A boatyard is a dense material-handling operation on a small footprint, with two conditions most equipment isn't built for: everything is heavy and awkward, and the environment eats machinery.
Stands and cradles, shrink wrap by the ton in spring, riprap on the shoreline, dock hardware and decking, and a yard that's full to capacity by November. Meanwhile salt air — or even freshwater humidity and constant wet — works on every piece of steel you own.
Both of those are worth addressing honestly before talking about the machine.
The Jobs You'll Actually Use It For
- Moving boat stands, jack stands, and cradles
- Handling shrink wrap and winterization debris
- Riprap and shoreline stone placement
- Launch ramp maintenance and gravel work
- Dock decking, hardware, and material handling
- Moving pilings and lumber
- Yard surface maintenance and grading
- Storage yard organization and access
- Loading and unloading deliveries
- Snow removal at northern marinas
- Brush and vegetation control along shoreline
- Moving equipment, pumps, and gear
- Seasonal setup and teardown
Two Honest Caveats First
It does not move boats. Hauling and moving vessels is travel lift, hydraulic trailer, and crane work. A mini skid steer moves everything around the boats — stands, cradles, blocking, materials, and debris. Any suggestion otherwise would be selling you the wrong equipment for a job where getting it wrong is catastrophic.
Docks have load ratings. Never drive a machine onto a dock without knowing what that dock is rated to carry, including the machine's operating weight plus whatever it's holding. Floating docks and older fixed docks in particular are frequently rated well below equipment weight. This is an engineering question, not a judgment call.
The Corrosion Question
Salt air is hard on equipment, and freshwater marinas aren't much gentler given constant wet exposure. This is true of every machine from every manufacturer, and it's worth planning around rather than hoping about.
What actually extends service life: fresh water rinse after exposure, thorough drying, disciplined greasing on a shortened interval, attention to the undercarriage, and indoor or covered storage when the machine isn't working.
Which Yellow Jacket Fits a Boatyard
YJ1000 — the yard machine
25 hp Kubota D1105 diesel, tracked. Compact enough for a full yard, capable enough for stands and material.
YJ1200 — for shoreline and stone work
Wide track and additional capacity where riprap and heavier material handling are regular work.
Attachments That Earn Their Keep
Pallet forks — stands, cradles, lumber, deliveries, blocking. The primary attachment.
Bucket — stone, gravel, debris, snow. Comes standard.
Root grapple — riprap placement, shoreline stone, brush, awkward material.
Grapple bucket — shrink wrap, mixed debris, spring cleanup.
Angle broom — yard and ramp surfaces, light snow.
Snow blade or V-plow — winter access at northern facilities.
Universal quick-attach is standard on every Yellow Jacket.
What It Replaces
Manual stand handling. Moving stands by hand is slow and it's where yard injuries happen.
Spring shrink wrap cleanup. One of the largest single labor events of the year at any northern marina.
Contracted shoreline work. Riprap placement and erosion repair hired out per project.
Seasonal labor. Haul-out and launch are the two labor peaks, and both are on fixed calendars.
Marina FAQ
Can it move boats?
No. That's travel lift and hydraulic trailer work. The machine moves stands, cradles, blocking, and materials.
Can I drive it on my docks?
Only if the dock's rated capacity supports the machine's operating weight plus its load — and you should have that in writing from whoever engineered the dock. Many docks are not rated for equipment. Don't assume.
How does it hold up in salt air?
Honestly, salt is hard on all equipment. Rinse, dry, grease on a shortened interval, and store covered. Ask us about warranty terms for saltwater exposure specifically — and ask every other manufacturer the same question, because the answers vary.
Can it place riprap?
Yes, with a bucket or grapple, within rated capacity. Larger armor stone needs a bigger machine. Note that shoreline work in and near water is frequently regulated — check permitting requirements before starting.
Will it work on a gravel or crushed shell yard?
Well. Tracks handle loose surfaces better than tires, and undercarriage cleaning matters more on shell and coarse stone.
Can it handle a full boat cradle?
Depends on the cradle. Check specific weights against rated capacity — cradles vary enormously.
Do you offer financing?
Get Marina Pricing
Tell us your yard size, what you're handling, and whether you're in salt or fresh water, and we'll spec it.
Request pricing · Call (330) 825-2307