Achto 27,506 #1 Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) Last week while on vacation we rented a pontoon boat so that all 10 of us in our group could go for a cruise on the Burnt Rollways reservoir. We started out on the Eagle River chain in Eagle River WI. After crossing the 7 lakes on the Eagle River Chain we came to a dam where some would think that our journey would come to an end. Instead we paid the $15 round trip fee to have the boat transported to the Three Lakes chain on a lift that has been in service since 1950 and continued our journey across 4 more lakes before turning around and making our return trip. Thought that some of you may like to see some pictures of this 70yr old boat lift in action. These picture are of the boat being lowered back down to the Eagle River chain on our return trip. The operator instructs you as you use poles to move your boat on to the lift. Once your boat is positioned the operator uses electric winches raise the boat out of the water. Electric motors drive the wheels on the lift to move the boat lift on the rails to cross the road. The boat is then lowered into the water on the other side of the road / dam so that you may continue your journey. We were in absolutely no hurry, in fact I don't think that we ever opened the motor up to see what it would do. According to the GPS we covered a little over 60 miles on our 10hr trip. It was a fun relaxing day. Besides the nature scenes along the way we also saw this interesting pirate ship that belongs to a tavern in Eagle River. It sails 2 to 3 times per day to take guests on a tour of the lakes. Sorry for the poor pic, I was fighting the sun set that was in front of us. Edited August 19, 2020 by Achto 12 9 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,619 #2 Posted August 19, 2020 Glad you had a good day on the water.We all need days like that! 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,024 #3 Posted August 19, 2020 Looks like a fun day and a very interesting piece of equipment. Thanks for sharing. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #4 Posted August 19, 2020 That is really cool Dan, I should’ve asked you more questions about your trip when you were over on Sunday. Thanks for sharing the pics of how they moved the boat. I’ve never seen that done before. It is really nice to be able to do something like that at a relaxing pace...I’m so glad that you guys were able to take that time away! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan.gerous 2,696 #5 Posted August 19, 2020 Fantastic bit of kit, you would love Europe as there is a lot of that type of thing on the river systems - although I have never seen one used to cross a road! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan.gerous 2,696 #6 Posted August 19, 2020 Not to hijack your topic but have you seen the Falkirk wheel? It's quite impressive: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qHO9gARac-w 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,506 #7 Posted August 19, 2020 6 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said: Thanks for sharing the pics of how they moved the boat. I’ve never seen that done before. At one time there was a lift similar to this by the Eureka dam on the Fox river that was completely hand operated. I remember seeing the remains of it when I was a kid & asking my dad what it was for. He had used it a few times in his life time & was able to explain how everything worked. I think that the rails for it may still be there but the rest of it has been removed. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,799 #8 Posted August 19, 2020 5 hours ago, Dan.gerous said: Not to hijack your topic but have you seen the Falkirk wheel? It's quite impressive: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qHO9gARac-w that’s an awesome lift! Err... lower! Err... rotator! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,799 #9 Posted August 19, 2020 Thanks for taking us on your journey Dan! Fun times! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,788 #10 Posted August 19, 2020 I was mentioning I had made that same trip to Dan once but turned around at the boat lift. Was on a 7/4 weekend and very crowded. Did we mention this area is very popular with tourists?!?! Not the weekend to be doing this! Did some fishing and got on some walleyes where Yellow Birch turns into Duck lake but couldn't stay on them due to the boat jet ski traffic. Not only that since the old garbage scow is not kind on fuel consumption so I had to stop at the marina by highway 70 for gas to make it back. $6.00 a gallon and $10 for a half pint of 2 stroke oil! I have since upped my fuel carrying capacity on the old scow! Sounds like a fun thing to do tho and one of these years I'll have to plan on being there on your week Dan, Cindy would enjoy it. Always wondered what the choice of beverage would be on the pirate ship!?!?!? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,506 #11 Posted August 19, 2020 32 minutes ago, WHX24 said: Always wondered what the choice of beverage would be on the pirate ship!?!?!? Drinking rum before noon makes you a pirate, not an alcoholic. Least that what the sign on the wall of their tavern says. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,064 #12 Posted August 19, 2020 Have a great Trip and stay Safe. Drove in the past only boat locks but i seen in the news the other day, they built such a Lift in Big somewhere on the Rhine. Seems funny to move your boat and check it at the undership for scratches and corals. Also a great tool for maintenance either. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,283 #13 Posted August 22, 2020 Super cool pics Dan. Thanks for posting them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
