Maintenance Tips for Your Boat Lift
Your boat lift is holding truly precious cargo, and you want to be sure that it’s secure and safe. Not only will a poorly maintained boat lift not work properly, but it could also fail suddenly, which could damage your boat, lift, dock, or cause injuries to someone. Save yourself the potential embarrassment and considerable repair and replacement costs by keeping these boat lift maintenance tips top of mind each time you go out on the water.
Staying Within the Weight Limit
Your boat lift is built to accommodate a very specific weight and size of watercraft and can’t tolerate a pound more. Even the wrong hull design can cause damage. Take your boat’s dry weight into account, as well as the weight of everything you bring on, from fuel to accessories to people. Don’t add more weight to your lift while your boat is on it, including people. As you’re pulling into your lift, make sure that you center your boat properly for weight distribution. Finally, when your boat is on the hoist, remove the plug to keep any rainwater from collecting in it.
Routine Inspections
Examine your boat lift over at the start of each season and each time you go out. If your cable has abrasions, kinks, burs, or other deformities, it needs to be repaired or replaced to avoid failure and potentially massive damage or injuries. Check how the cable winds up on the winder because slack can cause uneven wear and shorten cable lifespans. Poor sheave alignment can create pressure on the lift cable and damage the cable and the sheave.
Lubrication
We mean a little more than just elbow grease, although that helps too. Stainless steel cables need to be lubricated with penetrating oil or chain and cable fluid to reduce abrasion. Grease can trap moisture in cable strands, so avoid lubricating cables with anything that contains grease. On the other hand, boat lift motor parts and pulleys should be greased.
Keep it Clean and Dry
Just because it’s in the water full-time and made of corrosion-resistant materials doesn’t mean you don’t have to clean and dry your boat lift. Avoid leaving your cables in the water for a long time, especially in saltwater environments, as constantly wet cables have to stand up to saltwater, barnacles, electrolysis, and other wear and tear. Just like it’s important to rinse your boat, you need to rinse your boat lift to get rid of salt, algae, and barnacles that can wear out cables and cause breakage.
Proper Storage
If you’re a seasonal boater, off-season storage plays a role in the longevity of your boat lift. Once yours is out of the water, store it with the cradle or platform up, especially if it’s a hydraulic hoist system. For power hoists, remove the battery and store it inside on a small piece of wood. If you have to store it outside, ensure that it’s marked so that accidents don’t happen.
A trusted dealer can also help you with installation and maintenance. Choose a local one that knows your waterfront and products well before you make a purchase and take advantage of the benefits they offer, like personalized recommendations and warranties. Use all the resources at hand to take care of your boat lift and keep it running for years to come.