Jetty maker supports kids

Brisabane's Moreton Bay is said to have the world's largest concentration of bull sharks -- the nasties that like to munch swimmers -- so it's not surprising that those taking part in the annual Swim4Kids event like to use a cage for their journey across to Tangalooma Island and back,

Swim4Kids, a two-day tag-team event, raises money for Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, so to keep everyone safe, John Hogan of Superior Jetties has modified a Hydrolift D20 Series boatlift to support the purpose-built swimming cage used in the event.

The cage is pulled across Moreton Bay by the Tangalooma Flyer ferry as the team of swimmers take their turns in the water.

Hogan says that the versatility of Superior Jetties' Hydrolift series is such that he was able to create such a robust support housing for the swimming cage that it even allows on-lookers and supporters to stand around the edges to urge on the swimmers. Superior's national sales manager Leon Sines will again be competing in this year's event.

This will be the fourth year in which Superior Jetties' swimming cage has been used in the popular charity event.

In its standard use, the Hydrolift D20 series uses drive-on technology to allow vessels up to 2000kg and less than eight metres long to be easily driven out of the water into a safe berth -- keeping the hull free of growth and protecting the running gear.

The Hydrolift D series also features a valve-operated belly tank that can add extra lift for the rear of a vessel, if required. A winch can also be installed to assist with exact positioning and reversing until the vessel props get some bite in the water.

Cleats can be added to the edge of the Hydrolift D series to create a convenient mooring.

The full details of Superior Jetties' extensive range of marine berthing solutions can be seen online at www.superiorjetties.com.