Frequently Asked Questions
Boat owners know how difficult it can be to lift a dinghy, tender onto the swim platform, foredeck or flybridge deck, and lifting a jet ski is even more challenging. The more usual method in Australia is to use davits or a crane, both of which can be a time-consuming procedure, generally requiring two people. Lifting a reasonably sized tender or RIB in strong winds &/or turbulent waters presents further challenges, even for experienced owners.
This is not the case with a Prestomarine lift. Using a patented solution, it is possible for just one person to launch or recover a tender, dingy or jet ski in less than two minutes.
The information in this page is intended to help you select the best Prestomarine lift system for your boat. The page is prepared as FAQs. These are the questions most frequently asked by boat owners contemplating the installation of a Prestomarine lift.
If you have questions, not covered here, please:
- Contact Denis Glennon on 0418 923 103 (from within Australia) or on +61 418 923 103 (from outside Australia), or
- Email: denis@denisglennon.com
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1. HOW DO I DETERMINE THE ‘WORKING’ WEIGHT OF MY TENDER?
When calculating the total or ‘working’ weight of your tender or jet ski, in addition to the weight of the tender/jet ski itself, it’s important to include additional items, such as:
- Outboard motor
- Battery
- Lift jackets
- Anchor
- Fuel tank(s) when full
- Other gear that you typically carry in the tender and will remain in it when lifted onto the swim platform.
This ensures an accurate weight estimate for selecting the appropriate lift and ensuring it can safely support the total load.
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2. GENERALLY LIFTS HAVE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE COSTS, DOES THIS APPLY TO THE PRESTOMARINE LIFT SYSTEM?
Prestomarine lifts are designed for low maintenance costs because the entire lift system is installed above the waterline. This design helps avoid common issues faced by lifts and platforms with hydraulic fittings and lifting arms permanently submerged, particularly in sea water.
Parts underwater, attract barnacles and other growths, which must be removed several times per season to prevent damage to seals, hoses, rams, and other fittings.
With a Prestomarine lift system, you are not subject to these additional maintenance tasks or associated costs.
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3. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE SUFFICIENT SPACE ON MY BOAT TO INSTALL A PRESTOMARINE LIFT?
If your boat doesn’t already have a swim platform or marlin board, one can typically be installed directly to the stern by a competent shipwright or boat builder.
Image 1: Depth of swim platform must be a minimum of 600mm for a fixed system.
Image 2: The top of the swim platform must be less than 550mm from the waterline.
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4. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY EXISTING PLATFORM IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY MY TENDER OR JETSKI?
Determining if your boat’s swim platform can safely carry the combined weight of the lift and tender/jet ski is crucial but does not anticipate you will readily find a simple, general answer. Here are some steps you can take to assess the platform’s suitability:
1. Consult with the boat manufacturer:
- Ask your boat dealer or manufacturer whether the existing platform can safely support the combined weight of the lift and your tender/jet ski. It can be difficult to get a definitive answer, for older boats.
2. Practical Test:
- Lift the boat onto a hardstand and gradually and carefully load the platform with “ballast”, e.g. lead ingots of known weight.
- Calculate the total ‘working weight’ of your tender (include outboard motor, battery, etc.), add the lift’s weight (about 80 kg), and then start adding ballast weights to the platform.
- Watch for signs of flexing in the transom or the supporting brackets. If you notice even the slightest flexing, in either, stop immediately. You will need stronger supports for the swim platform and possibly have to strengthen the transom.
3. Strengthening Supporting Brackets Under Swim Platform
- New, stronger brackets can be fitted between the transom and the underside of the swim platform. Images 3, 4 and 5 below show the two stronger stainless-steel brackets fitted to a Grand Banks 42 Classic. The two original outboard brackets (made from bronze tubing) were left in place, one of which can be seen in Image 4.
The new brackets were designed to fit onto the original through-transom bolts. This minimized drilling new holes in the transom under the waterline and avoided any ‘retrofit’ appearance.
Most marine engineering shop can fabricate and install suitable stainless-steel brackets.
