Valet Boat Storage

[Tugforme]

I live on Cape Cod Massachusetts where the availability of slips and moorings is very limited and where the wait lists for either are very long. As a result, I have been considering the use of one of the valet boat storage services offered by several marinas in my area since these services appear to be more readily available. While a boat like a Ranger Tug would likely be stored in a cradle at ground level rather than in an elevated rack, the marinas that offer these services seem uncertain about moving a boat with the profile of a Ranger Tug around on the fork lifts they use for these services. The concern is that the center of gravity of these boats is too far forward.

Since the R23 and R27OB are the RT models most likely to qualify for Valet storage, I looked for information on the hull configuration and weight distribution of these boats and found Boat Lift Data drawings for both boats on the RT website. Although these drawings don't include dimensions for the outboards that extend beyond the end of the swim platforms, I am hopeful they will provide sufficient information for a marina operator to determine whether these boats can be transported by the fork lifts they use for their valet service. Nonetheless, I am submitting this post to ask if the the factory or any R23 or R27OB owners have any knowledge concerning the acceptability of these Ranger Tugs for valet service and rack storage.

 

[captstu]

My R25 was dry stacked for several years until the local dry stack stopped accepting Diesel boats. there was never a center of balance problem, the fork lift operators lifted and stacked (on a ground rack so I could easily access the boat) with no problems.

 

[Lenny and Louise]

We kept our R25SC in a dry stack for two years with no problems. Eventually we were spending so much time on it we moved it to a wet berth farther down stream. Just in time, too -- the warehouse burned down about two months later. What a sad tail! Our new R31 is in the water at the original marina.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

When we had our R27 classic we had the occasion to have the boat lifted from its trailer and or placed on the trailer a few times by fork lift, without any problem. With that said, and in my opinion, I think moving any boat with a fork lift has more to do with the capacity of the fork lift then the boat. If the place you refer to is not comfortable I would not try and talk them into anything, maybe go elsewhere.

Jim F

 

[NorthernFocus]

... I think moving any boat with a fork lift has more to do with the capacity of the fork lift then the boat. If the place you refer to is not comfortable I would not try and talk them into anything, maybe go elsewhere.

The lifting capacity of the forklift is indeed affected by the CG of the boat. But the last sentence is good advice. If they can't figure it out it's likely a bad idea trying to convince them. On the other hand the world is full of confidently incompetent people.

 

[Tugforme]

Thanks for your responses. I agree that the capacity of the fork lift is a major consideration. Most places I have talked to seemed not to have an issue with weight. I think their fork lifts can handle at least 10,000 lbs. However, the center of gravity is also an important issues. Clearly, the forks on the lifts need to extend a reasonable distance beyond the center of gravity of the boat to be safe. From what I have seen, the lifts at the marinas that offer Valet service have long forks. I don't envision this being an issue for the R23, although I'm not as sure about the R27OB. The boat lift data drawings I found on the RT website, along with the boat's specs (e.g. weight), should provide these yards with the information they need to confirm they can handle these boats (at least the R23).

I was surprised to hear that some of you found marinas that would rack store a diesel inboard boat since the marinas in my area seem only to offer this service for outboard and stern drive boats. Nonetheless, your responses have been helpful and I should be able to pursue Valet rack storage now with greater confidence and knowledge. Thanks again.

 

[baz]

At my marina (Port of Edmonds, WA) the issue for the RT inboard diesel models has always been the keel. Before the boat is placed onto the fork lift the boat has to be raised up from the water on a lift. When the RT with keel is raised to the top of the lift the surrounding concrete obstructs getting the boat off the lift and onto the long padded round forks.

Now with the R-23 and R-27 outboards this is no longer the case.

I've seen R-23s in our dry stack area. I will out of curiosity ask if they would/can lift and fork lift my R-27/OB to the dry stack area.

Personally, the only advantage I see for dry stacking is a lower monthly fee.