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Why HydroHoist is #1 In the Industry

Posted on Aug 17, 2010 by Mike Vaughn   |  

Engineering Letter to Customers

by Mike Vaughn, Engineering Manager

Throughout the past few years, the HydroHoist® engineering department has been working
hard to improve upon the entire product line. We set out with the goal to design the best boatlift
money could buy. The result turned out to be a new and improved UltraLift called the UL2. Some of
the features of the UL2 are: faster operation, zero maintenance, easier to operate, easier to assemble,
and non-corrosive tank attachment system just to name a few.
The rotationally molded high density polyethylene (HDPE) tanks are now styled for a more
aesthetic appeal and ribbed for improved strength and rigidity. The tank attachment system was
completely redesigned using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) virtual stress modeling. The result is a
patented system which relocates all of the steel to the top side of the tank and allows for a “no steel in
the water” design. This virtually eliminates any potential for corrosion.
The strength of the steel framing has been increased dramatically with the use of highstrength
and thick-walled steel castings. Since material selection plays a large role in the life
expectancy, we chose a special grade which yields 115,000 psi of ultimate tensile strength. These
castings are also geometrically designed to keep stresses low by implementing ribbing and thick
walls where required. In theory, the stress levels are now low enough to remain outside of the
failure region of the S-N fatigue curves resulting in a theoretical infinite life cycle. In other words, the
designed margins of safety are now extremely high and the chance of fatigue failure even in rough
water has been virtually eliminated.
The UL2 also has a new and improved control box. Operation has been simplified by
eliminating the “dump valve” as well as improving the graphical instructions. The “dump valve” was
a mechanism which kept water from back-flushing through the air motors which reduced the life of
the motors. With the new UL2 patented manifold design, the valve is integrated and doesn’t require
the user to activate it. The patented manifold is now cast aluminum and provides for a laminar (nonturbulent)
stream of air to more rapidly and efficiently raise and lower the boat. The air motors
within the control have also been upgraded to a high quality brand which also will live a longer life as
well as provide increased air volume. The integrated valve design along with a high quality motor
will ensure a much longer life from the control unit. To top off the new design, we have reduced the
footprint size of the control box by 50% in order to free up walking space on the dock. A remote
control upgrade is available too!
Our product design and support team is a very talented group. With our vast product
knowledge we are able support and troubleshoot current applications as well as legacy products
which are still hard at work today. Our team consists of one technician and three degreed engineers
– one of which is a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE). We are considered to be very creative and
“out-of-the-box” thinkers. Our engineering backgrounds include: Marine Propulsion, Aircraft Design,
Engineering Analysis FEA and Consulting, Computer Aided Design Instructor, Electrical Design, Steel
and Plastics molded design, Automotive Machining and Marina Management, only to name a few.
We strongly feel we have succeeded in the innovative challenge to keep the HydroHoist®
product as the best available boatlift. There are many other improvements which go along with the
UL2 that have not been mentioned here. New arm ends, pitmans, pitman covers, column supports,
clevises, dock brackets, HydroGuards, etc. are some of the new parts added recently. The forwardlooking
task of the HydroHoist® engineering staff is to remain innovative and to pioneer new
technologies that add value to our line of products. We will pledge to always remain #1 in the
boatlift industry and never accept anything less. HydroHoist® was the originator of the boatlift more
than 45 years ago and as always, we stand behind what we build because we are proud of it.
The Engineering Team
HydroHoist® Marine Group – Mike Vaughn PE, James Killman, Tim Hall, Blake Johnson

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