SUCCESS STORIES

Picture precision, power and protection all rolled into one — that’s the BA-172 Boat Handling System from TEC Container.

Its purpose is simple yet significant: to enable marinas, yacht clubs and service yards to swiftly and safely lift, transport and position leisure boats using a forklift. By fitting a forklift with specialised padded arms — known as ‘puros’ in Spanish — this equipment effectively transforms a standard machine into a dedicated boat handler.

One of the essential features is the Puro (Cigar) design itself. These cylindrical arms are coated with 10 mm of robust rubber to protect the fragile hulls of fibreglass and aluminium boats. The coating acts like a velvet glove around the hull, preventing scratches, dents and deformation.

Each Puro can support up to two tonnes at a reach of three metres, and two Puros together can carry up to four tonnes. Weighing 1,200 kilograms each — 2,400 kilograms in total — the arms give the structure the stability of a large church arch. Rather than being a replaceable accessory, the BA-172 becomes an integral part of the forklift, ensuring consistent and safe operation every time.

But what does the process actually entail? First, the forklift operator approaches the boat, which is resting on its cradle or storage rack. With deliberate precision, the Puros slides gently beneath the hull, embracing it with its padded strength. The boat rises gracefully, as if floating on invisible waters rather than rising abruptly. Then, with careful steering, the operator moves towards the launch area. The boat is slowly and steadily lowered into the water.

The benefits for marinas are clear: faster operations, optimal use of space through dry stacking and reduced reliance on mobile hoists or travel lifts. Yacht owners also enjoy significant advantages: their prized vessels are handled with care, protected from scratches, and kept ready for the water.

The TEC Container BA-172 is more than just an attachment; it is a bridge between land and water, storage and freedom, expectation and adventure.