You have finally achieved a milestone in your life by investing in your lifelong dream of owning a boat. Now you can spend your weekends with your family on a lake with a magnificent sunset view.
But wait, here’s a twist. You haven’t bought a boat lift and wonder:
Are boat lifts worth it? Yes, absolutely.
Why? I’ll be discussing the worthiness of boat lift in the following article.
I understand that owning a boat opens a doorway to endless adventure. You surely don’t want to ruin it with winds or waves.
Table of Contents
Benefits of a Boat Lift
A boat lift not only protects your boat but also facilitates you in convenient boating.
Boat’s Security
When you buy a boat after investing so much of your money, it’s better to ensure its protection against water damage.
A boat lift prevents your boat from sinking into the slip or banging against the dock, or at worst, storm debris.
It becomes a necessity in areas where water levels often fluctuate.
Lesser Cleaning and Maintenance
It’s a universal fact that boats that stay in water full time end up absorbing water, which causes hull blisters and deck deterioration. To make things worse, algae starts to accumulate, ruining the paint jobs, which is a hassle to clean afterward.
It doesn’t end here because other parts of the boat and motor drives run into problems by repeatedly submerging in the water.
On the contrary, the boats on lifts don’t face all problems.
As a result, you not only extend the longevity of your boat but also save maintenance costs and effort.
Enhanced Boating Time
This factor creates a considerable difference by ensuring ease while getting in and out of water.
For instance, a hydraulic boat lift comes with a push-button operation for your convenience.
Water level Fluctuations
The water level fluctuates all the time. A significant fluctuation can cause severe damage to your boat.
If you leave your boat in the water without a lift, there are higher chances of severe damage to the boat due to storms or season changes.
The fluctuations do not just cause damage to the boat while standing. But also when you are about to board it.
Continuously fluctuating water makes it dangerous for you to board the boat and disembark it.
Even when the lift is floating due to water fluctuations, it stabilizes the boat movement making it safe for you to board and maneuver it.
Watercraft Launch
A boat lift is worth it while getting in and out of the boat. All you need is to drive the boat off of the lift without prior maintenance checks. Imagine the amount of time you save getting in and out of the water.
If you don’t have a boat lift, you need to perform a long list of steps to enjoy your time on the water. Not only that, you need to check the leaks, cracks on the hull, and debris before launch.
Using a boat life reduces the chances of damage and ensures lesser maintenance checks.
Are Boat Lifts Worth It? Factors
By now, I have laid a perfect foundation by discussing the benefits of a boat lift. It increases storage security by preventing damage and, consequently, increases the boat’s lifespan.
However, I’ll elaborate on the factors to determine if it’s worth buying a boat lift.
Location Value
A boat lift is worth it in case your boat’s location is on the main channel. It requires a more durable hoist in the back.
The lakes are getting crowded every passing year, while a rough area requires a lift to withstand harsh conditions. Else you may have to invest in boat maintenance and handling.
The lift’s arms attach to the dock to pivot it up and down with the waves’ motion.
The Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) bushings inside the pivoting joints ensure a tight fit. Not only that, but they also facilitate the quieter operation of the hoist.
A boat lift takes the wave pressure away from the dock, thus providing stability to the boat. By the way, replacing a lift is a less expensive task than repairing a dock.
Water Depth
It’s a wise approach to consider the water depth before parking your boat. You can easily opt for a boat lift designed for shallow water to provide an additional foot of operation over the standard lift.
The lakes are usually between 658 to 660 levels during the summers. And I bet we all love to enjoy boating in early summers.
However, it’s impossible to get the boat off without the lift since the water is relatively shallow. That’s when a boat lift comes to your rescue, not to spoil your summer boating mood.
Types of Flotation Tanks
These are the foundation of the lift to provide hoist support and stability. They can be made of either metal or fiberglass, or polyethylene.
- Metal tanks require replacement and are prone to rust or corrosion.
- Fiberglass tanks become brittle with time or weaken from sun exposure. However, they perform better in deeper water and support the boat’s weight when not in contact with the lake’s bottom.
- Polyethylene tanks offer the best security by preventing leakages.
These flotation tanks are available in either cylindrical or square shape.
- Cylinder tanks provide better stability by displacing the water to keep the boat higher, including the propeller and lower unit. These tanks are ideal for big boats.
- Square tanks are also known as rotationally molded polyethylene tanks, which cost less than cylinder tanks. These tanks are recommended for smaller boats in still, calm water.
Conclusion
You can save a lot of your money, time, and effort by investing in the right quality boat lift. Consider it as a one-time cost, which is justified to protect your life-long dreamboat.
I know boating is an expensive hobby. However, you know that it’s also rewarding when you enjoy your leisure days on waters without worrying about any leakage or mold growth. It’s worth it to invest early in buying a boat lift to enhance the boat’s durability.