12 FORKLIFTS


Three operator positions for Marina Bulls


I


n the late 1950s, on the fertile Oxnard Plain in California, Mel Wiggins had an idea for a machine that would increase


the efficiency of agricultural companies and their workers. His innovation was to focus on customers’ needs and, combined with high quality production, his idea became a success and the Wiggins Lift Company was born. Within a few decades, the firm had expanded into other areas and is now the world-leader in moving and handling equipment for use in marina boatyards and dry stack storage facilities. It offers three operator positions, each one being provided with the rust-proof Wiggins fibreglass console. A majority of marina forklifts in


operation have the operator sitting to the left and forward in a position called a Side Mount. This position provides excellent visibility when at the seawall as the operator can stand up and look directly down at the boat in the water. Combined with the narrow mast, this console position costs less and puts the lightest weight on the drive axle and tyres. In the early days of the dry stack industry, this configuration was common and effective, and the first Marina Bulls were all Side Mount. The operator can see directly over the steering wheel and the left


Sitting to the left of the mast in the Side Mount forklift, the operator has excellent visibility at the seawall.


side of the boat. Some operators then raise the boat a few feet for driving to have excellent visibility to the right side by looking under the raised boat. By focussing on the left fork, operators can confidently place boats in storage racks without having to see the right fork. This is also the best option for setting the boats on bottom racks and supports in hard standing areas


because the operator has a full view of the left fork. In today’s Marina Bull, an optional right fender camera provides additional views of the right side, allowing the heaviest boats to be carried safely low to the ground. The Side Mount operator position is offered with either a two-stage negative lift marina mast or a shorter three-stage negative lift marina mast. The telescoping lift cylinders on the two-stage mast are set on the mast centre line, one behind the other, and the narrow mast structure makes this the lightest and lowest price of the mast styles. The Side Mount is accessed by a ladder on the left side. The console placement allows full access to the engine compartment as in all Wiggins LoPro designs.


The Wide View Mast of the Center Mount Operator provides an unobstructed centre line view.


MARINA INDUSTRY • APRIL 2021


Centre position The Wiggins Center Mount Operator, a position derived from conventional non-marine applications, allows the operator to stand and lean forward


A majority of marina


forklifts in operation have the operator sitting to the left and


forward in a position called a Side Mount. This position provides excellent visibility when at the seawall as the operator can stand up and look directly down at the boat in the water.


at the seawall and in hard standing areas to view the boat and forks. The operator seating position is also as far forward as practical to accomplish this, although visibility down the seawall remains better with the Side Mount. The controls are placed so that the operator can access the seat from either the left or right-hand side of the truck. The entire console can be raised up on a front hinge to enable easy access to the


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