For decades the drystack industry has traditionally been a family affair with generation after generation providing simple yet effective storage facilities to leisure boat owners. The first drystack was established in New Jersey where the owner used a modified forklift truck to move vessels from the water to the stack for storage and back again.
Luckily in the 70’s manufacturers produced a specially designed forklift for boats. Thanks to its innovative negative mast section, boats were able to be lifted higher allowing drystacks to expand upwards in order for boats to be stacked above one and other.
As the leisure boat industry grew, new products, tools and techniques were developed. Boats as large as 10tons could now be lifted over 40 feet into the air. But development didn’t stop there. As demand for bigger boats grew in the 1990’s a piece of equipment known as the Marina Bull was born. As the world’s largest boat handling forklift, the Marina Bull could manoeuvre vessels as large as 17tons to a height of 54 feet making almost any leisure boat storable.
Today boat forklifts have evolved to be able to lift and move boats in excess of 24 tons.
Our Drystack
Based in Portchester, our drystack facility is one of the most well equipped around. We boast a Wiggins w3.2 which lifts 60feet up and 22 feet down as well as a 70,000sq feet aircraft hangar sized drystack with full tidal access. There is no better location to keep you boat safe and secure.
If you have a boat in a marina in Portsmouth then why not see for yourself. Visit http://www.thedrystack.com today.
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