesn't take a lot of abrasion on a line to have a blowout.
 
Yes, lots of headaches. But the lift is like 20 years old, I'm kind of surprised mine is still on the back of the boat. I'm sure he's heard lots of stories... heck, even someone in this thread left his wife over this lift.
 
All good and working now. Replaced the port side sending line. 2 lift pulls and $800 later. Ugh. B.O.A. f'n T.
 

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