Cobaltchat.com

akorcovelos wrote: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:12 am The local ez dock dealer has a large booth at the Chicago Boat Show, I’m sure they’ll have some on display. I’ll try and snap some pics while I’m there.

Its surprising to me that EZ Dock doesn't have videos of larger boats riding up on their 5000 series air ballast inflating docks on their website. they are a pretty established company.

If you are going to the show, my questions would be:

1. Does the weight of a 21' boat (4,000lbs) push the dock down into the water as you drive on and then get lifted up with the air blower or does the dock stay floated until you drive up and then the air blower just lifts the stern up?

2. Does the gel coat get scuffed by the roller and plastic bunk system?

3. Is the dock set up to center the boat on the bunks to even out the weight distribution?

If the answers from someone who works directly fro EZ port are encouraging, I think I'll ask my marina to install one as long as I don't have to commit to a number of years on it, if I decide I don't like it.

As for everyone who is posting that they wouldn't leave the boat in the water for 2 months. All, I can say is I've been on this lake since I was 14 (61 now) and the 100+ marina slips have all been filled with boats that are moored in water for the summer. I know that many cottage owners on Lake of the Woods, Ontario and in the Whiteshell area (both in NW Ontario) have boat houses with belly strap boat lifts and the only time the boats are in the water is when the engine is running. I'm sure those hulls are cleaner than my boat's hull will be, even if I have it cleaned every year. But ... that isn't life on our lake. Sad to say, I'd rather see the hull weather a bit on my Cobalt from sitting in the water, than not see any weathering because the boat sat on a trailer because I don't have a regular tow vehicle or it was just too much of a hassle on a given day to wait in line at the ramp to get my boat in and out.

I will certainly ask them when I stop by their booth. I've trailered, and wet slipped. Haven't had a lift yet. After 5 years of wet slipping the gel on my boat started blistering. Hull was mint when I bought it. Am I devistated? No. It's cosmetic at this point, but if I spent another 5 years I the water I bet it would start causing real issues.

BobRae99 wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:47 pm

akorcovelos wrote: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:12 am The local ez dock dealer has a large booth at the Chicago Boat Show, I’m sure they’ll have some on display. I’ll try and snap some pics while I’m there.

2. Does the gel coat get scuffed by the roller and plastic bunk system?

3. Is the dock set up to center the boat on the bunks to even out the weight distribution?

[/qoote]

I don't know if you will get the answers to these questions from a sales guy at a boat show. Question 2 is basically "will this harm my boat". What sales guy in his right mind is going to say "yup its going to scratch the sh*t out of it, you still want it? Great!"

You seem like you are trying to get the answers you want to hear to justify the purchase. I get it, its a lot of money, for both the EzPort and the boat you are putting on it. Unfortunately none of us have used one. We have given you our admittedly somewhat uneducated opinion that it wouldn't be something a lot of us would use if we had other options.

I get the desire to not trailer your boat, its nice to walk to the water hop in and go. Sounds like you agree. Give the EzPort a try. if it sucks move on with life.

NautiGirl wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 8:05 pm

BobRae99 wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:47 pm

akorcovelos wrote: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:12 am The local ez dock dealer has a large booth at the Chicago Boat Show, I’m sure they’ll have some on display. I’ll try and snap some pics while I’m there.

2. Does the gel coat get scuffed by the roller and plastic bunk system?

3. Is the dock set up to center the boat on the bunks to even out the weight distribution?

[/qoote]

I don't know if you will get the answers to these questions from a sales guy at a boat show. Question 2 is basically "will this harm my boat". What sales guy in his right mind is going to say "yup its going to scratch the sh*t out of it, you still want it? Great!"

You seem like you are trying to get the answers you want to hear to justify the purchase. I get it, its a lot of money, for both the EzPort and the boat you are putting on it. Unfortunately none of us have used one. We have given you our admittedly somewhat uneducated opinion that it wouldn't be something a lot of us would use if we had other options.

I get the desire to not trailer your boat, its nice to walk to the water hop in and go. Sounds like you agree. Give the EzPort a try. if it sucks move on with life.

I'm not sure if you read the whole thread. I'm not buying the thing, the marina is. If I elect to use one, they'll buy the right model and increase the moorage charge by $800.00. I started by asking if anyone has any experience with EZ Port. No one does, and many opinions have been expressed. I appreciate the feedback, of course. I was not asking for a sales guy to be asked the questions. Sometimes the manufacturer sends a rep and they are more forthcoming.

It was the same when I bought my boat. The sales guy was trying to convince me that a new gen V6/280, would have similar performance to the year older V8/270. I thought - just like you, that the sales guy will say anything to get what he has in stock sold. So, at the boat show I spoke to the Cobalt rep. He was much more knowledgable and set aside some time to show me the performance curves of the various boats with the different engine/drives. I gained comfort with Cobalt, bought the boat have been very happy since.

If I spoke to EZ Port directly and told them my concerns, I think it would be a different conversation. If they warrant that they have tested the 5000 series with my size and weight boat and designed it, like their PWC EZ Ports, to leave no marks on the hull and if it does they'll take it back and cover the damage, I'd be happy to try one. Faced with this e questions, I think it goes beyond "lets say anything to the guy to make a sale.

For those interested in this topic, I found an interview and demo from the 2012 Miami boat show. I think it answers some questions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ma7r51Lsto