What are the different types of boat lifts?

Asked by: Gary Phillips

Types of Boat Lifts

• Bottom Standing Lifts.
• Piling Mount Lifts.
• Floating Lifts.
• Shore Mounted Lifts.

What type of boat lift is best?

The bottom standing lift is best for shallow depths, no more than 3 to 10 feet. A floating lift is ideal for deeper water and is often a more affordable type of lift. A suspended lift is often used to transport larger ships and can be quite expensive.

What type of boat lift is best for shallow water?

A sling-style lift works better for shallow waters because it can compensate for the lack of depth. The welded aluminum vertical lift that we pioneered and refined is a good choice for shallow shores because of its minimal maintenance, reliability, and time-tested design.

What are boat elevators called?

A boat lift, ship lift, or lift lock is a machine for transporting boats between water at two different elevations, and is an alternative to the canal lock.

What is the difference between a cantilever and vertical boat lift?

CANTILEVER BOAT LIFTS
Unlike the Vertical Lifts, the cantilever beds pivots back 4′ from the uprights so you can pull the boat on further out into the lake. Therefore the Cantilever may work better for those in shallower water.

How do I choose a boat lift?

Once you have found the overall weight of your watercraft, you can then determine the correct boat lift weight capacity needed for your watercraft. It is best to add in a 20% margin of safety and then select the next higher capacity for your lift.

How does a cantilever boat lift work?

Cantilever Boat Lifts are a simplistic design. They have a fixed main frame and a swinging carriage that the boat rests on. The carriage is designed to swing downward and back as the lift is lowered.

How much water depth do I need for a boat lift?

three feet

Most boat lift options work best with at least three feet of water, but shallow shorelines still have options. Go with a sling-style option to compensate for the lack of depth. Shallow water or kicked cradles are also beneficial for water that’s more shallow on one side of your slip than the other.

How deep does water have to be to dock a boat?

Optimal water depth is set when the top of the dock is 12”-16” higher than the top of the water. Sectional docks should not be installed in water depths greater than 6 feet (72 inches) for stability and safety.

How deep does the water need to be for a floating dock?

If you’re going to be diving off the end of your dock then about 8 feet of water depth or more would be recommended.

How much is a cantilever boat lift?

between $1600 and $3500

Cantilever boat lifts run between $1600 and $3500. Vertical boat lifts are usually between $6000 and $20000, with consideration to the lift itself and add on features. As an example, adding a power option would increase the cost.

Does vertical boat lift need to be level?

If you hire a professional boat lift installer, they will measure and adjust the lift in a vertical position to avoid any mishaps. Hence, always ensure the level of your boat lift.

What is a vertical pontoon lift?

Vertical Pontoon lifts are designed 3 feet longer than standard lifts to provide additional lifting support of your investment. Additional lift length increases lift stability in unfavorable weather conditions. 5000# Vertical Pontoon lift is standard with AC or DC Lift Tech power unit.

What kind of lift do you need for a pontoon?

There are two main types of free-standing lifts that you’ll be looking at for your pontoon: cantilever and vertical. In short, cantilever boat lifts are good for waters with shallow banks or sandy bottoms.

Can a pontoon boat go on a boat lift?

A boat lift for a pontoon boat, depending on the style of the vessel, will require two to three sets of bunk boards, as this will allow each of the vessel’s pontoons to be completely supported when hoisted out of the water. There are several factors to keep in mind when purchasing a lift system for a pontoon boat.