Everything You Need to Know About Boat Lift Hurricane Preparation: How to Tie Boat to Lift for Hurricane
Hurricane season can be an emotional rollercoaster for boat owners, with anxiety over potential damage to vessels and their financial implications causing significant stress. While moving the boat inland into a dry storage facility is always the best safety precaution, unfortunately, doing the same for the lift isn’t always possible. Below, we discuss the primary considerations and provide essential tips and techniques for preparing your boat lift for hurricane season.
Introduction to Boat Lifts for Saltwater and Freshwater
One of the most important decisions an owner makes when they get a boat is how to store it. For most discerning boaters, a boat lift is the best solution. Lifting vessels above the water line protects them from the damaging effects of prolonged water exposure. This reduces maintenance efforts and costs and preserves the watercraft’s performance and value.
However, not all boat lifts are created equal. While some may perform well in calmer lakes, they may not provide adequate protection and long-term durability in saltwater environments. Below, we explore the primary considerations to help you choose the best protection for your boat.
Understanding the Differences Between Ocean and Lake Boat Lifts
To protect your boat, you need a lifting solution that can withstand the unique challenges presented by your specific waterfront conditions. Here are some key points to consider:
Environmental Factors: Saltwater corrodes metal five times faster than freshwater, while the salty, humid ocean air causes metal to corrode 10 times faster than air with normal humidity (Sciencing, 2018). As such, boat lifts in these environments must be made from materials like marine-grade aluminum or stainless steel to endure challenging conditions. While freshwater environments are less corrosive, the lift still requires high-quality materials to prevent rust.
Water Conditions: Depending on your area, you may need a boat lift capable of handling currents, tidal changes, and waves. Installation constraints also make some boat lifts more suitable than others. For instance, a floating boat lift may be the optimal lift design for areas with shallow water or soft lake beds.
Since 1972, ShoreMaster has been committed to manufacturing innovative, reliable, and easy-to-own products that enhance waterfront experiences. Our boat lifts are designed to perform in any environment, providing owners with the peace of mind they deserve.
Best Boat Lifts for Saltwater Environments
ShoreMaster offers a variety of boat lifts that are well-suited for saltwater environments. Here are two models to consider:
Vertical Boat Lift: ShoreMaster vertical lifts are constructed using high-quality, marine-grade aluminum frames, stainless steel components, and brass pulleys, materials known for their excellent resistance to corrosion and rust. These hoists have a lift travel of 66” and are designed to support vessels up to 7,000 lbs. Moreover, ShoreMaster vertical boat lifts feature adjustable bunks to accommodate various hull designs and shapes, making them a versatile solution for saltwater environments.
HarborHoist H2: This next-generation floating lift combines high-density polyethylene floats with marine-grade stainless steel components, providing a lifting solution with unmatched versatility and performance. The HarborHoist H2 is available in capacities from 5,000 to 25,000 lbs and features configurable hull supports for various boat styles, including V-hulls, pontoons, and tritoons.
Contact us today to learn more about our saltwater environment solutions and to find boat lift dealers near me.
Best Lake Boat Lifts for Freshwater Environments
While generally less corrosive, lake area docks and lifts present unique challenges for boat lifts. Consider the following boat lift models:
Hydraulic Boat Lift: ShoreMaster’s TruLift hydraulic lifts are suitable for a range of water depths. They can be used in waters as shallow as 16” (plus the boat’s draft) and are available with up to 60-inch lift travel, making them versatile solutions for different freshwater settings and installation conditions. Of course, they’re also made from marine-grade aluminum and feature stainless steel components to ensure long-term durability and reliability.
Vertical Hydraulic Boat Lift: ShoreMaster’s vertical hydraulic boat lift combines the lifting capacity, operating speed, and convenience of hydraulic boat lifts with the flexibility and adaptability to various waterfronts that vertical boat lifts provide. Essentially, you get the marine-grade aluminum frame of our trusted vertical lifts with the hydraulic system to conveniently and quickly get into and out of the water.
As pioneers of the welded aluminum boat lift, we’ve perfected our design to offer superior stability, reliability, and performance season after season. This has made ShoreMaster’s boat lift models some of the most trusted lifting solutions in the industry.
How to Choose the Right Boat Lift for Your Needs
Aside from saltwater and freshwater considerations, installation constraints, such as shallow water, deep water levels, and soft lake bottoms, significantly influence the type of boat lift required. Here’s a breakdown of how these factors affect your choice:
Shallow Water: Floating boat lifts are ideal for shallow water environments. The ShoreMaster UltraLift Series can operate in waters as shallow as four feet. It also features ultra-touch polyethylene tanks, a hot-dip zinc-galvanized structural steel frame, and marine-grade, heavy-duty construction to withstand harsh conditions.
Deep Water: Freestanding lifts with leg extensions allow you to adjust the height of pilings for fluctuating water depths. However, a floating lift remains the most practical solution for installation sites with more than 10 feet of water.
Soft Lake Bottoms: In areas with soft, muddy, or uneven bottoms, vertical lifts can be equipped with pads or bases to distribute weight and prevent sinking. However, we still recommend installing a floating dock and boat lift to minimize installation hassles.
Other considerations include the following:
Boat Size and Weight: Ensure the lift can handle your fully loaded boat, including all equipment and gear typically stored onboard. We recommend a lift with a capacity 20-25% higher than your boat’s wet weight. For reference, a watercraft with 600 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of drinking water can add over 6,700 lbs to the boat’s weight (Ita Yachts Canada, 2024).
Hull Design: Different hull shapes, such as V-hulls, flat bottoms, and pontoons, have varying support and stability requirements. For instance, V-hulls may require more support along the keel, while flat-bottom boats need balanced support across the hull. Additionally, consider your boat’s draft (how deep it sits in the water), as vessels with deeper drafts may require lifts that raise them higher out of the water.
Visit your local ShoreMaster today to explore options, get recommendations, and see the lifts in person. If you’re unsure where to go, contact us today, and we’ll connect you with a local ShoreMaster dealer near you.
References:
Sciencing (April 27, 2018). The Effects of Saltwater on Metals. Retrieved from The Effects of Saltwater on Metals | Sciencing
Ita Yachts Canada (July 4, 2024). The Importance Of Considering A Boat’s Weight When Buying A Boat. Retrieved from https://itayachtscanada.com/the-importance-of-considering-a-boats-weight-when-buying-a-boat/
