Sturgeon Bay, WI – Jolly Harbour Marina & Boatyard, a full-service facility established in 1993 in Antigua, has expanded its catamaran service operations with the addition of a custom Marine Travelift TM40 Transporter built to specialize in catamarans. This investment represents a major step forward in Jolly Harbour’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for catamaran haul-out and storage services.
Located on Antigua’s scenic west coast, Jolly Harbour Marina offers dockages, fuel services, a haul-out facility accommodating up to 75 tons. Their six-member yard team brings a combined 80 years of hands-on experience, and the facility is unique in the Caribbean for allowing do-it-yourself vessel work, giving boat owners the flexibility to perform their own maintenance or contract a marine trades specialist.
In recent years, Jolly Harbour Marina has experienced rapid growth in catamaran traffic. To meet the needs of this expanding customer base, the facility constructed 80-foot twin piers and developed a dedicated catamaran storage yard. Building on these improvements, management invested in a 75-ton Marine Travelift boat hoist and, most recently, a self-propelled 40-ton Marine Travelift transporter equipped with external catamaran arms, designed specifically to streamline catamaran handling.
“From the beginning, our primary objective was to find a dual-purpose solution capable of handling both catamarans and monohulls,” said the Jolly Harbour team. “While this transporter was specifically designed with catamarans in mind, its versatility enables us to efficiently service a wide range of vessels” they continued. The addition of external catamaran arms has further enhanced Jolly Harbour’s operations, providing a safer, more balanced lifting method, that minimizes stress on hull structures and has been met with strong customer approval.
Already a Marine Travelift customer, Jolly Harbour’s yard manager, traveled to Puerto Rico to observe the benefits of a Marine Travelift transporter in action. After sharing his feedback with the Marine Travelift team, the external catamaran arms option was engineered and designed by Marine Travelift and then brought to life. This innovation is now utilized by multiple marinas and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, making catamaran lifting significantly easier.
The new external catamaran arms represent a major step forward in haul-out versatility and efficiency. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the Marine Travelift transporter, these purpose-built arms allow operators to safely cradle wide-beam vessels without the need for complex rigging or additional equipment. Their adjustable, open-frame configuration gives yards the flexibility to accommodate a broader range of catamaran designs, while improving maneuverability in tight marina environments. By reducing both haul-out time and labor demands, the catamaran arms not only enhance operational productivity but also expand yard service capabilities
The new external catamaran arms represent a major step forward in haul-out versatility and efficiency. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the Marine Travelift transporter, these purpose-built arms allow operators to safely cradle wide-beam vessels without the need for complex rigging or additional equipment. Their adjustable, open-frame configuration gives yards the flexibility to accommodate a broader range of catamaran designs, while improving maneuverability in tight marina environments. By reducing both haul-out time and labor demands, the catamaran arms not only enhance operational productivity but also expand yard service capabilities
Affectionately nicknamed “Rover” by the yard team, the new machine has quickly been embraced by operators and is already proving its value. Within just six weeks, two staff members mastered its operation and are now training additional team members to ensure broader adoption. Operators report that Rover has become much better at placing vessels, allowing them to reimagine the yard layout and position boats closer together. Despite the irregular shape of the yard, the team has successfully leveraged the transporter to overcome spatial limitations, improving efficiency and optimizing the use of available space.
“Boats are packed extremely efficiently, and we can manage vessels from 23 to 28-foot beams with this transporter,” the team noted. “This equipment, combined with our yard team’s expertise, has proven incredibly successful for catamaran storage.” The team also added that they have successfully accommodated 37 catamarans in the yard, right up to the facilities gate.
As Jolly Harbour continues to grow, they have continuously come back to choose Marine Travelift. “This was a very good investment that is already playing a crucial role in our ever-expanding operations,” the team concluded. “Working with Marine Travelift and their knowledgeable team has been a pleasure from start to finish.”
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Officially established in 1954, Marine Travelift Inc. has a long-standing reputation as a marine industry leader and is recognized for its tradition of excellence on a global scale. The company manufactures mobile boat hoists, marine forklifts, self-propelled transporters, and other related marine lifting products. It also has an extensive U.S. and international dealer network, with more than 4,500 units in service worldwide