Hydraulic Lift - Adjustment

Boatingfool

Boatingfool

New Member
Feb 13, 2008
389
Annapolis, MD
Boat Info
560 Sedan Bridge
Engines
V10 1050hp Mans
The storm over the weekend left a little damage on the lift (looks like it is not a TNT, but somthing called GHL? lift Sea Ray switch to in 2001/2002) as it was pushed down a little in the back.

IMG_1017.jpg


The back of the platform now sits about 1 1/2 inches lower than it used to.

It looks like there is an adjustment rod (threaded) and bolt under the swim platform (from what I could see with the boat in the water). Does anyone know if this can be adjusted to bring back up the end of the swim platform?

Or, does anyone have the phone number or website link to whomever now makes the lifts for Sea Ray?

Thanks!
 
The company is Florida Bow Thruster and the lift is GHS or something (General Hydraulic Solutions). Google Florida Bow Thruster and you will get there name. It's the same lift I have on my boat.

BUT

You need to get that boat pulled out of the water like yesterday and get the transom checked. Maybe day before yesterday. That qualifies as an emergency haul out. That damage is not an adjustment fix.
 
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Mike,

Try www.floridabowthrusters.com They have an online manual that may help you to understand the workings. I have a similar lift. Hopefully the platform has pulled from the bolts and left the GHS gear intact (at least that's the way it's supposed to handle a storm surge).

James
 
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Four Suns said:
You need to get that boat pulled out of the water like yesterday and get the transom checked. Maybe day before yesterday. That qualifies as an emergency haul out. That damage is not an adjustment fix.
Click to expand...

Mike- no joke. In all likelihood, the platform should break away from the lift mechanism before damaging the transom, but there are no promises. It took a tremendous force to break that platform.

Your hope for an adjustment is analogous to adjusting the hinges on the hood after rear ending someone. Pull the boat and fix that properly.
 
I agree. Nothing's out of adjustment- something's (or more than one thing) bent or broken. I'd at least do a visual inspection on the inside of transom with good lighting to check for any cracks (particularly around the attachment points) or any leaking bolts. I certainly wouldn't run the boat at speed with the weight of the tender on it until it is repaired.

How did it happen?
 
If you're still looking looking for #'s, the lift affiliate/partner with Florida Bow Thrusters is General Hydraulic Solutions in Clearwater, FL - Their number is 727-571-1065.
 
Thanks! everyone for you help... All the thru hull fittings look 100%, no stress at all so I think I am in the clear here :smt001

I wonder how the back of the adjustment rod connects to the back of the swim platform? Maybe with an eye bolt or pin? I am guessing this is where it broke or bent?

I'm going to jump into the water tomorrow and check it out.
 
standers said:
If you're still looking looking for #'s, the lift affiliate/partner with Florida Bow Thrusters is General Hydraulic Solutions in Clearwater, FL - Their number is 727-571-1065.
Click to expand...
HEY! You have the CSR boat!!
 
Knowing how the GHS lift is put together, I would argue you have had much more than 800 pounds of force on that platform. It could be a pin has just fallen out but you don't know until you haul the boat. Just because the inside looks "ok" doesn't mean the outside of your transom is "ok". I would be concerned about going to the dock one day and finding the boat sitting on the bottom... or worse... out riding around and the transom fails. You don't know if the outer skin has been cracked or compromised.

The interesting thing about insurance claims is that you are required to take all and any action to protect the boat from further damage when something happens. If you don't get that platform/transom fixed properly and you are out one day and the transom fails and boat sinks, you could have no insurance. A Cruisers boat with a lift had the transom fail (i.e. broke off) up your way a few years ago and the boat sunk instantly.
 
We have the same lift, I reviewed the manual, and found nothing regarding adjustment. I also discussed it with the mechanics at a local yard because ours is 1" lower on the std side. They said adjusting it for something that small would cause more damage that getting it even?? I also wonder what it takes to adjust?
 
If the lift mechanicals where just installed wrong and are 1" off, you could always just put a shim under the fiberglass platform where it bolts on the lift arms...
 
