My boat held captive by the housing crisis!!!

[KODAD]

i could rig the motors to run on one phase if they're 240v--go a little slower but wont hurt the motors---

[N0NJY]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

Yep, easier to ask forgiveness than permission for things like this.

I'm a "It's easier to ask forgiveness than get permission" guy.

If he FLED he is leaving your boat in this BAD position, then screw that "crap"

Go to a rental place, disconnect his crap, hook up the generator and take your stuff back.

(Just make sure you get some witnesses, and make SURE it's YOUR stuff you're taking!)

[djodenda]

Don't know if I'd try and run a 240VAC lift on 120VAC. I'd want to make sure that the brakes released fully, or you might spend quite of time monkeying with it.

You want to do this quickly and easily, even though you are in the right here.

Besides, you want to raise the lift up again when you are done so as not to trash it..

I'm sure that the OP would be happy to pay the rental fees for the proper generator.

Time to get the placard information from the lift and/or manufacturer data and get 'er done!

[SiXeVeN]

Kodad,

I may take you up on that!

I figured I would scout out the scene this weekend... Talk to neighbors, check out motor amperage, check out the accessibility of the lift power box, etc.

If it looks pretty simple, I may be able to tackle it myself.

Just in case, you should keep the camo nearby. Operation Ships Ahoy may be greenlighted if the situation goes FUBAR

"Miss Snip" must be freed from her airborne prison!

[KODAD]

where is your boat located?

[SiXeVeN]

In all seriousness.

Unfortunately the homeowner is completely MIA. His cell and landline are both disconnected. He has apparently left out of state and clearly isn't living in his old home. There is no way to contact him.

Soooo, I think I could be justified (in the eyes of the court) to use whatever means necessary to get my boat off the lift. But, I need to exercise caution that I don't damage his dock or lift. I don't need to give a desperate guy, who is clearly in dire financial straights, an excuse to file a lawsuit and attempt to pick up a few bucks.

Kodad,

The boat is in Cape Coral in the Palaco Grande neighborhood. Off a direct access canal to the river.

[RickQuann]

I'm with the "ask forgiveness later" crowd. Rent a generator, hire the electrician (if you need one) and splash your boat. The homeowner really should have given you the heads up before going MIA.

[KODAD]

It really should be no problem. I'm not actually suggesting a middle of the night covert action, just helping a boat owner get his boat off a lift. It would take a second to figure out how to do it safely, leaving the lift in the same condition in which it was found. I might even have a slip availible for you.

[SiXeVeN]

KODAD,

I'll try and check it out tomorrow and see how challenging it may or may not be. I'll report back here with the findings.

You said you may have a slip. Does it have a lift?

I have a wet slip that I can use but I would rather use a lift. That system worked out quite nicely with keeping the bottom clean. However, I may just put the boat on the hard so that I can get her bottom painted and then use the wet slip I have.

However, I can worry about all of those issues once I am FREE from THIS LIFT!

[artbyjody]

All legalize aside but not really. While the odds are not in the favor of the guy trying to come after for the boat lift if it does get damaged... Placing a call to the Sheriff's office and simply ask them to to be present when it is done - will go a long way in avoiding the legal issues down the road if they were to happen. You never know - and as long as you have the title + rental agreement - they will probably be more than happy to sit around for the hour it takes. At least this way you can have it legally documented and forgo some of the nastiness that could (but most likely not I admit) happen later..

Just my two cents in the matter - good luck with it.