Our engineers and production people love a challenge. So when Westrec called and asked if we would build two Marina Bulls for their new Haulover Marina Center in Miami Beach, they jumped at the opportunity.
Of course, we build a lot of Marina Bulls—each one customized for the owners and the Marina; size, weight, profile, lift height—you name it, we can do it.
But this was different. Westrec, one of the world’s largest owner-operators of marinas, wanted a Marina Bull that could lift and transport 50’ boats that displace 20 tons, and raise 10,000 lb boats to 75′ and place them in their 5-level racks. It also needed high-definition cameras and wireless remote controls. The two lifts would be centerpieces of a 508-rack, Category 5 hurricane-ready dry storage facility. Building such a machine would make it the largest Marina Lift in the world, surpassing the previous world record Wiggins Marina Bull built in 2013.
We made it happen.
Design and Construction
Our expert engineering department went to work with their magic. Such a large lift had special requirements and needs, new ways of thinking about lift and traction, visibility, stability, and more.
With their usual skill and innovative approaches, it was not long before they had the designs and specs out to our purchasing and manufacturing people. That famous Wiggins’ pride was felt by all a the frame of the first machine began to take shape.
At the same time, our hydraulics department began manufacturing the massive hydraulic cylinders, and the huge mast was built.
Vendor parts began to arrive. The 6’ tires. The monstrous drive axle. Soon, the frame and body was assembled, and first stage painting began.
Wiring, electronics, hydraulics, tanks, and other systems were installed, snaked, welded, and tested. The true size of the monster began to show. Our state-of-the-art IQAN™ and Stabilift™ information system was installed.
The excitement around the Wiggins facility grew. Each day, everyone watched the first machine, now named Colossus, take shape with the installation of the engine, operator console, tires, and more.
With the body finished, it was time to attach the 50-foot mast. A high-reach crane lifted the record-setting mast into place, and our guys swarmed over Colossus, connecting and checking and testing. The machine towered over the Oxnard plain, and could be seen for miles. All who passed by stopped and stared.
Completion and Inspection
Representatives from Westrec and Haulover Marina Center were our guests to inspect and commission Colossus. They gathered the employees for a picture and spoke to them about the excellent work they had done—stressing that they were more than engineers and construction employees—they were artisans! Thank you to Bill Anderson and John Louis for your kind words. Our job is not done when we finish a machine; it is done when the customer is pleased and impressed.
For comparison, the guys lifted one of our test boats with Colossus, lifted a second boat with a regular Marina Bull, and a jetski with one of our US Navy LCS trucks. Parking them under each other, you can see how Colossus is…well, colossal.
On Its Way
Once all testing was completed and Colossus was commissioned, we disassembled the 220,000-pound machine and sent it on its way to Florida (on four multi-axle trucks, including one with 11!). It arrived in North Miami Beach in a few days, was set up, and is ready for the Marine Center to open. Meanwhile, its brother truck, Atlas, is nearing completion.
Wiggins Lift Company and Westrec proudly present Colossus, the largest marina forklift in the world:
Salt water and seaside air and the sun are relentless in their attack against the longevity of your buildings and machines. Wiggins and our customers must work together to maintain and preserve the coatings that help protect the high quality steel used in the Wiggins Marina Bull.
The Wiggins Part
Provide a high zinc primer coating topped with high quality two-part urethane epoxy coatings. This sophisticated coating system takes days to apply and cure and becomes a strong barrier to the attack. Wiggins uses a fiberglass console with stainless fasteners. Wiggins provides touch up paint to all customers.
The Customer Part
Keep a close eye on every surface, edge, fitting and bracket through a daily visual inspection. Immediately counterattack against any spots of rust. Remove the rust with a wire brush, apply the touch up paint on the spot. If this inspection is performed daily, the spots are small and the restoration of the protective barrier is quick. Spots that are allowed to linger only become larger and more difficult to correct.
Wiggins Lift Co., Inc., will once again be at the Miami International Boat Show in February. As many of you know, this is one of the largest boat shows in the world (now in its 75th year).
This year’s show is Friday, February 12—Monday, February 15. The Show also has a new location: the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, across the bay from downtown Miami. The new site allows more than 1,200 boats on land and in the water with 400+ slips, a deep water basin to accommodate large boats, as well as closed and open-air tented exhibit space.
Wiggins Lift will be located at Booth E454 in the E Tent . Come by, have some refreshments, and sit and talk with us about the Marina Bull, the FLX, the dry stack industry, and anything else that strikes your fancy! Then head over to the City of Miami marina to see their new Marina Bull, which should be delivered to them right before the show.
