The November/December issue of Marina World features an article highlighting the Sea-Lift's recent global momentum.

By Nick Marshall for All At Sea

$1 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT WILL BRING HAUL-OUT COSTS DOWN

St. Maarten Shipyard N.V. has confirmed that an order has been placed for a 75-Ton KMI Sea-Lift, with delivery slated for spring/summer 2010. The Sea-Lift lifts a vessel, whether catamaran or monohull, from beneath, with a system of air bunks to spread the load along the whole length of the boat. St. Maarten Shipyard's Carl Vaughan is excited; the yard's estimated $1 million investment (that includes the lift and the slipway) will cut haul out time considerably, as well as costs.

The Sea-Lift requires just one operator, and demonstrations show a complete haul out being completed in 60 seconds. Whereas it can take two hours to haul out an 80ft x 40ft catamaran with a crane, and cost the owner $4,000, the Sea-Lift slashes manpower overheads and time, bringing the cost down to the $1,000 band. The Sea-Lift can expand/contract and articulate, enter the water beneath the hull, and lift a boat 10+ feet in the air, ready to transport smoothly into a covered shed.

Currently St. Maarten Shipyard has a 90-ton and 110-ton crane in operation. Plans on the horizon are to add a 120-Ton lift that could cope with boats over 100ft, and even a 320-ton lift, which Vaughan admits is some "three years away." The aim is to establish the yard as a full-service shipyard with the capability to extend the yachting season in St. Maarten for boats that require yard work.

 

 

The November 2007 issue of Marina Dock Age included an article for making the best choice when selecting yard equipment. The Sea-Lift was highlighted as a versatile answer when faced with the complex decision making process. Click here for the entire article.


 

The Sylvan Spirit, a 58' aluminum passenger vessel  operated by Paraclete Charter Service Inc., was recently hauled out for servicing by the KMI Sea-Lift 45 ton model at North Harbor Diesel in Anacortes, WA.  The vessel, which carries up to 64 passengers and cruises at speeds of 12 knots, was built by Kvichak Marine Industries in Seattle, WA.  The photos illustrate the versatility of the Sea-Lift to handle many unique types of vessels, including the Sylvan Spirit which has an 18' bow.  Notice how the air bunks conform to the shape of the hull for safe transportation to the service yard.

The Northwest Marina Conference at Semiahmoo last week was a great one.  We received requests for the notes from our presentation, so we decided to make them available here.

Another presenter was Carl Blackwell, VP of Marketing and Communications for the NMMA.  He spoke about the current Discover Boating campaign and presented some examples of the advertising campaign. 
This video was worth reposting.