Welcome to the boat-lifting community! We want to be the first to congratulate you on your lift ownership — and offer some important advice on how to use (and how not to use) your new boat lift.
Here at R.J.’s Boat Lifts, we have over thirty-five years of experience. Our team of experts has compiled this guide to make sure you get the best experience out of your lift, and get to enjoy it for many years to come!
But first, we recommend that you check out our full guide for new users, so you can get a good understanding of the boat lift’s main components, how they work, and how to operate your lift!
Check out our full beginner’s guide by clicking here!
Once you’ve done that, feel free to keep reading — or click on the item in the list below that you’d like to read first.
So, here are the 10 things you need to know as a new boat-lift owner.
First, let’s cover five things you should NEVER do.
Five Things to Never Do as a New Boat Lift Owner
1. Never use the lift with people inside the boat. Boat lifts are not made to lift people or animals. Where an elevator has extra cables that stop it from falling unexpectedly, boat lifts only have one set. When a cable breaks, it can seriously injure those in the boat — so it’s important that you NEVER, ever operate the lift with people inside!
2. Don’t ignore rusty or fraying cables. It’s important that you don’t ignore signs of wear on your cables. Doing so can cause them to snap unexpectedly — another reason to NEVER lift people or animals in your lift! Your cables will wear differently depending on the type you have.
It’s important to take care of your lift cables and regularly check for signs of wear.
For example, galvanized cables will rust, giving you a clear indicator of when it’s time to have them replaced. If you notice these signs, contact your local boat lift expert for help and to schedule a repair before it’s too late!
For more on when to replace your boat lift cables, check out this guide!
3. Never exceed the weight capacity. A weight limit on a boat lift is not a starting point — it’s the absolute limit your boat lift can lift. Therefore, it’s essential to never exceed that limit with a heavier boat, as it can seriously damage the lift. If you’re unsure of your boat lift’s weight limit, be sure to check with your local experts or boat lift dealers. Many boathouse lifts don’t give clear indicators of its capacity, so be sure to check with the experts!
If you’re looking to upgrade your lift, check out this article!
4. Don’t lift the cradle too high or too low. In a boathouse lift, the cradle your boat sits on is perfectly balanced by your lift’s installers. If you lower your lift too far into the water and it gets stuck on the sand, it can start to unravel the lift’s cables and cause it to wrap up incorrectly when you go to raise it up. Lifting it too high, on the other hand, can do serious damage to the lift — and to your boat! So always use caution when raising and lowering your lift.
5. Don’t leave the cradle in the water. If you’re storing your boat elsewhere for a long time, be sure not to leave your cradle in the water. Many boat lift cradles have wooden bunks that can start to rot if left in the water for extended periods of time. If you have galvanized cables, they will rust — even making the lift unusable in some cases!
Next, let’s cover what you need to remember.
Five Things to Know as a New Boat Lift User
1. Always stand beside the switch while the lift is operating. Some boat lift switches (like the maintain switch) can be turned on without you needing to hold it in place. It’s crucial that you never step away from the switch while it is lifting the boat.
Be sure to always stand by the switch while you’re operating your lift.
We’ve heard horror stories of people turning away for a minute, only to hear their boat getting smashed into the roof of their boathouse!
2. Raise the lift above the waves. After you’ve docked your boat on your lift and everyone has exited, you’ll need to raise your lift up to get your boat out of the water. Be sure to lift it high enough so your boat and cradle are out of the waves that could potentially hit the lift and cause your boat to sway — and act like a battering ram, in some cases!
3. Prepare your lift for a storm. In Florida, we get severe thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes. We always encourage our customers to take the proper precautions to make sure their lift is as safe as it can be — like removing or rolling up canopies, trailering their boats, raising their lifts and tying them off.
For more on how to prepare your lift for a storm, click here!
4. Empty the ballast before docking on your lift. As mentioned, it’s important to never exceed your boat lift’s weight capacity — and that means emptying your ballast before docking your boat on the lift. Doing so can help ensure your boat is not too heavy for the lift and help prevent damaging it by adding too much weight.
5. Regularly maintain your lift. If you want your lift to be operating at its best for years to come, it’s essential that you keep it well maintained. This means regularly servicing the lift by greasing the motor, and lubricating and replacing the cables. At R.J.’s, we offer a yearly service to make sure your lift is operating at its finest — so be sure to check with your local experts if you have questions or need a service!
Want to learn more on how to maintain your lift? Check out our full maintenance guide!
If you have questions or would like to schedule a service or repair, we’re here to help! Feel free to contact our office at 352-394-5666 or email our head of office at pam@rjsboatlifts.com.