3. Strengthening the Transom:
- If flexing of the transom is evident, you may need to strengthen it internally, using fiberglass, aluminum, or stainless-steel gussets tied between the transom and a hull stringer. Image 6 below shows the preliminary work being undertaken on a Grand Banks 42 Classic. This process is not difficult or expensive and can be done by a competent boat builder or marine engineering shop.
- If the swim platform is an integral part of the boat’s structure (i.e., no separate brackets underneath), the need for additional transom strengthening is less likely. However, it’s still prudent to check with the boat manufacturer.
This approach will help ensure that the combined weight of the lift and tender does not negatively affect the structural integrity of your boat.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please ensure you read the answer to FAQ 5: ‘What Warranty Is Provided with Prestomarine Lifts?”
It is the purchaser’s responsibility, to properly and safely cradle and secure whatever dinghy, tender, jet ski, or anything else placed on and/or lifted by the lift system. The manufacturer, Prestomarine Lifts shall not be responsible for any damage to your boat, tender, jet ski or anything else placed on, and/or lifted by the lift system – see details of the Warranty on page 2 of: CrestMarine Australia Order Form 2025.
As the purchaser of the lift, it is your responsibility to properly and safely cradle and secure the dinghy, tender, jet ski, or any other items placed on or lifted by the system. The manufacturer, Prestomarine Lifts, is not responsible for any damage to your boat, tender, jet ski, or any other equipment placed on or lifted by the system.
Image 3: Two stronger brackets fitted underneath the centre of the swim platform/marlin board - brackets are yet to be treated with Speedprop like the propeller - also see Image 5 below.
Image 4: New bracket viewed from port side. The original Grand Banks outboard bronze tubular bracket can be seen at the right hand side of the image.
Image 5: The two stronger stainless steel brackets treated with Speedprop and tender on lift.
Image 6: Preparatory stainless steelwork for strengthening of transom. A centre water tank has been removed temporarily.
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5. WHAT WARRANTY IS PROVIDED WITH PRESTOMARINE LIFTS?
The manufacturer, Prestomarine, warrants directly to the original purchaser of each lift system that the system shall be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.
Details of the Terms & Conditions of sale and Warranty are provided on page 2 of the CrestMarine Australia Order Form 2025.
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6. DOES MY BOAT HAVE TO BE HAULED OUT OF THE WATER FOR INSTALLATION?
In some cases, it is possible to secure the through swim platform retaining bolts for the lift while the boat is in the water, potentially with the assistance of a diver. However, the construction of the swim platform will determine whether this approach is feasible.
For best practice, it is recommended to haul the boat out and test the installation on a hardstand. This allows for a safer and more thorough assessment of the installation before returning the boat to the water.
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7. WILL THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT ON THE STERN IMPACT MY BOAT’S PERFORMANCE?
Adding substantial weight to the swim platform or transom of a boat can affect its trim and potentially its performance. To minimize these impacts, the lift and tender should be positioned as far forward on the swim platform as possible, closest to the transom.
This positioning helps in several ways:
- It reduces any reduction in boat performance caused by weight distribution.
- It minimizes the impact of wake waves and waves from a following sea, improving the overall stability and ride of the boat.
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8. HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES A PRESTOMARINE LIFT ADD TO MY BOAT?
Weights of Prestomarine Lifts:
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9. WHAT IS THE COST OF DELIVERY OF A LIFT TO AUSTRALIA BY AIR?
Cost
The cost of airfreight delivery to a metropolitan address in Australia is AU$1,500.00 – AU$2,000.00, depending on location and based on 2024 pricing.
A precise delivery cost will be provided when preparing each quotation, based on the delivery location in Australia and the EUR/AUD exchange rate at the time of order.
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10. CAN A BOAT BUILDER OR LOCAL MARINE ENGINEERING WORKSHOP DO THE INSTALLATION?
Yes, if they have in-house, or can arrange, expertise in hydraulics, (not required for the L300 series), marine DC electrics, and installation of boating/marine equipment such as davits, cranes, etc. It will be an advantage if the installer has experience working on, or servicing, the model of boat you own. As stated previously, the strengthening of existing brackets supporting the swim platform, or the addition of new/stronger brackets (if required) should be within the scope of any competent marine engineering workshop.
The radio control unit for operation of the lift comes pre-programmed and is essentially ‘plug-and-play.’