Wiggins Lift Co., Inc., has been awarded an Innovation Award at the Marina Recreation Association’s 44th Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show. The Conference was held on October 26–28 at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, California. CEO Michele Wiggins-McDowell and President Mike Wiggins received the award.
The Award honors development and technical advances in the recreational marina and boatyard industry, recognizing those who have advanced technology in a way that materially affects the industry.
The MRA offered the award to Wiggins for their new Wiggins Marina FLX, a revolutionary new approach to marina lifts. This unique machine has all-wheel steering, traversing mast, load-spreading, rotating cab, and Wiggins’ StabiLift™, and much more. It can perform crab steering, 4-wheel pivots, and side step turns, allowing it to maneuver in spaces never before possible. The first of these units was delivered to The Boat House Marina in Perth, Australia in September of this year.
The Award itself is a mahogany-clad custom blown glass vessel made in France. The chrome hardware and anchor cap are Belgian, and the nautically-inspired result is a handsome addition to any display case, bar or yacht. The design is based on the legendary boats of the Riviera and the look of the famous 1960’s Riva “Aquarama.” The vodka itself is made in Northeastern France with water from the French Alps, distilled five times.
Wiggins Lift thanks the MRA for this wonderful award!
Almost all forklifts include a tilt operation. You can tilt the load back for safety or forward to help deposit the load. Why does tilting the mast back make it easier and safer to transport? Because it moves the center of the load weight back, resulting more stability.
When it comes to Marina Lifts there is an added component: negative lift. This, of course, is what allows the forks to get under the boat and lift it out of the water. Because all Wiggins Marina lifts have tilt functions, it is possible to tilt the boat back while the carriage is still in negative mode.
This can be a desirable feature, but let’s think about the physics for a moment. When the carriage is in the negative lift range and you tilt it back, you are actually moving the boat forward. This causes the weight of the boat to move forward, which could be a problem when you are at the upper reaches of the load capacity!
Some operators use tilt while at negative lift to allow water drain into the waterway, before they lift the boat above the seawall and back out. This is fine, but the best (and safest) practice is to make sure you have raised the boat at or into the positive range before you tilt it back. This keeps the center of the boat weight as fat back as possible. The water still drains into the waterway, but in a much safer and more stable manner.
Feel free to comment below with your own operator tips or best practices.
If you’d like to write a guest post about a tip, best practice, industry news, or any forklift-related matter, contact us.
Those of us who work around the water know of its corrosive nature—especially salt water. Despite all of the Marina Bull’s great features to ameliorate rust and corrosion, Neptune is patient. He will eventually overcome the best of precautions. This is one reason why most of you (all of you?) rinse down the bottom of a boat once it is away from the seawall and raised about 6-8 feet.
When you lift a boat out of the water and tilt it back, sea or lake water often flows back over parts of the lift. So when you finish washing the boat, take that opportunity to wash down the forks, carriage, mast, and other parts of your Marina Bull that were exposed to water.
That 5 minutes will make that long-lasting Marina Bull last even longer.
Wiring, electronics, hydraulics, tanks, and other systems were installed, snaked, welded, and tested. The true size of the monster began to show. Our state-of-the-art IQAN™ and Stabilift™ information system was installed.
The excitement around the Wiggins facility grew. Each day, everyone watched the first machine, now named Colossus, take shape with the installation of the engine, operator console, tires, and more.
With the body finished, it was time to attach the 50-foot mast. A high-reach crane lifted the record-setting mast into place, and our guys swarmed over Colossus, connecting and checking and testing. The machine towered over the Oxnard plain, and could be seen for miles. All who passed by stopped and stared.
Representatives from Westrec and Haulover Marina Center were our guests to inspect and commission Colossus. They gathered the employees for a picture and spoke to them about the excellent work they had done—stressing that they were more than engineers and construction employees—they were artisans! Thank you to Bill Anderson and John Louis for your kind words. Our job is not done when we finish a machine; it is done when the customer is pleased and impressed.
Provide a high zinc primer coating topped with high quality two-part urethane epoxy coatings. This sophisticated coating system takes days to apply and cure and becomes a strong barrier to the attack. Wiggins uses a fiberglass console with stainless fasteners. Wiggins provides touch up paint to all customers.
Keep a close eye on every surface, edge, fitting and bracket through a daily visual inspection. Immediately counterattack against any spots of rust. Remove the rust with a wire brush, apply the touch up paint on the spot. If this inspection is performed daily, the spots are small and the restoration of the protective barrier is quick. Spots that are allowed to linger only become larger and more difficult to correct.
