Aug 13, 2026
August may bring back-to-school shopping and the first hints of fall, but don’t put away the flip-flops just yet. While the season may feel like it’s winding down, there’s still plenty of sunshine, warm weather, and long evenings waiting to be enjoyed. In fact, many lake lovers will tell you that August is one of the best times to be on the water.
Soak Up What’s Left
August is often one of the hottest months of the year, making it the perfect time for boating, swimming, fishing, kayaking, or simply relaxing by the shore. After soaking up the summer sun for months, lakes are warm and inviting, creating ideal conditions for a refreshing swim or an afternoon spent floating with family and friends.
It’s also a great time to take advantage of the slower pace that late summer often brings. As vacations wind down and routines begin to shift, you may find quieter lakes, calmer waters, and a little more room to enjoy your favorite spots.
If your calendar is about to fill with school schedules, sports, and fall activities, now is the perfect time to squeeze in one more family adventure before the busy season begins.
Chasing August Sunsets
There’s something special about an August evening on the water. Comfortable temperatures, colorful sunsets, and, in many areas, fewer bugs create the perfect setting to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Take an evening boat ride after work, cast a fishing line as the sun dips below the horizon, or simply sit on the dock and watch the sky change colors. Sometimes the simplest moments become the ones you remember most.
Make Every Warm Day Count
Just because the stores are filled with backpacks and pumpkins doesn’t mean boating season is over. There’s still time for one more weekend at the lake, one more sunset cruise, one more swim, or one more afternoon making memories with the people you love.
Before you know it, cooler temperatures will arrive, so make the most of every warm day while you can.
While You’re Out There…
As you enjoy the rest of the season, take a look around your waterfront. Is your dock ready for another year? Have you been thinking about adding a boat lift or making improvements to your shoreline? Do you need a better or easier access to the shoreline?
Late summer is one of the best times to start planning for next year so you’ll be ready to hit the water as soon as next spring arrives—without the last-minute rush.
At Pier and Waterfront Solutions, we’re here to help you make every season on the water even better. Whether you’re planning a new dock, a boat lift, or waterfront improvements, we’d love to help bring your vision to life. Contact us to make next season even better!
Jul 8, 2025
Hydraulic boat lifts offer faster and easier operation compared to cable lifts, making them a popular choice. Cable lifts are durable and require less maintenance. They are generally more affordable.
Fully Hydraulic Boat Lifts
A fully hydraulic lift is a modern type of lift that uses hydraulics to lift your boat. Hydraulic systems use pressurized fluid to transfer power and movement. In a hydraulic boat lift, the system is comprised of hydraulic cylinders connected to a control system and pump. The pump sends fluid into the cylinders, which move up or down to raise or lower the boat.
Fully hydraulic lifts are typically constructed as cantilever lifts, omitting the use of upper beams or cables. They can be installed as low-profile lifts with a shallow water kit. The cantilever style enabling easy access to the boat from the pier or loading dock. With their ability to handle heavy loads and fast speeds, hydraulic lifts are an ideal choice for large boats.
Faster:
Hydraulic lifts use hydraulic fluid to lift the boat, making them faster and easier to operate than cable lifts.
Higher Lifting Range:
Some hydraulic lifts can lift boats higher than cable lifts, offering greater versatility in water depth and boat size.
Maintenance:
Hydraulic lifts require regular maintenance to ensure the hydraulic fluid is clean and the system is functioning properly.
Perform boat lift battery maintenance:
- Inspect for damage regularly
- Clean battery terminals
- Check voltage
- Keep the battery charged
Cable Boat Lifts
A cable lift is a traditional type of boat lift that uses cables and pulleys to lift your boat. The cables are attached to the four corners of a cradle or platform that supports your boat. The cables are wound around a drum that can be driven by a manual wheel or an electric motor. When the motor rotates the drum, the cables pull the cradle up or down along the vertical corner posts.
Cable lifts are available as vertical or cantilever. Cable lifts, regardless of the type, can support boats of different shapes and sizes, including pontoons and fishing boats.
