Lift Boss Motor – Your best solution to hand cranking a boat lift
Lift Boss motors take the work out of raising your boat.
A push of the button is all it takes to raise or lower your boat. You will have confidence that it can handle the situation every time. Regardless of the weight of the boat, it’s a simple solution for a hard job.
Install a Lift Boss Motor and solve your problem.
You’ll find that a Lift Boss is a real problem solver. The ease of quiet operation will make you wonder why you didn’t do this before. In fact, people say they will never go back to a hand crank unit again after they install the Lift Boss. http://www.extrememax.com/category-s/1882.htm
24 V Solar Panel arrangement
How is the Motor Powered?
The motors are available in 12 V or 24 V D.C. and 120 Volt A.C. versions.
The D.C. powered unit uses solar energy to raise and lower your boat from a battery. The sun keeps the battery charged and ready to go as you need.
What if the power fails?
The Lift Boss comes complete with an attachment that allows you to operate the motor in a power emergency. You’re never without a simple solution.
How do you operate it?
If you can use a garage door remote, you can handle the Lift Boss. While the wireless remotes are small, the motors operate smoothly, quietly and efficiently – even on large boats.
How is it installed?
Remove the hand wheel from the winch box and replace it with the Lift Boss. Watch this video for more information on a typical installation:
Remember – Pier & Waterfront Solutions is available to install any lift motor for you.
Be ready for the upcoming boating season!
Found this article helpful?
Go to “NEWS” on any page of our website (wwww.wisconsinpws.com) for a complete list of articles meant to keep you informed. Solutions to many maintenance issues are answered in a convenient format.
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,
How long has ShoreMaster been providing waterfront equipment?
ShoreMaster Waterfront Equipment & PWS
ShoreMaster has covered the waterfront with world-class equipment for over 40 years. Along with Pier & Waterfront Solutions, they make it easy for people to actually enjoy their waterfront experience.
Is it time for you to call us? We will work hard to earn your business.
ShoreMaster’s complete lineup of products include:
Residential & Commercial Docks;
Floating Docks;
Boat Lifts;
Jet Ski Lifts;
Swim Rafts:
PolyDock Products;
Canopies;
Cleats;
Dock lighting and more
Did we mention a full line of waterfront accessories too?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions specializes in ShoreMaster residential and commercial:
docks;
boatlifts; and
accessories.
We service the other brands.
Where is PWS located?
PWS is located in the center of the Door County Peninsula at 7325 St Hwy 57. That’s just 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.
Give us a call If you have a dock or boat lift topic you would like to see addressed here,
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com for more information.
Boatlift cables, properly maintained, will keep your boatlift functioning the way it is meant to operate. Perform a visual inspection of all cables, especially on the winch, on a regular basis.
The most frequent cause of issues with a boatlift involves a problem with the cables resulting from:
Misalignment;
Chafing (fraying);
Corrosion (rust);
Overloading;
Improper Drum Winding; or
Boatlift cables without tension
Properly wound boatlift cable
Properly wound Boatlift cable
Cables must wind tightly and neatly on the winch drum as shown here.
Boatlift Cable improperly wound on the drum
Without tension on a cable, the cable unravels on the drum. The unraveling of the cable is like a “backlash” on a fishing reel. Re-winding the cable results in the cable winding against the side of the pulley drum. A loose winding of the cables allows an excess gap between the cable windings on the drum.
Boatlift Cable Backlash
Boatlift cable backlash
When loose cables are re-tightened on the winch drum, they become flat, snagged or tangled. The result is uneven wear and damaged strands.
What if I experience a backlash?
Caution: Whenever a cable becomes jammed, there may have been an overrun (backlash) on the drum. DO NOT use your hands to repair the problem. People have lost fingers when a cable snaps back onto a winch drum.
Caution: If you are attempting to re-align the cables on the drum make sure to wear leather gloves and keep tension on the cable at all times. Keep your hand at least 12” from the winch. Broken cable strands cause painful cuts and punctures in your hands.
When you experience a backlash, lower the boat into the water to prevent the cables from interleaving on the drum.
Never use bare fingers to align the cables. As always, carefully handle the cable to avoid breakage of the wire strands.
