Boat Lift

Looking for a boat lift for my 1985 2001. I have to use freestanding models where I live, not mounted to pylings.

For those of you that have one is there any recommendations of brand or type of lift to look for? I would guess I would have to get taller bunks for clearance for the rudder etc.

Thanks, Mark

where do you live?

There are a bunch of companies that make lifts that sit on the ground and operate with a cable and winch. Check with local marinas/dealers for "pre owned" but check them over 2 or 3 times.

Mark,

Depending on $$ your best bet is a hydraulic lift. You can use the lift in about 4’ of water to about 12’ depending on Accessories. Hydraulic lifts are fast and can be powered by 120v corded power or with a battery and rechargeable solar cell (no cord needed). Shore Station is a good lift with many accessories, as also there are many others, but you get what you pay for.    

If you don’t have the funds, any crank up cable lift will work. I prefer a vertical lift over a cantilevered though. Just a preference. Make sure you if your boat dry weight is 2500# you get at least a 3000# or bigger. Once you put your gear, gas, and well stocked cooler onboard the weight adds up quick. I believe there is a max weight on cantilevered lifts at about 4000#. I don’t think that matters for your boat anyway.

If you can find the right deal, my buddy bought a 4000#, no canopy, 4 years old for $900. I didn’t get that good of a deal on mine. I spent $2,500 for a 24’ canopy, 4000#, around 6-7 years old. In IN a new 4000#, 24’ canopy, Vertical lift is about $5000. So there are deals out there. As long as the cables are good you shouldn’t have a problem with a used lift.           

Good luck looking..

here is the missouri company - see the pivot lift at bottom of page

Has anyone every used one of those drive on docks- Jet Dock I think ? I don't know anything about them, but they look cool.

im not sure, havent really given them a 2nd thought. But i dunno if they would work since our boats have the skegs, I'm not sure if they have an opening in the middle for them...

Nate

mark,

your right about the depth you need to operate a float lift. even if you can find a slip that has 6 or 7 feet of water you would have to be sure that the water levels dont' fluctuate downward.

Ultra if your on a channel you don't have to remove your lift floating or not, I would question leaving plastic drive on style docks in the water during the winter in open water where the ice shifts all of the time during the winter. That's the main reason to remove pier's and shore stations other wise they get bent and moved several feet from where they where due to the ice pack moving them. I've even seen guys leave pontoons in the water all year in a channel without problems.

not sure where your at but if the ice is farly lite and doesn't stay around more than a week at a time then it's not really an issue. On Wawassee it get's iced over for long periods at times and the ice is thick enough to drive a truck on and it does shift and tears things up. Most will have a pier shop move and store the shore stations and do the pier's them self. Some shore stations have a wheel kit that can be used to help move them but they are a pain to move and take a bunch of guys to move.

ultrarunner...... do you know the weight rating of your cantilever? I do like the simplicity of the design and the Hewitt's look like a good product.

Thanks..

Here is a photo of the floating lifts used most commonly here in CA. Because most of our lakes are resevoirs and drop throughout the year, or are tidal (my case) we generally can't use the fixed shorestations. Most common brands are HydroHoist, Polylift, Galvalift, Econolift, and Californialift. BKH

My wife and I rented a boat at Lake Berryessa a couple of weeks ago, and the hydro-hoists seemed to be popular at a the marina. And in fact, our rental ski boat was on one. However, there was plenty of depth at that lake.

Brian; Everything you have (except the scar) Looks awesome. Always first class.

john

Thanks, but it's only because I don't post pictures of all the junk I own BKH

Ultra,

Probably good call. I'm not sure how the plastic would hold up with the extreme temperature variations there. Here, we only have two temps - warm and hot. BKH