Less Expensive:
Cable lifts are generally more affordable than hydraulic lifts, making them a more budget-friendly option.
Durable:
Cable lifts are known for their durability and long-term reliability, with minimal maintenance required.
Slower Operation:
Cable lifts are generally slower to operate than hydraulic lifts, as they rely on a motor to pull the cable.
Water Depth:
Most cable lifts are designed to work well in shallow water.
Combination Hydraulic / Cable Lifts:
The combination hydraulic / cable lift utilizes hydraulic power to pull cables, rather than winding them around a drum. This reduces cable wear and maintenance. Less cable wear results in longer cable life, lowering the need for replacement.
Factors to Consider in Wisconsin
Water Fluctuation:
Wisconsin lakes and waterways experience significant water level fluctuations. This can affect the type of lift to choose.
Wave Action:
How wave action can affect boat lifts:
- Stress on cables: High waves can increase stress on boat lift cables, potentially causing them to weaken and even sever.
- Boat movement: Waves hitting the bottom of the boat can cause it to lift and fall back onto the rack.
- Overloading the lift: Storms can cause water to accumulate on the boat, potentially overloading the lift’s capacity.
Ultimately, the best choice for a boat lift depends on your specific needs, budget, and the location of your dock. Consider factors like water depth, boat size, and desired speed and ease of operation when making your decision. Contact Pier & Waterfront Solutions for assistance selecting the right system for you.
Mar 31, 2023
It may seem early in the season to be thinking about water levels but not for us! We need to know what to expect in the months to come to be ready for what may, or may not, happen. Summer water levels tell us how much pier our customers will need and where to install boat lifts. With extreme highs come shoreline damage, extra pipe for longer legs and big, damaging waves. With extreme lows, not enough pier to get adequate depth, higher demand for pier sections and extra work setting boat lifts. We’ve seen both of these issues within the past ten years. So what can you expect for this coming summer?
In order to know where our water levels will be this summer, you have to look at the condition of the lakes in the winter. Our current ice concentration on the Great Lakes remains below normal. If you look at the pictures in reference A, you will see the difference between the ice formation in late January 2022 and 2023.
So why is ice important you might ask? The amount of ice and snow formed over the winter directly affects the water levels in our lakes and streams come summertime. Without snow, we don’t have the snowpack melt needed to refill our aquifers in spring. On average, the melt from the snowpack is responsible for one third of the ground water we see in spring. Even though we may not have much snow in our specific area, we benefit greatly from the connection of the Great Lakes. Heavy snow fall in southern Canada melts and fills Lake Superior which in turn flows into Lake Huron which is hydraulically connected to Lake Michigan. The more snow the better too because the ratio of snow to water is only 12:1, meaning you need about 12” of snow to generate 1” of water. As snowmelt fills our lakes and streams, ice protects them from evaporation and outflow. Statistically we have lost 30% of ice coverage on the Great Lakes since 1970. Reduced ice cover leads to increased evaporation and lower water levels, as well as an increase in water temperature and sunlight penetration. This has caused lake ice to form later than usual, about a day to a day and a half per decade. The rising surface water temperature has also affected “ice off” or the thaw dates for ice on the Great Lakes. Earlier ice off dates, which is currently about 24 days sooner since studies began in the early 1900’s, means the lake absorbs more heat over spring and summer perpetuating the late ice formation. Another effect of the warmer surface water, reduced ice cover, and increased evaporation is a corresponding increase in precipitation over nearby land, especially “lake effect” snow. This precipitation is depositing the water evaporated from the western lakes over eastern states starving the aquafers of the wester lake’s bordering states. A smaller role ice coverage plays is in the outflows of rivers and streams from the western lakes into the eastern lakes as they deposit into the Atlantic. The ice coverage helps reduce the flow of water between the lakes and without it, more water is flowing and depositing into the Atlantic throughout the winter without being replenished by icepack or precipitation.
