Stronger Boat Hoist to Give Harbor a Lift

The arrival of a $1.2-million piece of equipment at Ventura Harbor should be an uplifting experience for commercial fishermen.

The 165-ton boat lift, a device for hoisting ships out of the water, will be the largest between San Pedro and San Francisco when it arrives in late March.

It might mean that at least 15 new large, commercial fishing vessels will make Ventura their home harbor, pumping an estimated $20 million into the local economy, said David Kleitsch, economic development manager for the city.

Tourist boats going to the Channel Islands might also use the hoist, increasing the area’s economic activity even more, Kleitsch said.

The lift, built by Marine Travel Lift of Wisconsin, hoists vessels on eight giant winches, allowing their hulls to be repaired and inspected.

Until now, large boats had to travel to San Francisco, San Pedro or San Diego to get lifted for repairs. Those repairs typically are needed every year or two.

“We’ll be able to offer services they’ve been going elsewhere for,” said John Johnson, owner of the Ventura boatyard where the lift and support pier are being built.

A $600,000 federal grant covered half the cost of the lift and pier. The remainder was split between the Ventura Port District and owners of the boatyard.

The huge box-like lift can hoist much larger boats than the yard’s previous lift, a relic from a World War II naval yard, Johnson said. The old lift could lift only one boat out of the water a day, he said.

The new lift can pick up boats as long as 140 feet, including tug boats, large yachts and commercial fishing vessels. The old lift could haul out boats up to 100 feet long.

The new one, reinforced with 80 tons of iron to support the large ships, can hoist more boats and move them faster. It is expected to at least double, and possible quadruple, the number of boats the yard can handle, Johnson said.