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Originally Posted by jayhawk_nation
Who should I go to about trying to get a lift installed? Do I even need someone?
Also, I store my boat at North Water, I'm assuming they would store my jet skies too, right?
Are there any key differences between the Yamaha and the Sea-Doo? In terms of features and the overall machine. I would definitely just prefer one that is going to be reliable, safe, and last the summer without me having to worry about it too much.
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There are a few different types of lifts to consider.
Standard crank up lifts can be purchased from many vendors and just sit on the bottom. The legs are adjusted with a few bolts and holes to the desired height, based on water depth, wave action, etc. Really no install. A few people can pick them up and maneuver them.
Hydraulic lifts (Sunstream Sunlift) are somewhat similar to the crank ups in that they sit on the bottom on adjustable legs. They have a wider lift range and don't need adjustment as the lake level changes. These are powered by batteries, either plugged in or solar charging. A bit heavier to move, but still 2-3 people can handle them. I consider these the best.
Floating ports- shore port, wave port or others, attach to the dock and float with the lake level. You simply drive up onto them and push them off to launch. They work very well as long as you are in calm water. They work great with Sea Doo hulls, but I would suggest not putting a Yamaha on them. I split the hull on mine last year. The wheels on the ports don't line up well with the bottom design and cracked it along the chines.
Crank up shore ramps, such and the slide-n-go or roll-n-go work great for areas with beaches and gradual shorelines. Easy to install and remove.
At our last place we had 2 slide-n-go's on the beach and 2 Wave Armor ports on the dock. We didn't have good depth to use the hydraulic sunlifts and I am not a fan of crank ups as I lost 2 machines once when the lake level came up sharply in a short timeframe and the machines floated off and away.
HK in Laconia sells both Yamaha and Sea Doo and can service and store them. Don't use North Water for that.
As far as brands are concerned, both are good. I own 2 Sea Doo's and 1 Yamaha currently.