Model: 4-Person (750-pound capacity)
Track: 2-Pitch, 180' long, with 45' at 11°, 10' in the curve, and 115' at 38° for an 8 story rise
Area: Gull Lake, Minden
Year: 2017
The owners of this cottage needed a lift to include everyone in boathouse activities, even people who can't handle their 8+ stories of stairs and pathways between the cottage and the waterfront. We worked with the owners, their general contractor Paul Barber, P.Eng., of Infinity Fine Homes, and their landscape architect, Helen Batten, M.L.Arch., of Basterfield and Associates Inc to design the lift and set the track line.
Many of the photos are from the construction phase but there are a few interesting videos.
The upper station platform was built by Infinity Fine Homes. The lift is easy to access from the parking area and cottage. It’s great for getting people and things to and from the water.
The upper section of track is 11°, the most gentle pitch we’ve ever done and the change in angle to the lower section is 27°, the largest change in angle requiring the longest piece of curved track we’ve ever built.
The motor and winch are in the housing at the top of the track. The lift control panel is mounted to the back side of a shed about 30’ up the hill.
The new owners going for a ride. The interplay between the car, dolly, track and "pipe" track keeps the car level throughout the curve and all the power for the transition is provided by the hoist motor/winch assembly. It's fiendishly simple and smooth.
The lower station is nearing completion.
Looking up the track with the car in the curve.
Looking up the track with the car in the curve.
A wintry looking photo of the car with its winter cover.It’s has an aluminum frame and the durable cover use the same material used to cover loads on transport trailers. A single fastener holds it down.
The following photo and video were taken during the build:
The installation hoist is on the track and loaded with a new 400 lbs. 20' long track section. Even though the curved track is the longest we’ve ever used, the hoist had no problems going over it.
The installation hoist carries 20' of track from near the top where we build it to the end of the track where it is added to the end of the built track. By using the lift to build the lift, we’re building saves wear and tear on people, materials, equipment, and the environment.