Never use pliers to hold tension on the cable as this will damage individual strands on the cable.
Next, unwind the cable while keeping tension on it, until you see the bottom layer on the drum. Re-wrap the cable, under pressure, in even layers. Be sure to close any gaps between the cables on the winch drum.
Finally, it is time to return your boat to the lift to raise it making sure the cable continues to wind smoothly.
If the problem persists, call your lift dealer.
Don’t forget about cable “memory.
“Memory” allows the cable to plays out and rewind onto the drum in a neat pattern. The cable must wind in a set pattern. Loose that “memory” and misalignment occurs which will cause the cable to wind against the side of the winch drum.
This misaligned cable will drop off the “stack” and cause a loud, violent sound as it drops back onto the lower winding.
The cable must remain under tension at all times to prevent the cable from interleafing with the windings in a lower layer.
What is Boatlift Cable Chafe?
Frayed Boat Lift Cable
“Chafe” are those fine broken strands that cut your hands or catch your clothes when you slide your hands along the cable.
Chafe often results from faulty sheave alignment or improper drum winding. Lower a boatlift rack without any weight on it and the result will be a “backlash.” The backlash could result in additional damage to the cables.
Note: A lightweight jet ski rack may not go down as you unwind the cable with no weight on the lift rack. Be aware of this situation and try to keep constant tension on the cable at all times.
Boatlift Cable Corrosion
Corrosion presents a significant problem for galvanized cables. When the protective layer of galvanizing wears through, corrosion will begin. Corrosion may not always be visible to the naked eye. The first time you become aware of the corrosion may be when the cable breaks.
Corroded & Frayed Boatlift Cable
Corrosion may also occur inside the cable with little or no external evidence of damage.
Any cable showing external signs of rust or corrosion needs replacement.
Overloading and Boat Positioning
Make sure your boat is positioned correctly on the lift. If it’s not far enough forward, it will put excessive weight on the rear cables and the frame structure. The boat is also prone to washing off the lift in a storm from wave action.
Too far forward may damage the lowermotor assembly or break the front cables due to excess weight.
In general, a boat has most of its weight at the stern. As a result, the stern should be about 12″ – 18″ from the lift rack. This position distributes the weight evenly across the lift rack and prevents overloading the cable system.
What Cable Maintenance am I able to perform myself?
A visual inspection of the cables needs to occur on a regular basis. It is helpful to do this when the lift rack is in its lowest position. In this situation, most of the cable is available for inspection. Look for chafing, corrosion or flat cable especially near the winch box.
Don’t forget – do this inspection with leather gloves on to protect your hands. At the beginning of the boating season, be sure to apply a short burst of penetrating oil to the top of the cables wrapped on the winch drum. The penetrating oil will work its way down the cable as needed.
Boatlift Cable Lubricant
Boat Lift Cable Lubricant
Do not be afraid to do it more often during the summer months, if you use the boatlift a lot.
Never apply grease to the cables. Grease prevents the moisture from escaping the cable and winch drum. Most quality lifts use Stainless Steel cables for a majority of cables and (1) galvanized cable as the winch cable. Trapping moisture in the cables causes them to corrode faster.
To summarize, take care of your cables, and they will last for years.
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.
Don’t forget – Give us a call If you have a dock or boatlift topic you would like to see addressed on our site,
YourJet Ski Lift requires simple spring maintenance so you can enjoy the summer season. Don’t ignore your jet ski lift if you want to prolong its life. This guide will help you.
ShoreMaster Vertical Jet Ski Lift
Here’s a list of things to check:
Inspect the jet ski lift before it goes into the water. Look for worn parts and loose bolts, etc. Tighten or replace as needed.
It’s extremely important to check the cables for corrosion or fraying, Replace as needed.
For electric powered jet ski lifts, reattach the battery.
If the electric motor uses a rubber friction wheel to drive the handwheel, rub the friction wheel with a clean, coarse rag to remove any residual dirt accumulated over the winter.
Check the bearings for any noise and proper operation.
Examine inside the rack frames for any sand or vegetation packed into the tubes. Remove these before you use the lift.
Check any carpeted bunks for damage.
