I return today to the “boat lift blues” that I’ve sung a time or two over the years. As in years past, mechanical failure of the equipment that elevates our ski boat out of the water for safekeeping is not an upbeat occurrence. It’s definitely a downer. But today’s verses conclude on a happy note, restoring the levity and joy that best befit boating.
![Damaged Boat Lift Cable (Photo: Geo Davis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5802-1.jpg?resize=600%2C599&ssl=1)
I offer you today’s boat lift blues with a sigh of relief and renewed optimism that we’ll make it through the rest of this boating season without further setbacks.
![Damaged Boat Lift Cable (Photo: Geo Davis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5803-1.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1)
Let’s start out with the two distressing photographs above. Both depict sections of the stainless steel cable that wraps around a motorized drum to lift and lower the boat. Although I recall no problems with the boat lift during the summer of 2023, and I did not realize that there was a problem when we installed the boat lift about a week and a half ago, our first attempt to use the lift revealed the perilously damaged cable. Too risky to use.
![New Boat Lift Cable from Lakeside Lift (Photo: Geo Davis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5804-1.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1)
Fortunately, the folks at Lakeside Lift were able to identify the correct cable and expedite shipment. Thanks, Dave and Gwen! The box above arrived promptly, and we juggled priorities in order to fast-track the project and return the ski boat from the Essex Marina (where they’d graciously provided us a temporary berth) back to Rosslyn’s waterfront.
![Removing and Replacing Boat Lift Cable (Photo: Geo Davis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5801-1.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1)
Although we decided to postpone replacement after the Fourth of July festivities to properly focus on houseguests, this morning Glen, Tony, and I tackled the repair. in a conversation with Dave from Lakeside Lift, I had learned that it was reasonable to replace the cable in the water where the lift was located (rather than lining up a bunch of helpers to haul the boat lift up onto the beach and then back into the water after repairs were completed.) Although this added a not insignificant element to the task, it seemed to make sense. Fewer people. Less work. And, possibly a quicker turnaround.
![Tony Repairing Boat Lift (Photo: Geo Davis)](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5784-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
From 9 or 10 AM this morning until 2 PM this afternoon, we undertook multiple micro steps – as many backward as forward – until the old cable was out, the new cable was in, and the boat lift was restored to service.
![Boat Lift Repaired! (Photo: Geo Da](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5806-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Too much sun exposure for all three of us, but I know that we were grateful to succeed and relieved to put the project behind us. Susan and I brought the boat from the marina back to Rosslyn, and the lift worked perfectly. Hurrah
![Boat Lift Back in Service (Photo: Geo Da](https://i0.wp.com/www.rosslynredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_5807-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Thank you, Tony and Glen, for your persistence, your endurance, your problem solving, your patience, your upbeat dispositions despite the scope and duration, and your commitment to see this through. And thank you, Dave, Gwen, and Lakeside Lift for supporting us once again.
What do you think?