Boat Lifts 101
When you head out to buy a boat lift here are a few things to think about:
Ask questions and expect answers. A perspective buyer should be interested in having the following questions answered:
What is the shipping weight of the proposed lift?
Finding out what the
shipping weight is will give you an insight to the amount of material
used to construct your lift leading to the longevity of the product.
Are there any steel parts on the lift?
Steel parts will
rust underwater eventually - no matter how they are preserved. The best
method of preservation is hot dipped galvanizing.
What is the operating pressure of this hydraulic pump?
Lower pressures will result in longer pump life.
Are all the fittings, nuts and bolts on the lift Stainless Steel?
If not, what are they? Again, anything other than Stainless Steel and
Aluminum will rust underwater.
What is done to decrease the amount of wear at pivot points
(i.e. main body frame, lift rails and other components) when it is in motion?
Wear is going to be a factor on all moving parts and needs to be addressed.
There should be some method of preventing the bolts from wearing on the body and frame
of the lift while in motion. This can be accomplished by catching the bolt head to
decrease movement or by utilizing bushings.
What is the power source of your proposed lift?
Most Hydraulic lifts are using some sort of bio-degradable or mineral
oil based fluid. Be environmentally aware.
Remember, if someone is selling you a lift and cannot answer your questions, chances are they do not want you to hear the answer. Research your lift and make an informed choice. Whatever lift you end up with will be the right one for you.
