About all types of boat lifts
Boat Lift Styles Hands down, one of the most important pieces of equipment on the waterfront is the boat lift. No other tool does more to get your boat, and you out on the water, so choosing the right design for your needs is essential. The standard boat lift design uses a square rack or cradle that is operated by a winch and/or motor that uses cables to perform the lift. This is a very common design and one that gets [...]
The 2013 boating season brings with it some changes that are bound to make your life on the water a bit easier. In this article we will focus on one specific change in the way some aftermarket canopies are attached to your boat lift canopy frame. For a while now these canopies have used rubber grommets and o-rings, sewn into the canopy itself, to provide anchorage for the springs, bungees, or strapping that ultimately holds the material to the frame. However, [...]
After last summer’s blistering temperatures and the relative lack of winter snows the last few years, it’s very hard not to notice that some changes are underway. If you spend any time on or around the Lakes of Michigan or the Great Lakes in general you have no doubt noticed that things are not as they used to be. The water levels are down all over and property owners as well as whole communities are being affected. The cause of the [...]
Great Lakes Basin If you spend any time at all on the Great Lakes you may have noticed one of the most obvious indicators of change. Many of the waterfront docks that populate the Great Lakes basin are high and dry or at least showing more “leg” these days. The main causes of these changes are clear and widely acknowledged as record temperatures and lack of seasonal precipitation have led to record low water levels all over the Great Lakes Basin. [...]
Running aground is no fun, just ask the captain of the Exxon Valdez. Over the last few years there have been some significant changes to the environment of Michigan’s lakes that directly impact those of us who own one of the 800,000+ boats registered in the state of Michigan. Michigan ranks third in the nation for boating population and recent developments in weather, both natural and political, have placed this crucial economic past time directly at the center of action. With [...]
When planning a solar charging set up for your boat lift there are a few things that you should know. These details may save you time and money, getting you the charging system you need and avoiding any potential damage to your battery or good time. In this article we will discuss the proper voltage and wattage for the solar panel you need, the different ways in which you can set up your battery array, and some conversions that can be [...]
So you’ve noticed some fraying in your lift cables or even worse one has broken and you are now faced with an urgent need to replace or change out your lift cables; what are your options? Basically, there are two ways in which the task before you can be met. The two approaches come down to time and money. You can purchase a winch tube rebuild kit and replace the innards of the winch tube of your lift or you can [...]
The cables on your boat lift are perhaps the most important part of the whole unit, they tie the cradle assembly to the winch, allowing your watercraft to be raised and will be made of either stainless or galvanized steel. Both of these types of steel offer the benefit of corrosion resistance and strength, yet there are some differences that should be considered when you are making this decision. When choosing a new boat lift cable or, if you are replacing [...]
There are now a good number of options on the market to assist with the installation and removal of a freestanding boat lift. By far, the most familiar and popular are wheel kits, so we have provided some information below about kits that we have used. All of these kits have proven effective in getting boat lifts into and out of the water regardless of the state of the lake bottom. Smarte Jack™ Retractable Wheel Kit The Smarte Jack™ boat lift [...]
When it comes to choosing the right free standing boat lift for your boating needs you may find the decision a difficult one. However, in reality there are only a few details that you will need to consider to guarantee that you get the right lift for the job. Although few, these details are very important; these are: The Type of Craft The Dry Weight of the craft to be lifted The Length and Beam Width of the craft The Hull [...]
