"Dazed and Confuzed" wrote in message
...

This may sound like an idiotic question, but why not use a hydraulic ram?
This


Intially I would say KISS!!

Could be done but for a long lasting installation it would have to be
stainless or bronze, etc.

But then??
To keep the 'junk' off the foredeck a guy might use a bottle jack for the
final thrust outward, then drop in a couple pins.. Then stow the jack down
low and out of the way..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions