Guide
Quick answer: what a complete package includes
A complete boatyard or marina equipment package covers three functions: supporting boats on the hard, moving them around the yard, and lifting them in and out of the water. In practice that means a coordinated set of boat stands (for motorboats and sailing yachts), keel supports that carry the bulk of the weight, cradles for larger or frequently hauled boats, dollies for repositioning, and — where needed — a hydraulic boat lift.
The key word is coordinated. Equipment bought piecemeal from different suppliers, without a shared load logic and CE documentation, creates problems at inspection, for insurance, and in day-to-day operation. As a CE-documented European manufacturer, KIPAC supplies equipment that works together as one system, with capacities up to 40 t and S355 structural steel construction.
There is no single off-the-shelf package, because every facility has a different fleet, throughput and site. The mix and quantities are specified to your operation and confirmed through a quotation. This article is the product and package view; for the broader picture of why and how boats are stored ashore, see the boat storage on land equipment guide.
Guide
What goes in the package — and what each part does
A package is built around the three functions, with the ratio of items driven by the fleet.
Boat stands hold the hull upright and prevent it from leaning; adjustable boat stands suit most motorboats and sailing yachts. Keel supports carry the main vertical weight along the keel — without them, side stands take loads they are not designed for. Cradles integrate support into a rigid base for larger boats and repeatable haul-outs. Dollies move boats around the yard without re-lifting. A hydraulic boat lift handles the haul-out itself and is distinct from a third-party travel lift or forklift.
| Function | KIPAC equipment | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Support (hull upright) | motorboat & sailboat stands, keel supports | winter storage, service |
| Support (larger boats) | boat cradles | repeat haul-outs, big hulls |
| Movement | boat dollies | repositioning ashore |
| Lifting | hydraulic boat lift | haul-out from the water |
Few yards need every category in equal measure — some rely on stands and dollies, others add cradles and a lift. That is exactly why the package is specified individually rather than sold as a fixed kit. The aim is a single coordinated system sharing one load logic and CE documentation. For weight planning, see the boat stand weight capacity and CE ratings guide.
Guide
How a quotation is prepared — what to send
The accuracy of a quote depends directly on the data you provide. The clearer the picture of your fleet and site, the closer the configuration is to your real needs, without over- or under-specifying.
The first input is the fleet profile: how many boats you handle, their length and weight range, and the mix of motorboats, sailing yachts and catamarans. The second is operating volume: annual haul-outs and seasonal peaks, which determine how much equipment is needed at once. The third is the site: a layout of the operating zone, the surface type and its load-bearing capacity, and how boats are stored off-season.
From this, KIPAC proposes the equipment mix, quantities and capacity range, and includes CE documentation. Because every facility differs, there is no single standard configuration — it is confirmed through the quotation, and pricing is established on that basis rather than from a fixed list. For procurement and documentation context, the comparison of lifting methods in the travel lift vs forklift vs hydraulic boat lift guide is a useful companion.
Guide
Why a coordinated system from one manufacturer pays off
Yards often build their equipment up gradually, buying stands from one source, dollies from another, a lift from a third. It looks flexible but creates hidden costs and risks over time. A coordinated system from a single manufacturer offers several concrete advantages.
First, a consistent load logic: when the whole system shares one classification and documentation, operations are easier to plan and compliance easier to demonstrate at inspection. Second, unified CE documentation simplifies administration, insurance and dealings with authorities. Third, compatibility — stands, cradles and lift designed to work together reduce the risk of mismatched support and handling.
Fourth, clearer support and spare parts: one European manufacturer means one point of contact instead of coordinating several suppliers. For a facility that markets an integrated service to its customers — haul-out, storage on the hard, service — coordinated equipment is the foundation of that offer and a competitive advantage. KIPAC covers the full range of support, movement and lifting equipment, which allows a yard to be equipped through one coordinated quotation. For the keel-support backbone of any package, see the boat keel support guide.
Guide
Common mistakes when equipping a yard
A few mistakes recur when facilities plan their equipment, and each creates operational or safety problems later.
The first is sizing to the average boat rather than the heaviest and largest — if part of the fleet is heavy, the equipment must cover that upper range or it becomes a bottleneck. The second is buying without CE documentation: cheaper undocumented imports can cause problems at inspection, with insurance and with permits. The third is ignoring the ground and layout: equipment transfers concentrated loads, so an inadequate surface limits where and how boats can be supported.
The fourth is sourcing from several unconnected suppliers with no shared load logic, which makes compliance harder to prove. The fifth is planning only for seasonal storage and forgetting service and movement during the year. The sixth is treating the quote as a price list rather than a configuration exercise — the value is in matching equipment to the fleet, not in a headline figure. KIPAC's quotation process is built to avoid these traps by sizing the system to your real fleet, volume and site. For how supports carry load, see the how many boat stands guide.
Checklist
Quote-preparation checklist: boatyard equipment package
Prepare the number of boats and their length and weight range, with the split of motorboats, sailing yachts and catamarans.
Highlight the top of the fleet — equipment is sized to the heaviest boats, not the average.
Estimate yearly haul-outs and seasonal peaks so quantities match real simultaneous demand.
Provide a layout of the operating zone plus the surface type and load-bearing capacity (concrete, asphalt, base).
State how boats are moved and lifted (dollies, hydraulic boat lift) so the equipment is coordinated.
Describe how boats are stored between seasons (outdoor, covered) to inform the support mix.
Note insurance and inspection requirements so the quotation includes the appropriate CE documentation.
Equipment
Related KIPAC equipment
Adjustable support systems for motorboats in dry storage.
View equipment →Support systems for sailboats in combination with keel support.
View equipment →Technical keel support solutions for load transfer during storage.
View equipment →Structured storage frames for stable boat support on land.
View equipment →Dollies for moving and positioning boats in workshops and marinas.
View equipment →Equipment for lifting and controlled boatyard handling.
View equipment →FAQ
FAQ
It covers everything needed to support, move and lift boats ashore: boat stands for motorboats and sailing yachts, keel supports, cradles for larger boats, dollies for repositioning, and — where needed — a hydraulic boat lift. The exact mix and quantities depend on the fleet and site, so the package is configured through a quotation rather than sold as a fixed kit.
No. Every facility has a different fleet, throughput and site, so there is no single standard configuration. The package is specified individually, and pricing is established through the quotation based on your fleet profile and operating data rather than from a fixed list.
Prepare your fleet profile (number, length and weight range, boat-type mix), annual haul-outs with seasonal peaks, and a site layout with surface and load-bearing capacity. The more precise this is, the closer the proposed configuration is to your real needs. KIPAC uses it to propose the equipment mix, quantities and capacity range with CE documentation.
A coordinated system from one manufacturer shares a single load logic and CE documentation, which simplifies planning, inspection, insurance and support. Equipment designed to work together reduces the risk of mismatched support and handling. It is especially valuable for facilities that offer an integrated haul-out, storage and service package to their customers.
It can, depending on your needs. The KIPAC hydraulic boat lift is part of the lifting side of the package and is distinct from a third-party travel lift or forklift. Whether a lift is included depends on whether you haul out with your own equipment or want a complete solution, which is determined during the quotation.
KIPAC is a CE-documented European manufacturer, and equipment is supplied with the appropriate CE documentation available on request. This matters for facilities subject to inspection and insurance requirements. The documentation is part of the quotation so the whole system is properly recorded.
