Case history: a compact electric solution for moving yachts and boats weighing 15 to 35 tonnes on cradles, reserving the travel lift mainly for haul-out and launching operations

To move a boat on land without using a travel lift, a properly sized electric mover can be used when the boat is positioned on a suitable cradle.

This allows the travel lift to be used mainly for haul-out and launching operations, while movements within boatyards, marinas and dry storage areas can be handled with a more compact system.

This solution was adopted in a real-world application in the marine sector, where yachts and boats weighing approximately 15 to 35 tonnes needed to be moved on land for storage and maintenance operations.

The challenge: using the travel lift for movements on land

A travel lift is an essential piece of equipment for lifting boats out of the water and launching them again. However, when it is also used for every movement within the boatyard, its overall dimensions can affect how the available space is organized.

Its gantry structure requires sufficient lateral clearance to move between boats. This may require wider manoeuvring lanes between vessels and can influence how boats are positioned within the storage area.

The challenge was therefore to find a more compact solution for moving boats on land, without having to use the travel lift for every movement within the boatyard.

The solution: Robik Q130 for moving boats on cradles

For this application, the Robik Q130 radio-controlled electric mover was used.

Once the boat is positioned on its cradle, Robik can interact directly with the cradle and move it within the storage area.

Its compact design allows the mover to operate close to and underneath the cradle, reducing the manoeuvring space required compared with a gantry-type system.

The radio remote control also allows the operator to move around the boat during manoeuvres and choose the position that provides the best visibility of the vessel, cradle and surrounding obstacles.

Travel lift and electric mover: two different functions

The key point of this application is not to completely replace the travel lift.

Instead, the principle is to use each system for the operation it is best suited to perform.

The travel lift continues to handle boat haul-out and launching operations, while Robik Q130 can be used for moving boats on cradles on land.

This makes it possible to organize the boatyard without necessarily having to provide sufficient clearance for the travel lift every time a boat needs to be moved internally.

The benefits of the solution

Using a compact electric mover dedicated to land-based boat handling makes it possible to:

  • move heavy yachts and boats on cradles;
  • reduce the use of the travel lift for internal boatyard movements;
  • use a more compact system within boat storage areas;
  • reduce the manoeuvring space required when moving between boats;
  • manage both towing and pushing operations;
  • maintain good visibility during manoeuvres thanks to the radio remote control;
  • improve operational flexibility when moving boats between storage, maintenance and launching areas.

What should be considered when moving a boat on land?

The weight of the boat is only one of the parameters that must be considered.

To correctly size the handling system, it is important to evaluate the combined weight of the boat and cradle, cradle design and geometry, wheels, rolling resistance, ground conditions, gradients, available manoeuvring space and the connection between the mover and the cradle.

The frequency of movement is also important. When boats need to be moved regularly between storage, maintenance and launching areas, having a dedicated land-based handling system can provide greater operational flexibility.

Do you need to move a boat on land without using a travel lift for every movement?

Every boatyard, marina and dry storage facility has different operating conditions. Boat weight and dimensions, cradle design, ground conditions and available space should be evaluated together to identify the most suitable configuration.

Do you have a similar marine handling challenge? Contact Robik: we will analyse your application and work with you to identify the most suitable solution.