Exactly. The boat rests on a couple of crossbars with form fit pads much like on a set of beach wheels. The platform is lowered by a cable using a winch.
I guess if they're unique to this part of the world, I'll definitely have to post pictures. The only problem with a hoist in this country is that you have to remove it before the lake ices over or it will be crushed into a pretzell(seen it happen).
By the way, we're on Lake Wabamun, which is North and East of Pigeon Lake. I didn't realize Mary and Rick have been up this way before.
PS. If you've been reading the news and were concerned about SARS, we're several thousand miles from Toronto and haven't seen a single case. As for the mad cow, that's a different story (still had steak for supper last night though)