A boat is a big investment with high payoffs. If you want yours to last you for many years and keep the costs manageable, you need to use a boat lift. Having a lift eliminates the chore of transporting your boat from water to land and vice versa. Besides, it lengthens your boat’s operational and functional lifespan.
Choosing the correct lift for your PWC is one of the most important steps in jet ski ownership. Are you unsure which jet ski lift is right for you? Are you unsure how to even choose what’s right for you? Keep reading to learn some key points when choosing jet ski lifts and floating docks, and how to select the right one for your specific needs.
A PWC lift, or PWC floating dock, is a boat lift system designed for smaller, lighter watercraft like Jet Skis, Sea-Doos, and Waverunners. Similar to lifts designed for larger watercraft, the purpose of a PWC lift is to elevate and protect small skiffs and other personal watercraft when they are not in use. You need a PWC lift for your watercraft because it isn’t meant to stay in the water full time.
Too much exposure to water when the PWC isn’t in use can lead to water absorption and cause damage to the hull. Hoisting it on a lift also makes it much easier to mitigate damage because it gives you better access to the hull and sides of your craft for cleaning and maintenance. Keeping your PWC hoisted on a lift also ensures it remains in a stable position without drifting into the side of your boat dock or other hazards in the water, such as boats or debris. The added protection means it’s not susceptible to adverse weather conditions like harsh winds and storms.
PWC lifts come in a few different varieties based on size and operation. There are vertical and hydraulic PWC lifts on the market, as well as drive up jet ski lifts. Rather than using a remote control or a manual wheel to raise the PWC out of the water, a drive-on port allows the PWC rider to dock their watercraft with a gentle flick of the throttle, which makes it glide into place over rollers. Disembarking by pushing off the dock when you’re ready to head out again is effortless.
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Manual vs. Electric. Most boat lifts require some sort of effort to work properly, whether it comes from a power source or from manual operation. Manual lifts are operated by a person rotating a spinner wheel to raise and lower the boat, and they tend to be cheaper to obtain but a lot more work on the part of the owner. Electric winches are a lot more convenient. A lot of them offer push-button boat lift motor operation so you can lower your boat before you ever get to the water. However, they need access to an electric power source to operate, which might not be possible on some waterfronts.
Here are some factors to consider when purchasing a manual jet ski lift:
1. Capacity and Size
First of all, how big is your jet ski? This is the most important consideration when picking out a jet ski lift. If you buy one that can’t support the weight of your jet ski, it’ll collapse, sending your new prize possession crashing into the water beneath it. PWC lifts come in various sizes and capacities tailored to specific watercraft types, so it’s best to start with your watercraft.
Measure the dimensions and size of your watercraft, including the hull shape and weight. Take into account any additional features that may impact the weight or weight distribution on the lift. This information will help in determining the appropriate lift for your watercraft. PWC lifts come in various sizes and capacities tailored to specific watercraft types, so it’s best to start with your watercraft.
The size of your boat will naturally determine the size of the lift you need. Your dry boat weight, which will be in the specification sheet for your watercraft, is part of what you’ll need to look at when determining your needed boat lift capacity. The make, model, and year of your boat lift model will also be necessary for determining weight capacity. However, you’ll also need to think about the weight of everything that you’ll be lifting along with your boat, including all of your onboard gear, fuel, props, batteries, and covers. Your boat’s length and width will also be on your boat specification sheet, or it can be measured. The size of your boat lift will also be dependent on these dimensions. The beam and weight of the boat lift you buy should match your boat.
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As a general rule, a boat lift’s beam should support the boat. Therefore, your preferred lift needs to support your boat’s weight, as well as its basic dimensions. It should also have the ability to support your vessel properly if you make some upgrades on it in the future.
You might think that checking the literature given to you when you purchased your jet ski for the dry weight is enough, but you would be wrong. There are a number of other weight considerations you need to account for when determining the right capacity for your new jet ski lift:
- The dry weight of the jet ski
- The weight of attached gear (seat covers, stuff in the storage bin, etc.)
