Boat lift options

[jpk]

I will be mooring my boat on the water (fresh water) and am wondering if a lift won't be necessary to keep the boat in good condition. The lifts I have seen are insanely expensive for a few pieces of aluminum - like $5,000.

What are my choices for a lift and do I really need one? I have seen Jet Dock floating systems that are cheaper, but they seem to really be designed for jetskis and just advertised as working for sport boats.

[Neognosis]

If you're boat's in any kind of good condition, you won't want to leave it in the water for long without taking it out and cleaning the hull say, once a week or so.

I leave my boat in once a summer for only a week, and it really messes up the hull, though it does clean up pretty easily. However, it makes me really uneasy leaving it moored or tied someplace, even when it's just in the front yard of the lake cottage.

If I was going to keep the boat in the water more often, I would think 5K is steep, but worth it.

[Broccoli B]

keep an eye out in the news papers. I see about 3 or 4 a year pop up used for around $1000

[c640947]

there are lifts twice as much as 5k - depends on what all you want. 10k is for the floating superfast hydraulic with remote control. Bottom of the range and probably the best value if all you wanna do is lift it out of the water is a tank floating lift. You can get a used one for around 1000-1500. Three negative points to them:
1) slow up and down
2) boat just off the water, so harder to protect from wind and rain (cant raise it up in the canopy as much
3) floating, which may be good, but if water real rough it will stress the dock some

If you want more info, my dad sells all types of lifts and has two used lifts for around 1500. www.tigerboatdocks.com or call 636-272-4300. He is in this week. Ask for Marv.

[jonsmith2340]

cameraboy, said it right, if you care about the condition of the boat do everything you can to not store it in the water.

I hope you have better luck finding a used lift in your area then we do in the midwest. For the most part a used lift in southern MN or western Wis will be about 20% less then brand new and in good condition or it will be half of new and it will be in poor shape.

The other thing to make sure of is to get a lift that is rated heavy enough for you boat. If your boat weighs in at say 3000 lbs that doesn't mean a 3500 lbs lift will be enough. Be sure to figure in fuel, permanent ballast (if you have any) and all the other stuff that can add weight to the boat.

[jpk]

Thanks for the tips. I have checked locally and indeed there are some used boat lifts to be had for around $2K. I will check those out. Thanks everyone!

[ramseyglastron]

dont get slings, there a pain in the but, and they can mess up your graphica if there not in the gelcoat.

[Iman]

If you will be leaving your boat in a fairly clean fresh water lake, it really wont be that hard to get it back clean even after prolonged periods in the water. If you make sure it has a good coat of wax, tie it up properly, and make sure to clean it as soon as you remove it from the water so the scum doesnt get a chance to dry on, then it's really hard to financially justify the expense of a lift. But I'd still get a lift when you can afford one. I got a nice used lift last year after a few years of wet storage and I worry about my boat much less now.

[Commodore]

Iman, I kinda agree. But after having more boats than I can imagine tied up to our docks over the years, and the money we spent on cleaning, waxing, removing algae........

GET THE LIFT!!! Get a used one for a good price. You will be soooooo happy you did.

[jpk]

Is there a difference in lift makes and models that I should be looking for? What kind of features should be mandatory? Thanks!

[mplv]

im looking for a used lift in florida if anyone knows of any