Bock Marine, a full-service or do-it-yourself boatyard on a 16-acre (6.5-ha) site just north of Beaufort, NC, USA has a new Marine Travelift (MT) 85BFMII mobile hoist. This is the third MT machine the yard has purchased to date, mirroring its three generations of Bock family ownership.
Founded in 1975 and subject to a site change for expansion and a name change, the yard still uses its 70-ton MT hoist purchased in 1995 but has now retired its first 60-ton hoist bought back in 1988. The new machine, designed with the same footprint as the existing 70-ton hoist, has been well received by the Bock team. “We were able to immediately start using the lift for launching and hauling because of the similar size and set-up,” explained yard manager Ryan Sherman. “With the new lift we are able to do the same jobs with fewer people because of the wireless remote, and we are able to lift larger boats with more ease because of the increased weight capacity.”
Carl Bock Jr.’s son Kenny and his wife Nancy, and grandchildren Alex Bock and Carlee Robbins, head up Bock Marine.
“The addition of the remote control was obviously a big change for our operators, but as soon as they started using it, they fell in love with the ability to get a 360 degree point of view during jobs. The remote makes lifting even the larger boats a much simpler task,” he added. The new 85BFMII will act as Bock Marine’s daily driver with the 70-ton machine available for emergency hauls and repairs. “The addition of our second lift has opened up our efficiency immensely,” Sherman said. “Running two machines at the same time has been an absolute game changer.” www.marinetravelift.com