Boatingfool,

You obviously have convinced yourself that you can "adjust" this problem away, so this is probably wasted, but you cannot adjust bent lift structural members on a hydraulic lift to correct this much deflection. You don't know and cannot see what is damaged or if the bent arms will function properly with the boat in the water.

Additionally, your transom could very likely have been damaged even though the bolts and backing plates in the engine room look ok and you don't see a leak. You very likely could have damaged the gelcoat and water is now leaking into the transom structure. If this is the case, the problem may not surface for several months or longer and the repair at that time could be very substantial and involve removing wet/rotted transom coring.

If you are lucky, you'll incur the expense of a haul out and have to replace a couple of the lift structural members.........if you are really lucky, you will find the transom damage get it fixed and be boating again in a few days, and know you don't have structural damage on the boat.

The other reason to find and fix transom damage, if you have it, now is that even if this is structural damage, it almost assuredly not going to be covered by your Sea Ray structural warranty because the lift was applied to the structure and because you failed to catch and fix the transom leak now.
 
Update -

I spoke with John at Florida Bow Thrusters (manufacturer of the GHS lift) and he said this is very common. John noted that there are four 316 stainless steel "J" bends that support the lift and that they are designed to deflect if there is a substantial force. He said they are designed this way to protect the transom in the event of a major impact.

He said thay they most likely bent, as designed, anywere between 1/16" to 1/8" inch. He mentioned when this happens it normlally does not compromise the integrity of the system unless you can obviously see something bent.

Another feature of the lift is an adjustment rod, which he said allows the rear of the platform to be adjusted 6-8" up and down. They compromise of a rod and two bolts - one locking bolt and one adjustment bolt.

He suggested I have the boat pulled and, before I spend $6,000 to replace the "J" bends, see if it could be adjusted. He further mentioned that they like to set the rear of the platform up a good 1" higher than the front as over time (not sure how it would change but I didn't ask him either) or if heavy weight is put on the lift it will go down a little in the back.

Boat pulled everything looked 100% below. Marina inspected the transom said there was no damage. They (non-employees are not allowed to work in the boat yard so I couldn't do it myself) adjusted the adjustment bolts.

Now the lift sits about 1" higher in the back and works better than ever!
 
Through all of this, I noticed the lift comes with a remote control!

I tried it out and it works :grin:. However, when going up or down it stops every two seconds and you have to push the remote button again (you cannot continuously hold the buttom down to make the lift go up/down). Basically makes the remote not worth having unless you have five minutes to deploy the lift!

Does anyone know if this is normal?
 
I am on the verge of ordering the remote "clicker" so I hope someone can answer that question - $88 for new one (used boat didn't come with).
 
Mike which remote are you speaking of. I have a wired remote in the transom, and a key fob style wireless. I've never tried the key fob. I didn't know what the key fob was until a fiend told me. Oh yes, and mine will operate as long as you hold the button. If you release the buton you have press the on button to start it again.

Andre'
 
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Boatingfool said:
Through all of this, I noticed the lift comes with a remote control!

I tried it out and it works :grin:. However, when going up or down it stops every two seconds and you have to push the remote button again (you cannot continuously hold the buttom down to make the lift go up/down). Basically makes the remote not worth having unless you have five minutes to deploy the lift!

Does anyone know if this is normal?
Click to expand...


Replace the battery. It is good enough to transmit for a second and then fail before resting and go again. It REALLY complements the James Bond effect when you rush in in the jet tender and it lifts you before the wake gets to you. :smt001
 
Pirate said:
Replace the battery. It is good enough to transmit for a second and then fail before resting and go again. It REALLY complements the James Bond effect when you rush in in the jet tender and it lifts you before the wake gets to you. :smt001
Click to expand...

It REALLY complements the James Bond effect

Thats funny.
 
Pirate said:
Replace the battery. It is good enough to transmit for a second and then fail before resting and go again. It REALLY complements the James Bond effect when you rush in in the jet tender and it lifts you before the wake gets to you. :smt001
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try this... does anyone know what batter the key fob (remote) takes?
 
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