The boat transporter arrived in early October and is already in constant use, transporting boats that have been craned out of the water and moving them quickly and efficiently to the workshop for maintenance, storage and/or repair. The flexibility and manoeuvrability of the new equipment mean that the boat transporter can be accurately positioned beneath the lifted boats whilst they are still suspended from the crane, and can then be remotely controlled with a user-friendly control pad to move around the yard to park them in the smallest of spaces. Height and length adjustments are easily made to the steel frame, meaning that boats from 15 feet to 46 feet in length, and weighing up to 15 tons, are easily transported.
The steel, diesel-operated trailer is constructed in a special U-shape that can be positioned under the lifted boat, and telescopic, padded supports are designed to be moved along the length of the frame spars, allowing any type of boat to be securely held during transportation. There is also a self-levelling system on the front wheel-groups, so that the boat is kept level as it travels over uneven ground, holes, etc. Parking can be carried out in the tightest of spaces, meaning that boats can be safely positioned much closer together than before, thereby freeing up more storage space in the yard.
Eric Bishop, Manager at Cox’s comments: ‘Before we had the boat transporter, moving any boats around the yard was a time-consuming and complicated job that involved several people and various pieces of equipment. Now it takes no more than two people and with the new boat transporter the process is a lot more efficient, as well as being kinder to the boats’.
Cox’s Boatyard and its skilled workforce carry out year-round maintenance and repair of all types of
vessels, particularly specializing in the repair and restoration of wooden vessels. The acquisition of the
boat transporter is Phase 3 of a major eight-phased development plan for the site, which will build on the business’s current success.
Please contact Eric Bishop on 01692 536206 or ebishop@coxsboatyard.co.uk for further information and digital photographs to accompany this article.