May 29, 2018
What is the right Boat lift for Me? – Part 1
Purchasing a new boat lift is a very confusing time You have a lot to consider before making your decision. This article will help you make your lift selection easier.
Where will you be using the boat lift?
One factor in your lift selection process is its suitability for the body of water you will be using it on. Will you be on a large bay or lake where waves can be strong? Will it be a river or small lake with minimal wave action?
In NE Wisconsin, Green Bay and Lake Winnebago present unique problems for boaters. These two bodies of water have significant fluctuations in water depth and wave action. Wave action of 3 or more feet added to increasing water depth during a surge will cause significant problems for boaters.
When these two factors combine, you will want a lift that raises high enough to keep your investment from being damaged.
Consider Frame Construction
You need durable frame construction to withstand the boat weight and pressures from the moving water.
ShoreMaster Vertical Boat Lift with welded side frames
Are the side frames all welded construction? Are the side frames simply bolted together? Most brands use bolts everywhere, so shipping is less expensive. This results in frame movement over time. Movement results in elongated holes and a weaker frame structure.
What are the Boat Lift Frame Materials?
The most popular boat lifts in N.E. Wisconsin has aluminum frames and stainless steel cables.
What is the Warranty of the frame material?
Boat lifts come with a 1 or 2-year factory structural warranty. Some have a five year, and a few even have a 10-year warranty.
ShoreMaster boat lifts carry a full 15-year structural warranty. This 15-year warranty is the result of the all-welded side frames. Bolts are only used to assemble the side frames to the cross members.
Most brands use bolts everywhere, so shipping is less expensive, but this results in frame movement over time. Movement results in elongated holes and a weaker frame structure.
Your boat deserves the extra protection and strength of a ShoreMaster boat lift.
What type of cable do they use?
Boat lifts today have either galvanized, stainless steel or a combination of both. Stainless steel cables last as much as 2 – 4X longer than galvanized cable. Stainless steel cable is not as strong as galvanized but the manufacturers increase the cable and winch diameters to compensate.
There are limits to the diameter of the cabling used. The winch drum diameter limits the cable diameter. A thick cable wrapping around a small drum flexes the cable unnaturally resulting in premature cable failure.
Boat length, width, and weight?
Consider not only the length, width, and weight of the boat you have now but also the possibility of a larger boat in the future. This may not be the deciding factor in your boat lift decision, but don’t ignore it altogether. It can be the difference between:
- Buying a new boat OR
- Buying a new boat AND a new boat lift.
Manual or Electric operation
Do you want to raise your boat by using the hand wheel or use a motor to do all the work for you? Nature powers most lift motors through a D.C. motor and battery setup.
ShoreMaster Boat Lift with a DC Motor
A.C. versions, while available, require 120 V power at the boat site and need more care to prevent electrical shock.
Resale values
While cantilever boat lifts generally cost less than vertical lifts initially, consider the resale value if you decide to get a larger boat which requires a new lift. Cantilever lifts typically have less resale value because they can be used in fewer applications. Vertical lifts allow you to function in shallower water and raise your boat higher. For this reason, they hold their value more than a cantilever boat lift.
See Part 2 for additional information
Where can you find the solution to any boatlift situation?
At Pier & Waterfront Solutions, of course!
PWS is located at 7325 St. Hwy 42/57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay. Look for the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is ready to assist year round.
Call If you want to see an issue discussed on our site.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com with any questions.
May 22, 2018
PWC Jet Ski Lift – Part 2
A PWC Lift is used to protect your Jet ski or PWC from the elements.
In Part 1 of this series we discussed cantilevered and Vertical Lifts. In part 2, we examine two additional PWC lift options for protecting your jet ski.
The Vertical Jet Ski Lift is by far the most popular means of protecting your jet ski. It is especially useful on the Bay of Green Bay because it is the best option for rough water applications. The ability to raise your jet ski up to 50” high is vital whenever you encounter large waves.
However, what about calm water like a river or small inland lake? There is another option available for these situations.
ShorePort PWC lift by ShoreMaster.
The ShorePort is not your traditional “lift” in the sense that it is a drive on PWC lift. There are No cables, No winches, No moving parts and No motors needed. You simply drive on the unit.
ShorePort PWC Lift by ShoreMaster
The ShorePort has a walkway on both sides for easy maintenance and access. ShorePorts are used wherever there is little wave action or where there is significant fluctuation in water depth. The ShorePort PWC lift can fluctuate an unlimited amount because it floats with the water level. Rising water levels in a river after a rainstorm presents no problem for the ShorePort.
Even kids can handle this one. If they can drive a Jet Ski, they can handle the ShorePort PWC Lift.
Is there another type of PWC lift available?
If you have a permanent pier or a concrete pier you could use a “Swinger” or “Tide Tamer” lift. The lift must be mounted to the side of a permanent structure. They raise the jet ski vertically.
Swinger Pier Mounted Lift
The unique feature about this lift is that you have the ability to “swing” the entire jet ski over the top of the pier for storage, refueling or maintenance with little effort. Thus the name.
Swinger PWC Jet Ski Lift
This style of lift cannot be attached to any portable pier or dock.
Basic models come with a winch only, but most people will add a motor for ease of operation.
Single and Double units are available also.
Where can you find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
We are located in the center of the Door County Peninsula at 7325 St. Hwy 42/57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay. Look for the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is always ready to serve your needs year round.
Don’t forget – Give us a call If you have a dock or boatlift topic you would like to see addressed on our site,
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com for more information.
