Wickcraft Rail System

Marine track systems are an alternative to boat lifts.  They consists of a dolly (which holds the boat), a pair of rails, and a winch to move the dolly.  Rail systems work well if you have a boathouse or are unable to install a lift.  Marine track systems are designed in 2 configurations:  gravity or push-pull.

Gravity systems:

The gravity system is just what it sounds like:  A system which uses gravity to get the boat down to the water.  Gravity systems work best in areas where the shorline (or boathouse) is several feet above the water level.  Gravity systems require a sloped surface no less than 6″ per 10′ to kept the dolly rolling.

The motors on the gravity system allow the dolly to travel at about 19 feet per minute, so on an average-sized 40-foot track it would take about a two minutes to launch or store your boat.

Push/Pull systems:

A push-pull system has a cable mounted to both the front and back of the dolly so that the boat can be pulled (“pushed”) out of the boathouse using the power of the motor, and then recalled the by pulling in the opposite direction.

The advantage of a pull/pull system is that the boathouse floor can be lower to the water, and the concrete can be poured level.  This is helpful in new construction–especially in areas where the lot is flat.

Our systems come from Endres Manufacturing and Wickcraft.  Both systems, gravity or push/pull, can have the rails mounted above an existing concrete or dirt surface.  If you’re interested in a rail system, give us a call.  We can answer all your questions about the specifics and find out which system is best for you.