- Weight of the fuel in the fuel tank (about 6.3 lbs per gallon)
- The weight of non-factory add-ons
The weight of non-factory add-ons is a big one because it’s easy to overlook! If you opted for any additional attachments or engine upgrades, you’re going to need to add that weight to the dry weight of the machine noted in the brochure. That’s because this dry weight is the weight of the default model. Determining the minimum weight capacity for your jet ski floating dock is similar to determining the weight capacity for a larger boat dock. To start, you’ll need the dry weight of your PWC, which you can find in the spec sheet for your watercraft.
While you don’t need to refuel your PWC the same way you would a larger boat, it’s important to consider the additional weight that can accumulate when bringing people and equipment on board. We recommend adding a 20% margin to the calculated weight capacity. This allows margins for any potential miscalculations or unexpected surprises.
And let’s be honest, you should add in the weight of the passengers. Jet ski lifts are not elevators with the built-in safety features, and your lift owner’s manual will tell you not to ride on your jet ski as the lift goes up or down. However, many people will still do it because it is more convenient. Do you want to take the chance of overloading the lift and having it collapse while your passengers are sitting on the jet ski?
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2. Single or Dual?
Although you might only have the one jet ski right now, it’s likely that you’re going to fall in love with it and want another soon. If you have a partner or a family, it’s going to seem even more essential after skiing alone for a few months to get another in the water.
If you see yourself investing in another jet ski in the near future, you might want to consider investing in a dual jet ski lift now. Sure, you could uninstall and re-install when the time comes, but consider the cost and effort involved. You’ll be thanking yourself later when you’re driving a new jetski home, and you’ll already have a place to put it.
3. Water Conditions
Most boat lifts are made of galvanized steel or stainless steel. If you are boating in freshwater conditions, going for a lift made of galvanized steel is the better option. However, choosing a stainless-steel lift for salty water conditions can help protect your lift from corrosion. Either way, if you’re worried about UV damage, cracking, and corrosion, you can go for a stainless-steel lift.
4. Water Levels
Another thing to consider when purchasing a boat lift is the water level of the place where you intend to use it. You can use shallow-water devices such as sling-style lifts in areas with low water levels, like lakes. On the other hand, customized boat lifts equipped with heavy-duty reinforced posts and high-quality material are best suited for deep water levels.
5. Rules and Permits
Before purchasing a boat lift, you need to make sure your local dock has no rules against your preferred boat lift style. For instance, your local dock may have some restrictions regarding the elevation height of boats or power usage near the water. If you're boating in an area managed by a local homeowners’ association, there might be restrictions regarding the type of boat lift you can use and other specifics as well. Do you have permit requirements? This varies greatly depending on your location. For example, in some areas, a swinger lift may not require a permit since it does not occupy water surface area all the time.
6. Mounting Options
Choose the mount that is appropriate for where you will be installing your lift. Are you mounting to a piling, a dock/seawall, or do you have a floating dock? There are different types of mounting options for each of these situations. If you have a boathouse and an open slip, it may be more cost-effective to use a Boathouse Kit configured as a PWC lift. This option also gives you more versatility in the future. If you have a floating dock, you would need a drive-on that connects to a floating dock.
7. Availability of Electricity
One of the last determining factors in choosing the correct PWC lift for your needs is whether or not you will have access to electricity on location. This will determine whether you need to select a manual or automatic lift. Manual PWC lifts use a winch mechanism to raise and lower the watercraft, while electric PWC lifts use a motor to accomplish the same thing.
Additional Considerations
It’s also worth considering future purchasing plans, whether for your boat lift or your dock in general, because lifts can be adapted to varying lengths and widths if necessary. All of those are the basics for boat lift shopping, but there might be other criteria that you’re looking for. Materials matter for durability, longevity, and maintenance, especially in brackish saltwater conditions. If you’re planning on upgrading your boat, you might want to size up your lift when you buy it now to accommodate the change.
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Ensure the lift can support the weight of your jet ski, including fuel, gear, and passengers. |
| Size | The lift's dimensions should accommodate your jet ski's length and width. |
| Water Conditions | Choose materials like galvanized or stainless steel based on whether you're in freshwater or saltwater. |
| Water Levels | Select a lift type suitable for the water depth in your area. |
| Regulations and Permits | Check local dock rules and homeowners' association restrictions before purchasing. |
| Mounting Options | Consider whether you'll be mounting to a piling, dock/seawall, or floating dock. |
| Electricity Availability | Decide between a manual or electric lift based on whether you have access to electricity on location. |