Thinking about buying a boat lift to make your life easier when storing/putting away your boat when you're not using it? If so, make sure you have done your research and know what you are buying, You certainly don't want to buy something that may not last you for years to come. Here's some things to consider when purchasing a boat lift.
Manual or Electric?
Do you want convenience when raising up your boat lift or would you rather save yourself a tad bit of money? Either will work great, it's really preference on what you would rather have. If you decide to go with electric you may need to hire an electrician to run electricity to your lift.
Length & Width
As you may know, depending on the size of your boat will determine the size of the lift you need. It will need to support the size of your boat and also support its weight capacity. It is also important to consider what size of boat you may have in the future. If you think you may upgrade down the line, you may want something that would be able to handle both. Your dealer should be able to help you make this decision.
Material
Typically boat lifts are either made out of stainless steel, galvanized steel or welded aluminum. Depending on if you live in a freshwater lake or the ocean will determine which material would be best for your boat lift. For example, if you live on a lake, welded aluminum would be a fabulous option. It is durable, strong, and hassle-free.
Maintenance
Every part of boat ownership will require some type of maintenance. Chances are your boat lift will require some type of maintenance. Check with your dealer to learn about the care needed for different aspects of your boat lift such as the cradle, winch cables or motor.
Canopy
There are so many canopy options you can choose to go with your boat life. It all comes down to what color you want and the material. You can choose vinyl, weathermax, harbortime or something traditional for the material and you can choose anywhere from bright blue to tan for your color choice. The canopy is a very important part of keeping your boat safe from the weather conditions.