May 15, 2018
PWC Jet Ski Lift Part 1
PWC Jet Ski lift units are more popular than ever. What does PWC stand for – Personal Water Craft. In this article, we discuss two different types of lifts available to protect your investment.
Summer is fast approaching. We begin to think about boating, our docks, and jet skis. The question arises – what is the right PWC (Jet Ski) lift for me? That depends on where you are.
The ShoreMaster PWC Jet Ski lift is available in (2) freestanding models:
Cantilever Lifts
The PWC cantilever lift does not raise the PWC as high as a vertical lift (28″ vs. 50″). You should use caution with this style of PWC lift as a result. They are ideal for small lakes and rivers that do not fluctuate in depth.
However, our recommendation is not to use this style of lift on the Bay of Green Bay due to its minimal lifting height. Wave action over 12″ can wash the PWS off the lift.
ShoreMaster Cantilever PWC Jet Ski Lift
Vertical PWC Jet Ski Lift
The PWC jet ski vertical lift allows you to get into shallow water (about 6″ depth) and raises your boat higher than the cantilever type. The lift provides excellent protection for your PWC.
The ShoreMaster vertical PWC lift has a lifting capacity of 1,200# and a lifting height of 50”. The 64” inside width handles even the large 3-seaters on the market today.
Vertical PWC Jet Ski Lift by ShoreMaster
The lift can be equipped with a winch tube extension to get the wheel above the dock.
Go a step further and add a remote control motor. This motor takes the place of the handwheel and offers complete ease of operation. Push the button to raise your PWC. It’s as simple as that.
Don’t forget about the PWC walking platforms. They give you complete access to one or both sides of the PWC.
PWC Jet Ski Lift Platforms
Watch for PWC (Jet Ski) Lifts – Part 2 of this series next week.
Where can you find the solution to any boatlift or PWC Jet Ski situation?
At Pier & Waterfront Solutions, of course!
PWS is located at 7325 St. Hwy 42/57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay. Look for the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is ready to assist year round.
Don’t forget – Give us a call If you want to see an issue discussed on our site.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com with any questions.
May 8, 2018
What is a Water Surge like on the Bay of Green Bay?
A water surge is the result of strong winds usually coming from the north-northeast. These winds cause the water to move south along the Door County Penninsula into the Fox River in Green Bay. The water eventually moves against the DePere Dam on the south end.
As the water accumulates at the dam it begins to back up into the Bay raising the water level. This can amount to inches or several feet depending on the strength and duration of the winds. An example would be on Aug. 4, 2017.
On that date, the Bay of Green Bay experienced a storm “surge” of at least 3 – 4 feet.
This particular “surge” raised the level of the Bay throughout the early morning hours. Most people were not even aware of what was happening. As a result, they did not have an opportunity to do anything to protect their docks or boats. The wind velocity continued to rise throughout the day.
Those winds caused waves of 4’- 9’ on top of the water surge. The damages to shorelines, docks. boats and lifts were considerable.
People reported waves bouncing their boat on their lifts for hours. Many could only watch as the waves swept their dock decking away. Others watched helplessly as their boats were swept off their lifts. (You don’t want that to happen with weak or damaged cables.)
There was considerable damage to boats, docks, decking and boat lifts. Recovery efforts took several weeks, and repairs are ongoing.
What can you learn from this storm?
Check with your Insurance Company now.
A final point, check with your insurance company to see if you have coverage in the event your boat is swept off the lift. What about your boat lift? Is it covered for storm damage?
This may require a “rider” to get coverage. Many insurance companies cover wind damage but not wave damage. It’s all in how you word the claim. Your agent should be able to assist you to make sure you have the proper coverage.
Also, check for boat and/or lift salvage coverage (a worst case scenario.)
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions located?
PWS is located at 7325 St. Hwy 42/57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay. Look for the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is ready to assist you year round.
Don’t forget – Give us a call If you want to see an issue discussed on our site.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com for more information.
May 7, 2018
DOCK INSTALL SEASON HAS RETURNED. Finally!
Dock install season usually starts around April 1 each year. We have a limited number of days available to complete the work with an April 1 start date.
Even then, we can only install selective sites due to ice conditions, but at least we can get a start. This year was abnormally cold, and the ice would not loosen its grip. Even the inland lakes remained frozen. The ice only allowed less than a handful of installs between the April 1st and the 17th.
However, that is just the beginning. To add to the problem, the saturated ground caused by the rapidly melting snow AND almost daily nighttime rain is making the situation worse. The wet ground means our machines cannot enter many properties without significant damage. Our crews have had to walk away from jobs due to standing water until it dries out.
We encountered numerous ice shoves which have to melt away also.
On April 17th we had to stop the installs completely. An unusually late blizzard hit the Door County Peninsula with 30” of new snow and freezing temperatures. These conditions kept the ice in place until the end of April.
The dock install business has resumed as of April 30th.
All crews are working six days a week to try to make up for lost time. Our new machine is also operational. We are actively recruiting employees, but the economy is very hot in the area. Unemployment is at record lows which makes recruitment very difficult.
We ask for patience as we try to work through a tough year. Everyone is in the same predicament.
Where can you find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
We are located in the center of the Door County Peninsula at 7325 St. Hwy 42/57. That’s 1 mile North of County MM (Hwy 42) and 3 miles South of Sturgeon Bay. Look for the Idlewild Road intersection.
Our staff is always ready to serve your needs year round.
Don’t forget – Give us a call If you have a dock or boatlift topic you would like to see addressed on our site,
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com for more information.
