Ramps | A Look At How Boat Lifts Work And The Different Types

A Look At How Boat Lifts Work And The Different Types

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A Look At How Boat Lifts Work And The Different Types

By Ignacio Silverstone

Boat lifts are used to lift the boat and store the boat above the water surface. Boat lifts are generally of two types. They are i) Hydro hoist model and ii) the Air-Dock model. Boat lifts are manufactured keeping in mind the different sizes of the boats.
Boat lifts work on the principle of lifts and hoists. In Hydro hoist type model there are float tanks that have a drain fitting at the bottom which is always open to the water. The boats are lifted with the help of hoists that are driven by heavy motors. The Hydro-Hoist boat lifts are of several types such as Boat Floater, Econo Lift and others. In the case of Air Dock the pressure of air is required to uplift the boat to a certain height above the water surface. With Air Dock type boat lifts there is a water tank which is filled and evacuated with the air pressure. Here the air is pumped in from the atmosphere to force the water out of the water tanks thus lifting the hoist. To lower down the hoists, one should vent the air pressure to allow water to fill the again tank.
Generally a motor with a blower is attached which is about the size of a vacuum cleaner motor. These motors blow the air out of the float tanks. Each tank has a hole at opposite ends, where the hose is attached. These holes are about 4 inches in diameter. An electric switch is used to turn on the blower and a valve. To raise the boat lift the valve is opened and the blower motor turned on. It can be left on until air bubbles are out of the 4 inch holes, this is the maximum lift that can be obtained. Once the boat is lifted to the desired height the valve is manually closed and all the air is retained in the tanks. When the boat is to be launched the valve is opened and the captured air from the tank escapes past the blower and the lift settles into the lake.
Different new technologies are adopted regularly to enhance the working principles of boat lifts. These new technologies are a floating drive-on dry lifting system which makes existing technology obsolete. Fully portable, changeable and modular boat lifts will work in shallow water or deep water, fresh, tides or salt water, currents and even waves. These boat lifts have the power to lift boats of different sizes, from small boats to large watercrafts. Drive-on floating docks even replace those traditional lifts, boat hoists, davits & trailers and provide a convenient dry-dock for stern drives, outboard boats, inboard ski boats and jet boats of all sizes and shapes.

About the Author:

Ignacio Silverstone writes about boat lifts and other interesting topics. For more information on buying a boat lift visit us today.

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