Boat Lift: Proper positioning of bunks?

Hello all-

I have a 1988 SN 2001. The house I just bought came with a shorestation lift that looks like it will work. It's a 3,000 lb max lift (the 2001 is about 2,400 lbs), and has a "V" frame.

My question is how do I properly position the bunks? I know I've got to allow clearance for the prop, but other than just raising the bunks to the highest position, is there something else I should be doing?

Also, what's the best way to position the angle of the bunks so that they're flush with the hull. Does it make sense to put the lift in the water, pull the boat in and raise the lift almost to the point of contact to get the angle right?

As you can probably tell, this will be my first go at this, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

B.

behindpropeller wrote: Just make them the same as your trailer for width. For height you want it set up so your fins make it over the bottom cross members.

I think setting the bunks up the same width as the main stringers is a better idea- the CC trailers dont offer the best support, IMHO.

I also disagree with the fin clearance. My lift is set up so that the fins clear the rear crossmember when the lift is all the way down, but they dont clear the front when its raised a little bit. This allows me to bring the lift up a tad once Im on it (boat still floating) and the fins help me find the correct front-back position.

behindpropeller wrote: TRBenj wrote: behindpropeller wrote: Just make them the same as your trailer for width. For height you want it set up so your fins make it over the bottom cross members. This allows me to bring the lift up a tad once Im on it (boat still floating) and the fins help me find the correct front-back position. Fins sit over the front X member with the motor in the middle. Also, if the water ever goes up and you lift the boat with the fin sitting over the X member you will probably bend your fin.

With my set up, the engine is pretty much centered on the lift. Better the fins stop you on the front crossmember than the prop stop you on the rear. Dont worry, if you accidentally get the boat too far forward and the fin ends up on the crossmember, it will support the weight of the boat without bending. Dont ask me how I know.

Thanks everyone for the great info. Here is a follow up for you:

I checked the clearance for the fins while the boat was sitting on the trailer, and I'm guaging it at about 9" (from the top of the bunks). The problem I have now is that the brackets that support the bunks on the lift, even in their highest position, only give me about 8" of clearance. It's a shorestation lift and they apparently offer extensions that allow you to raise the bunks an additional 3" (which shorestation claims will allow the skag to clear on ski boats), so my plan is to go for those extenders.

But my question now is, does that strike anyone as strange? The measurements for clearance are based on positioning the bunks in the same position as they are on the trailer (CC, type #3). Obviously if I placed the bunks closer together, I would need less in the way of clearance. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks again for all your help.

B.