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Boat Lift

Your boat lift safely raises and stores your boats out of the water, protecting them from damage due to constant exposure to waves, algae, and corrosive water elements. A boat lift helps reduce hull cleaning and maintenance, prevents fouling, and minimizes wear on propellers and engines. Regularly maintained & correctly installed, a boat lift can extend a water vessel’s lifespan & improve convenience for boat owners, allowing easy access to the water & enhanced protection.

Get to Know Your Boat Lift Types: Best Uses & Boat Lift Features

What are the Different Boat Lift Types?

Choosing the right boat lift type is essential for protecting your watercraft and optimizing your dock’s functionality. From traditional cradle lifts to innovative beamless systems, each style is engineered to meet specific boat sizes, dock configurations, and waterfront conditions. This comprehensive guide covers the most reliable and efficient boat lift types available today, helping you understand which solution best fits your needs—whether you’re lifting a personal watercraft, a fishing boat, or a luxury yacht.

4-Post Cradle Lift

The 4-post cradle lift is one of the most common and dependable boat lift styles, offering excellent stability and support for medium-sized boats. With a design that uses four pilings, this lift raises the vessel evenly by supporting it from beneath with a cradle. It’s an ideal choice for residential docks with moderate space and water movement.

Recommended Watercraft:

Center Consoles

Bowriders

Small Cruisers

This Type Boat Lift is Ideal For:

Residential docks with piling availability
Boats ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 lbs
Moderate tidal or current conditions

Key Features:

Marine-grade aluminum and stainless steel hardware
Direct drive systems
Adjustable carpeted or aluminum bunks
Optional wireless remote and limit switches

Considerations: This boat lift requires sufficient dock space for piling installation

8-Post Cradle Lift

The 8-post cradle lift is a heavy-duty solution designed for large and heavy vessels. By distributing weight across eight pilings, it provides maximum support and stability in both calm and rough water environments. It’s best suited for large boats docked in commercial or high-traffic waterfront areas.

Recommended Watercraft:

Large Yachts

Houseboats

Commercial Fishing Boats

This Type Boat Lift is Ideal For:

Boats up to 56,000 lbs
Exposed waterfronts with strong currents
Commercial dock environments

Key Features:

Industrial-grade aluminum and stainless construction
High-capacity motors with direct drive
Self-adjusting cable keepers
Wireless control systems

Considerations: Best suited for wide slips or docks with ample structural support; may be excessive for smaller vessels or residential settings

Elevator Boat Lift

Elevator boat lifts are mounted to vertical structures like seawalls or pilings, allowing boats to be raised and lowered along angled tracks. This lift style is excellent for locations where pilings can’t be installed or where dock space is limited. Elevator lifts are versatile and easy to access, even in narrow or restricted areas.

Recommended Watercraft:

Runabouts

Pontoon Boats

Small Cruisers

This Type of Lift is Ideal For:

Boats up to 20,000 lbs
Narrow canals or tight waterfronts
Properties with seawalls

Key Features:

Space-saving vertical movement
Aluminum track systems
Remote-controlled operation
Adjustable hull bunks

Considerations: Good solution when piling-based lifts aren’t an option

PWC/Small Craft Boat Lift

Small craft lifts are built specifically for lightweight watercraft such as jet skis, inflatables, and small skiffs. These compact lifts offer quick and secure storage, making them ideal for frequent use. They’re also easy to install on smaller docks or seawalls.

Recommended Watercraft:

Jet Skis

Kayaks

Small Fishing Boats

This Type of Lift is Ideal For:

Boats and PWCs up to 1,600 lbs
Shallow water areas
Day-use or secondary docks

Key Features:

Manual or electric winch options
Lightweight construction
Simple installation
Adjustable bunks

Considerations: Perfect for quick-launch access and ease of use

Beamless Boat Lift

Beamless lifts eliminate the top beam seen in traditional cradle lifts, providing a cleaner look and unobstructed access to your boat. With four independent lifting corners, these lifts offer smooth operation and increased versatility. They are especially useful in areas with height restrictions or where aesthetics are a concern.

Recommended Watercraft:

Center Consoles

Wakeboard Boats

Bay Boats

This Type of Lift is Ideal For:

Boats up to 24,000 lbs
Height-restricted locations
Users preferring unobstructed access

Key Features:

Sleek design with no overhead structure
Four synchronized drives
Remote control lift operation
Customizable bunks

Considerations: Enhances visibility and accessibility from all sides

Boathouse Lift

Boathouse lifts integrate seamlessly into a covered dock structure, offering both lifting capability and protection from the elements. These lifts are often custom-built to fit within an enclosed or roofed space, protecting your vessel year-round. They’re ideal for boaters who want to maintain their investment in peak condition.

