Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

So I have decided instead of summer slip rental, going to an annual, so I can install a lift for my Harris 240 Tritoon. I want to get an economical lift...and one that can be un-installed if I choose to move. I am i terested in hearing from you guys on what brand and also which design for a tritoon? Thanks!

I have a really old HydroHoist that I can attest to the longevity of it. Unfortunately it isn't big enough when I eventually get a tritoon, but it worked well to convert it from an open-bow configuration over to my current pontoon. I need to move it back in my slip a little bit to support the heavy weight at the back of the boat. But when the dock was built back in the 80's and the lift was installed, they welded the brackets to the dock instead of bolting them on. Normally, these lifts are easy to unbolt and remove (they sell a plug that goes in the bottom of each tank to prevent them from taking on water after the air hoses have been disconnected). That way you can just disconnect the lift and float it out to move it.

As for the longevity of the HydroHoist, both hose nipples at the front of each tank had rotted a little which allowed the lift to lose air and drop down. It hung under water for over 6 years while our dock sat pretty much unused. I was able to put new nipples in both tanks and it's been working great ever since (other than it sitting lower in the rear as mentioned earlier due to the heavier boat now sitting on it).

I'm not fond of the lifts that attach to the dock at the front of the boat. They don't lower/raise the boat very level.

As far as configuration for a tritoon, just make sure to get the center bunk section and you should have no problem. The new HydroHoist systems even come with a remote control. So you can raise the lift after you have launched, then lower it when you come back. This will deter anyone from using your slip while you are gone, since you are in a marina.

You can find a wide range of lifts and cost out there. I have an old J ( I think its a J. It may be an H )model Hydro Hoist that I gave 1900.00 for and it handles my 23 ft twin tube just fine. These old Hydro Hoists last and last with very little to go south. New hoses every 8-10 years and a 60.00 motor from Grainger is about it. Simple. Mine plugs into the electrical plug directly. No switch or anything.
As my Oklahoma fellow tooner said, tri toons will require an additional center bunk and float capacity for the added weight. In N.E. Oklahoma boat lifts are pretty plentiful and most of them will come with the slip as they are typically welded to the dock. When folks either move marinas or get out of the boating community and let their slip lease expire they usually sell the lift in place. They sell VERY quickly so there's no need to remove the lift. That's how I got mine. If I ever move lakes, I wont think about moving my lift.
I would put the word out to your marina operator that you are looking for a lift. If you have some seasonal turnover like most marinas do, they should have several each spring or fall . It may mean you have to move to a different slip but so be it .
Make sure your lift is rated for the weight you need to float and also that it is designed so that you can add a center bunk and that the marina operator has someone that can do the work correctly.

Soonertoon wrote:I have an old J ( I think its a J. It may be an H )model Hydro Hoist

I was told by Hydro Hoist (after I sent them pictures of our lift) that we have a model "A" lift -- REALLY old. But hey, it still works just fine. The hoses and pump are still original. The rear of the lift sits much lower due to the weight of the boat. So I made new bunk supports for the rear of the lift that lift the back of the boat higher, so the boat actually sits level. I didn't like seeing the boat sitting so low in the back when the bunk supports were the same height all around.

I'm unfamiliar with these style of lifts as we're all fixed boathouses on our lake.

But T&M Marine north of Minneapolis sells a bunch of lifts and they keep pontoon lifts in stock. They're probably the largest seller of pontoons in the country, too. And they're online.

Pretty much any lift of appropriate capacity will handle a triple tube boat. You just need to add the bunk for the center tube. Look around to see if you can find a decent used one.

I'd stay away from any that have galvanized tanks and the older Econolifts (they were basically just an inverted tub). Dock Realty (Lake of the Ozarks location) has a section with pages of new and used boat lifts that can be used as a price guide. Just understand wherever you get one that transportation and setup are not typically included in the price.

Besides the lift, see what blower comes with the lift. Some are better than others. If you're lucky, it might come with a remote operator to raise and lower the lift from a distance and a sensor to add air should the lift loose air.

And oh, most are just bolted onto the dock