Boat Lift Maintenance

Preserving Performance Key Tips for Successful Boat Lift Maintenance

Your lift will last for at least 25 years or longer. It could last up to the lifespan of three boats. It’s common for boat lifts to stay this long, and it is helpful to take them well. There are many external stressors to your boatlift and while some parts are unmanageable they can be controlled with proper prevention. Your boat lift will probably have a higher value as much as your boat lift. Surely the boat will hold you up better than you thought. So here are tips for your boat lift maintenance that will help you achieve that. Boaters need to have a boat lift that can lift various sizes of boats. A boat lifting system can help keep your investment safe and reduce costly repairs. Find out why boat lifts help and why you should be updated on their maintenance.

What is a Boat Lift?

Lift boats are equipment used to lift your boat from the water. Usually, in lifts, boats can remain floating above the sea floor. Currently, the majority of boatlifts are based on motorized machines, so the work is less difficult. Modern boat lifts enable you to move the vessel without any effort or any special tools. With the increasing use of this product in the marine world, many of your familiarity with boat lifts may have been seen. When the concept of a boat lift was introduced, it was quite a complicated design and required a couple of people to operate it. Now, boat lifts have become much simpler to use thanks to technology. But the ease comes with a small price and that is ‘maintenance’.

Boat Lift Safety Tips

Safety on the water must always exist in any watersport, and the operation of boats and lifts is no exception. The safety of boats starting at the lift starts with proper operation. Keeping your ship and your passenger safe during all of the lift processes ensures that you and your passengers stay protected.

Replace Cables if Necessary

No matter the way the wiring works, the manufacturer generally recommends replacing the wire after 2 years of regular usage. If you do not do this it can cause damage to the hull and boat and may even cause injuries. There’s an issue with removing cables randomly. We must consider all of the boatlift requirements. It’s true that stainless steel is less corrosive in salt water and has a longer lifespan. The cable requires different diameters in sheaves and drums compared to galvanized cables.

Check for Rusty Lift Cables

Keep checking your lift cables for correct movement. Check the surface of the paint to see what is rusting. The cables must also be cleaned thoroughly after use in case of saltwater damages their surface. Keep cables out of the flooded pool if they have no use. The salt produces rust, which reduces cable lifespan dramatically. Lubrication of cables is necessary as cables can be easily moved or rubbed against one another during normal use. The oils help maintain and prolong a cable’s durability.

Keep the Boat Unplugged When on the Boat Lift

Rainwater could be collected on a cruise ship during your vacation. It adds weight and stress to the lift system and its cables. The solution to this problem is to keep the plug open so the water cannot collect on them and this keeps the ship in a safe place. Removing the plug from the boat will also reduce excess weight from the lift which is a good thing. If your boat lift is under the constant pressure of heavy loads, then the pillars can become weak and get damaged with time.

Flotation Tanks

A floating tank helps support and maintain stability for lifting boats into deep water. Boats are mounted on a boat lift that supports them. When the lift system requires floatation tanks take into consideration their construction and the materials that they have. Metal tanks are best avoided as corrodes will eventually need replacing. Polyethylene containers have a good reputation for their durability, long-lasting properties, and fewer chances of leaks. Also, pay attention to the shapes of the tank. Some are cylinder-shaped. Square tanks are usually cheaper and they provide good conditions for calm water. Despite the higher costs, Cylinder tanks can offer higher stability.

Rinse Lift Beams

As with cables, always clean and dry off any water from the lift beams after each use. This not only helps in reducing salt corrosion but also keeps it from weakening. Briefly wiping the lift beams can have a huge impact on the lifespan of boat lifts.

Check the Drum While the Cable Winds

Slacked cables will cause additional damage and tangled wires will be lost. This problem can also be prevented if you can see the wires on the drums as these are blown up. Wear reduces its lifespan as well.

Benefits of Boat Lift Maintenance

A boat lift can simply be described as lifting a yacht above water. Boat lift services provide valuable benefits despite their simplicity. The benefits of using the boat lift can be explained further:

Protection from Corrosion and Algae

Depending on how long your boat is stored in water its surface can easily deteriorate and accumulate algae or rust in the water. While algae and barnacles need to be cleaned uncomfortably, corrosion is comparatively more serious and would require specialized maintenance and repair. Cleaning these problems is often costly and time-intensive. When neglected, corrosion and algae accumulation damage your yacht.

Prevention of Damage and Scratches

Often the owner of boats with no lift can simply hold his vessel to the dock or the shoreline. Without a boat lift for storing your boat, rough oceans and changing sea levels can throw your boat on the dock. Your boat or dock can also survive a lot more damage than just scratches. Any water damage from flooding, snow, and rain could lead to scabs and scratches. With boat lifting your boat can safely be lowered above water without slipping onto a dock or any other nearby structures.

Securing Your Boat

The lifting of the boat will help prevent the ship from falling or flopping, as long as they are used correctly. It provides complete assurance of the safety of allowing your boat to fly without any risk of slipping.

What to Consider When Buying a Boat Lift?g your ship and your passenger safe during all of the lift processes ensures that you and your passengers stay protecte

The different kinds of boat lifts can suit different boats and water conditions. The optimal boat lift for all situations depends upon various factors. To be sure you are buying the right boat lifting system you should consider the following factors:

Boat Size

The size of the boat can be crucial in purchasing boat lifts. The boat should be placed in its cradle and its lifting should allow the boat a sufficient weight. Depending on boat lift systems the boat can take different boats, or be specially constructed for a particular yachting class. Pontoon boats require a particular lift to operate.

Depth of Water

The depth of the water is important to determine the ability to move a vessel of a lift. Sometimes the boat lift may be stuck in the water at locations with low water depth, and this can hinder your ability to access your vessel at the boat’s base. A similar applies when in the deep sea.

Location and Structural Strength

The location in which to build the boat lift determines the structural strength required to operate it. All bodies of water have smooth areas with some places in water more susceptible to either. Often rough water locations cause more work for a lift, making it heavier to handle a heavier lifting device.

Conclusion

Like any other thing we own that provides us comfort and ease, boat lifts also require thorough maintenance. If you’re a boat owner then you should know about these boat lift maintenance tips. Each part of a boat lift has its significance and has to be given equal treatment when maintaining. Boat lift cables are a highly important part of the apparatus as they do most of the lifting. If you have a new boat lift, then you should focus on lubricating the cables as much as needed to prevent the wear-off of the cable strands. Routine maintenance should be done for every sort of boat lift as it enhances the life of the lift machine. FootHills Dock & Lift Repair offers a variety of boat and boat lift maintenance services. With the winter season approaching, you can rely on our services as we can effectively help you winterize your boat. We guarantee that your boat will retain its original condition after the season ends. We also provide lift removal, dock resurfacing, boat and dock maintenance, dock cleaning, and others. Contact us today and book an appointment!

8 Tips for Boat Lift Maintenance