Recommended Watercraft:

Cruisers

Trawlers

Luxury Boats

This Type of Lift is Ideal For:

Boats up to 24,000 lbs
Covered docks or custom boathouse designs
High-exposure areas

Key Features:

Designed to support a roof or enclosure
Electric or hydraulic systems
Custom-fitted bunks and lift frames
Integrated protection from sun and weather

Considerations: Requires careful structural planning and engineering

Yacht Boat Lift

Yacht lifts are high-capacity systems engineered to support the size and weight of luxury vessels. These lifts are often custom-built and require significant infrastructure for support. Yacht owners benefit from advanced features and rugged reliability to ensure smooth and safe operations.

Recommended Watercraft:

Mega Yachts

Large SportFishing Boats

Motor Yachts

This Type of Lift is Ideal For:

Yachts up to 60,000 lbs
Marinas and luxury residences
Professional-grade installations

Key Features:

Heavy-duty aluminum and stainless steel frames
Industrial motors and gearboxes
Programmable controls
Precision bunks tailored to yacht hulls

Considerations: Demands reinforced dock infrastructure and ample slip clearance; typically unsuitable for residential docks with limited space

Platform Boat Lift

Platform lifts raise both the boat and a walkable surface, giving users safe and easy access to the vessel. This design is especially useful for pontoons and deck boats and also serves well in shallow waters. These lifts double as staging areas, perfect for maintenance and boarding.

Recommended Watercraft:

Pontoon Boats

Deck Boats

Family Runabouts

This Type of Lift is Ideal For:

Boats up to 10,000 lbs
Shallow water installations
Walk-around accessibility

Key Features:

Entire platform rises with the boat
Non-slip walking surfaces
Electric or hydraulic operation
Custom sizes available

Considerations: Great for convenience, social use, and safety

Boat Lift Maintenance Plan

Our Boat Lift Maintenance Service Plan includes:

Adjust Bunks for Fitment & Proper Pitch
Grease Winch, Sheaves, & Pillow Blocks
Visually inspect and Adjust Limit Switches
Visually inspect Cables for Rust, Wear, Fraying or Damage
Visually inspect Sheaves for Wear and Damage, Re-torque Nuts & Bolts
Visually inspect Bunk Boards for Wear and Damage Scrape Tracks and Replace Zinc, as Needed
Visually inspect & Re-torque Mounting Brackets and Nuts

* 10% Preferred Customer Discount for Maintenance Parts
(cannot be combined with other discounts)

$490

(+ $200 for each additional boat lift at the same location)

Semi-Annual Maintenance Service
(every 6 Months)

Book
an
Appointment

Customer Testimonials

Carlos R.

Fantastic Work!

Fantastic work, got all the paperwork processed in a timely fashion at the city, Lighthouse Point. I’ve had bad experiences with other dock, Seawall and lift companies, Everyone at the Dock Experts was great. Andrew sold me on the lift, and everyone at the office, and work crew, moved the project along from start to finish in quick time. I highly recommend them. I’m having them do sock at a rental property I own, and will recommend them to friends.

Jeff B.

These guys are the best!

These guys are the best! If you want a company that gets it done right, answers the phone, and follows through- look no further. Tom has been great to work with and the crew including Bob, Gary, Tony, and Chad are true professionals. After completing a new dock and lift a year ago- we are still extremely happy we chose to work with them. And yes -they do still answer the phone when I have called!

Cindy D.

Highly Recommended

We highly recommend Dock Experts! Our seawall completely collapsed. The owners Andrew and Tom and their staff were always available to answer our questions or concerns. Our project was challenging in many ways and they figured out how to attack the issues. They are perfectionists. Our extensive project was finished in a timely manner. No mess left behind. We wish we could personally name all the hard workers that gave us our home back. Too many to remember , but Bob, Tom, Mike and his son Brett all amazing and Jennifer in the office. Many thanks. The pictures below say it all!

Joel P.

Immediate Response

Had problem with cables on a 4 poster lift. Called Andrew for service a d got immediate response. Had service team on site the next day. Chad Gorman and his helper did a outstanding job of keeping me informed of needs and progress. Did a outstanding job of diagnosis and repair of the problem. Also took care of some minor repairs and adjustments to get the lift to 100%. Could not have been more satisfied.