| There are many different types of boat lifts | | | | maintenance that must be performed yearly is |
| available on the market today. Some of these lifts | | | | the inspection of your cables. Again, we have |
| can be purchased in "do it yourself" kits others | | | | seen many a boat lift cable snap and send one |
| require professional installation. The choice of a | | | | end of the boat crashing down into the water. |
| boat lift primarily depends on the type of | | | | We suggest replacement every four years or so, |
| waterfront you live on, the amount of money | | | | depending on usage and weather. |
| you want to spend, the type of boat you have | | | | One davit alone can also be installed to use as a |
| (aluminum vs. fiberglass) and the size of your | | | | personal watercraft (Jet Ski) lift. The only |
| boat. Boat lifts also can be installed with either | | | | additional equipment needed is a sling that |
| manual winches (up to 2000lbs) or electrical | | | | attaches to the one boom cable. The sling is a |
| winches (1000lbs and up). | | | | polyester strap with two stainless steel panels |
| Unless you have a very light aluminum boat, we | | | | that attach to either side of the Jet Ski to lift it |
| highly recommend purchasing electrical motor(s) | | | | out of the water. Again, an electrical or manual |
| to doing the lifting of the boat. Not only is it an | | | | winch can be installed and the boom swings 360 |
| extremely easier way of lifting your boat out of | | | | degrees. |
| the water, but also, you may upgrade down the | | | | Final note: There are many different sizes of |
| road to a heavier fiberglass boat and it would one | | | | davits and booms that can be purchased |
| less replacement cost. | | | | depending on your boat specs. |
| There are new types of boat lifts coming out | | | | Piling Mount Boat Lifts: |
| every season, so for the purpose of this article, | | | | This type of boat lift attaches directly to piling |
| we will focus on the most effective and popular. | | | | which eliminates all support beams. This type of |
| Davits: | | | | lift is great for sail boats and boats with towers. |
| Davits have been the most common type of | | | | They also come in many types of capacities, |
| boat lift for many, many years. Basically, they are | | | | depending on the weight of your boat. |
| two steel poles that are called "booms" that are | | | | Drive on Boat Lifts: |
| installed either on the sea wall or on pilings. The | | | | This type of boat lift is becoming more and more |
| booms are attached to a base that is bolted | | | | popular due to the maintenance free nature of |
| down to either the sea wall or the piling. Each | | | | the lift. The only determining factor is that you |
| boom swings 360 degrees so that should you | | | | have to live on a waterway that always has |
| purchase a bigger boat, most likely the booms | | | | water. For example, many types of canals, at low |
| can be swung out to still be able to attach to the | | | | tide, do not have enough water in them to |
| boat. If not, extensions are available to upgrade, if | | | | support this type of lift. They are considered |
| needed. Each boom has a stainless steel cable | | | | very user-friendly, convenient and safe. |
| (make sure it is stainless steel cable) that | | | | They can support ranges from a 12 foot dinghy |
| attaches to both the boat and the winch. | | | | to a 50 foot offshore boat. The boat lift is drive |
| One boom cable attaches to the front cleat either | | | | on and basically goes up and down with the tides. |
| under or on top of the bow of the boat and the | | | | It attaches to the pilings on your dock making |
| other attaches to the rear. The vast majority of | | | | boarding and access easy. Its also modular and |
| boats require a spreader bar to be attached to | | | | portable meaning if you move, you can take it |
| the boom pulling up the rear of the boat. The | | | | with you. |
| reason for this is twofold; there are two cleats on | | | | Cradle Boat Lifts: |
| the rear of the boat to attach and the spreader | | | | Currently there are 25 different types of cradle |
| bar keeps the boat even when lifting and when | | | | boat lifts available. They can be either steel, |
| out of the water on the lift. | | | | aluminum or a combination of both. They have |
| As far as whether to attach the davits to pilings | | | | capacities ranging from 4,500 to 30,000 pounds. |
| or to the sea wall, there are different schools of | | | | Marine Elevator Boat Lifts: |
| thought on that. We recommend speaking to the | | | | Marine elevator boat lifts are ideal for extreme |
| installers about what they recommend, however, | | | | tidal areas or other unusual docking conditions. The |
| we have seen many a lift pull a piling right out of | | | | capacity of these lifts is from 2,000 to 14,000 |
| the water while the boat is being lifted. One other | | | | pounds. |