The Boat Works orders one-of-a-kind travel lift

The lift – claimed to be the first of its kind in Australia – is an Italian-made BL90 telescopic boat lift. It features hydraulic cross beams that can adjust the distance between the straps used to lift a boat, minimising the crane’s footprint and minimising the risk of the boat rolling to one side as it is lifted.

The new lift also has four-wheel independent steering that can turn the wheel 90 degrees, meaning the new lift will even be able to crab sideways or even spin in its own length to get into and out of tight spots on the hardstand pad.

The Boat Works has space for more than 500 boats that can either be stored for extended periods or moved into specialised maintenance pads or sheds for repairs and refits.

The new lift, similar to one that is already in service in France, will join three others at the site including a 300-tonne lift nicknamed “Rhino” that in 2021 set a 292-tonne heavy lift record. The Boat Works also has a specialised flatbed lift for pulling catamarans from the water.

The Boat Works performs around 50 lifts a week, with boat owners allocated individual haul-out and haul-in times.

The process of hauling a boat out of the water or putting it back in takes less than half an hour.

Meridian Projects director Richard Williams, who is managing the new lift project, said Australia was following a similar trend to Europe where the mix of boats was skewing to wider boats, including catamarans.

“Shipyards need to adapt to lift this mix and still be able to park monohull boats efficiently on their hardstand without losing space,” Williams said.

“This machine allows The Boat Works to achieve this flexibility across their site.”

The Boat Works general manager Shane Subichin said the marina was investing in proven equipment to help it provide the best service to its customers.

“We are seeing a marked increase in vessels cruising the east coast and stopping at The Boat Works for service and refit work,” Subichin said.

“The new boat lift has so many applications because of its variable widths and gives us the greatest number of lifting options of any yard in Australia to make every haul out safe and seamless.”