The Easiest Way to Modify Your Boat Lift
Both new and seasoned boat owners frequently question, “Describe a boat lift”. Is having one even necessary?” Regardless of your location, the size of your boat, or the body of water it will be operated in, boat lifts serve a crucial purpose for your watercraft. A good boat lift is essential to the longevity of your boat and equipment in practically any circumstance. The advantages of a boat lift include the following. However, if your boat lift is old, you need to modify it now and then to keep it up and running. This blog will discuss the easiest ways to change your boat lift.
It may seem like a good idea to store a boat in the water, but with time, water can significantly contribute to the extreme degradation of your boat. Hull blisters and reduced unit wear might result from frequently being left in the water. Algae can also damage the bottom of your boat, leaving behind tough-to-remove slime and residue. The paintwork on your yacht may suffer significantly if you don’t utilize specific paint for the base. When repaired, such wear and tear is also considered a modification. You can also change your boat lift to avoid such wear and tear.
Prevent Water Damage
Most boat owners take excellent care of their watercraft and want it to stay as spotless as possible, regardless of the investment they’ve made in it. You won’t need to worry about cleaning your boat’s hull if you have a floating boat lift. Additionally to saving you time, doing this will maintain your boat’s appearance and raise its potential resale value. Additionally, it will save you money over time by lowering the need for upkeep and repairs on the exterior.
Water Level Fluctuations
You might notice changes in water levels depending on where you are. These may be significant or slight instabilities, but they will undoubtedly impact your boat. Leaving your boat in the water without employing a lift increases the risk of damage from storm- and season-related water fluctuations. Your vessel can be kept out of the water and away from storm-related debris and changing water levels with a boat lift.
When it’s time to operate your boat, fluctuating water levels can also affect it. When the water is continuously changing, trying to get on and off your boat can be risky. By stabilizing the movement brought on by shifting water levels, a floating boat lift can make getting on and off your boat safer.
Launching into The Water
Using a floating boat lift can save you time getting in and out of the water and prevent corrosion and damage to your boat. Your craft must only be driven off the lift to be deployed.
You will need to do a few more steps before you can enjoy time on the water if you don’t have a floating boat lift. Before launching, you should inspect your boat’s hull for debris, leaks, and cracks if it has been submerged for any length of time.
How to Select a Boat Lift?
The weight that a boat lift can support determines its rating, and lift capacities range from roughly 3,000 pounds to more than 15,000 pounds. Included in that boat weight must be the fuel, water, and equipment you carry on board. Boat lifts in saline water should use stainless steel fasteners and corrosion-resistant construction materials.
A qualified boat lift installation will examine your boat and the location where it will be installed before recommending the best lift for your needs. The use of charges may be subject to municipal ordinances or homeowner policies, which you should be aware of.
Bottom Standing Lifts
A bottom-standing lift that is positioned next to the dock is supported by its bottom-supporting legs. The bottom is hard and even when the water is between two and nine feet deep, making bottom-standing lifts a popular option. Installing the lift securely and level may be difficult if the ground is soft or uneven. The lift can be manually raised and lowered by turning a sizable wheel or operated by an electric motor, which of course, needs power at the dock. The most expensive lifts raise and lower the boat using hydraulics, which is faster and quieter than pulleys and cables.
Piling Mount Lifts
A piling mount boat lift is attached directly to a fixed dock or pilings. This, of course, requires a port or piling structure strong enough to support the lift and the boat and often requires the custom installation of pilings, which can get expensive. Water depth or the bottom structure is not an issue with a piling mount lift. These lifts usually require electric power to function.
Floating Boat Lifts
On air-filled metal or plastic chambers, floating lifts support the boat. In order to release the boat, the sections are flooded, sink below the surface, and remain submerged while the boat is in operation. When you get back, lay the boat over the chambers so that when air is displaced by electric pumps, the chambers float, and the boat is raised above the water.
Larger marinas with floating docks and freshwater impoundments where the lake level can change seasonally are where floating lifts are most prevalent. A floating lift needs electricity, and because the chambers are submerged at all times, marine growth may accumulate and need to be periodically cleaned off.
Shore Mounted Lift
A shore-mounted lift consists of a ramp that extends into the water from the shore. Driving the boat onto the ramp is the first step. The next step is often to lift the boat the ramp, over the beach, and out of the water using a winch and line tied to the bow. It can be relatively cheap and straightforward to install and maintain, but it does require a shoreline that gradually rises from the ocean.
Pontoon Boat Lift
Only the configuration distinguishes a pontoon boat lift from a regular lift. There are at least two bunk boards to support each pontoon rather than just one. But it functions in the same way. The bunk boards are fastened to a cradle that hangs between two piles at the pier. Lower the cradle until the pontoons are free to float in the water to launch your boat. Your PVC guide posts will position the pontoons over each pair of bunk boards when you return to the dock, raising the boat out of the water.
Pontoon Boat Lift Conversion
Before even trying to convert a pontoon boat lift yourself, there are a few things you should be aware of. First off, your current boat lift can support the weight of a pontoon boat. However, you should double-check the lift capacity and determine how much your real boat weighs. The issue will be how to support the pontoon logs so that they don’t suffer damage and deformation while being lifted by your modified lift. More support for pontoon boats on the lift structure will be needed than just wrapping carpet around any new or existing cross beams.
Consider the weight that will be on the pontoon while using the newly modified lift as well. For instance, how would the weight distribution change if passengers were loading and unloading the boat’s structure? When performing their do-it-yourself boat lift-to-pontoon lift conversions, people frequently need to remember to consider how the pontoon boat will be positioned. How, for instance, will you get it onto the lift early enough for the actual lifting to occur?
Conclusion
FootHills Dock Repair is a boat dock maintenance company that focuses on delivering best quality work , If you already have a boat lift and are considering modifying it, you can choose from various options. However, the most cost-effective and practical modification would be the best idea. Using these simple conversion ideas, your existing boat lift can become very efficient on a low budget. You can find boat lift accessories online in many stores and do a DIY project. Many people go for modifying the air compressor if they have an air dock, and many prefer changing the storage locker. Everyone has different needs, and modifications are made according to those needs.
FootHills Dock Repair offers boat lift modification services that are unmatchable. We provide boat lift maintenance services like dock cleaning, cable replacement, and motor repair as well. Feel free to contact us! Our services are available for everyone.