Check all pulleys and other wearable parts for damage. On older models, with plastic pulleys, rotate the pulleys by hand to look for cracked or broken edges. Replace if damaged.
What else can I do?
Apply NO grease to the pulleys as this will allow sand and dirt to accumulate and wear the parts out faster.
Ensure that the lift moves freely up & down without binding or straining. Remember to maintain tension on the cables when lowering the lift rack. This prevents backlash on the winch.
Make sure the cable winds smoothly and in even rows so that proper memory is maintained.
Use leather gloves and face/eye protection if reattaching a bungee cord on a friction drive motor. If the cord slips out of your hands the results can be painful.
All cables should have a quick spray of penetrating oil applied to them. The main winch cable including on the cable wrapped around the winch drum.
DO NOT APPLY any oil inside the winch mechanism itself – only on the cable.
Is it time to replace the carpet on the lift bunks? Consider replacing them with maintenance-free vinyl bunks?
Get ready for Summer fun.
Remember
Pier & Waterfront Solutions (PWS) specializes in all ShoreMaster docks, lifts, and accessories.
Located in the center of Door County at 7325 St Hwy 57, just south of Sturgeon Bay at the intersection of Idlewild Road. We are 1 mile North of Hwy 42 (County MM). Our staff looks forward to serving all of your waterfront needs year round.
Equally important, if you found this article helpful – Go to “NEWS” on any page of our website for a complete list of articles. These articles are meant to keep you informed on the latest product information and maintenance issues.
The wide variety of articles on dock and boat lifts issues will answer many of your questions. PWS believes that an informed consumer makes better decisions.
Vertical Jet Ski Lifts and Dock Platforms were discussed in Part 1 and 2 of this series. In this final segment, we examine permanent pier mounted lifts and track systems.
You will see both types of PWC Lifts used in select locations and situations In Door County,
Three of these pier mounted lifts operate in a similar manner with slight variations. These units go by names like Swinger, Tide Tamer, and Davitmaster.
Each pier mounted lift model requires a rigid, mounting on a solid, permanent pier. Steel pipes may be embedded in rock, or to concrete-capped bases, to secure the piers.
The cantilevered PWC weight generates leverage and thus requires a large mass to mount the lift. Without this type of massive base, the dock will suffer structural damage.
DavitMaster Pier Mounted Lift
Tide Tamer Pier Mounted Lift
These pier mounted lifts have two advantages. First, the PWC usually rotates over the dock itself for storage, repairs or covering. Secondly, the lifting height will be limited by the workable drum diameter of the winch.
What are track systems?
The final type of Jet Ski system is the track system similar to the Roll-n-Go shown here.
Roll n go track system
A series of covered rollers and a winch are used to pull the PWC to the shoreline. A cart may be used on the track when the weight of the unit exceeds 2000#.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions Located?
We are located in the center of the Door County Peninsula at 7325 St. Hwy 57. That’s just 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 year-round to address your needs.
Give us a call If you have a dock or boat lift topic you would like to see addressed.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 or Email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com for more information.
In part 1 of this 3 part series, we discuss Vertical PWC lifts. In part 2 we discuss the ShorePort Dock Platforms. Finally, in Part 3 we discuss a third option specifically for permanent piers.
Each type of PWC lift or Dock Platform has a distinct use depending on the body of water its used on. The ShorePort Dock Platform is the simplest, maintenance free option for rivers and lakes. It is ideal for bodies of water with minimal wave action.
What about a dock for use on the rivers or inland lakes?
Rivers and lakes are ideal locations for using the ShorePort PWC docks. What could be easier than driving directly onto the floating dock? You can stay dry when you step onto the floating platform.
The biggest Advantages include –
no wheels to turn – just drive right up onto the dock. So easy – Even the kids can do it!
ShoreMaster ShorePort PWC Dock
1. 1,150# capacity (easily handling the new 3 seat PWC’s);
2. Easy on and off;
3. A walking platform included for easy access; and
4. No winches or motors required.
Watch this youtube video for more information
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions Located?
We are located in the center of the Door County Peninsula at 7325 St Hwy 57. That’s just 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 year-round to address your needs.
Give us a call If you have a dock or boat lift topic you would like to see addressed on our site,