Now that we know the condition of the lakes in winter, what can we expect this coming summer? Stay tuned for next months blog to find out what we are predicting for water levels in summer and what you can do to stay ahead of it.
Citation
Aug 5, 2021
Thanks so much Jerry. Your Customer Service is unparalleled!
Carter R. Door County
Jun 8, 2021
BoatLift Accessories Make Life Simple
Summer fun starts and ends at your dock and boat lift. Here, all your summer waterfront activities begin. Make your dock and boat lift look great and perform effortlessly.
There is no need to struggle to bring your boat back into your lift. PWS has the equipment to make life easier for you.
PWS features a full line of ShoreMaster boat lift accessories. We have a wide range of accessories to customize your dock and boat lift and fit your needs. Here are a few of the most popular solutions for your boat lift.
Vinyl Bunks
Aluminum and Vinyl Bunks
PWS offers top-of-the-line, vinyl-covered aluminum bunks that protect your boats hull. With vinyl-covered bunks, you’ll never have torn, unsightly carpeting to replace.
Vinyl does not hold the sand and debris like carpeting does and never needs replacement. Vinyl bunks protect your hulls’ finish and make a great boat lift accessory.
Is it time for you to step up? Contact Jerry now @ 920-493-04404
Bunks & Guide accessories
Guides and Rails
PWS also offers bow or full-length guides to hold your boat in the proper lifting position. The guides and rails make it much easier to control your boat in the waves.
The bow guide keeps your boat from overrunning the lift to ensure that it’s properly aligned. Waves will no longer push you too far forward on the boatlift.
You’re always appropriately balanced on the lift rack. See also.
Full-length guides mount on the lift rack to help you center the boat. Never get washed into the frames again. More importantly, the boat remains correctly centered at all times.
The boat guide and full-length guide use high-quality marine aluminum alloys and offer durability and protection for your watercraft.
For pontoon boat owners, we offer a welded aluminum rail kit option. They fit your craft’s unique shape.
Adjustable Motor Stop
Motor Stops
Keep your boat from advancing too far into the lift by installing a motor stop. Motor stops let you position your boat on the lift with ease. This stop keeps your boat correctly balanced on the lift frames.
Isn’t time to call 920-493-4404?
Adjustable Bow Stop
Bow Guide Accessory
Here’s another alternative to keep your boat in the correct position. The adjustable Bow Stop accessory prevents you from overrunning your boat lift. The cushioned bumper on the frame prevents damage to your boat. You’ll always be in the exact position for storing your boat.
The bow stop or the motor stop will make your life easier. Call Jerry today!
PVC Guide on-Single set
PVC Vertical Guide-On
A PVC vertical guide-on makes it easier to align and position your watercraft on the boat lift. The PVC guide-on means there is no maintenance. These guides allow your boat to slide along drive the boat rub rail to prevent touching the hull or marring the gel coat or decals. They gently push you back into position as the PVC turns. They are available in single or Double units.
Battery Box Holders & Trays
Battery box tray accessory
Keeping your batteries out of the way is vital for safe and convenient operation. Never let a battery sit unprotected on your dock where children can touch them.
The battery tray mounts to the frame on the lift leg or a canopy frame. You’ll have a clean, clutter-free look with the batteries stored in the proper cases
Canopy Lift Loft
Canopy Lift Lofts
The universal size loft fits any canopy system. A loft can help keep your boating accessories dry and out of the way. The mesh is breathable and coated to inhibit mold growth. They are a great place to store your life preservers, canoe or kayak paddles, and more. Keep them handy, safe, and dry.
You’ll never have to find someone to carry your equipment to the boat again.
Contact Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link for more information.
Where can you find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County MM (heading north). Look on the right at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
PWS is
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
The Covid-19 virus is waning. We hope people will continue to get the vaccine to help stop the spread of this deadly virus. We will continue to conduct as much business as possible by email, text, or phone to do our part to keep people safe.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible by doing any face-to-face contact outdoors.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS provides estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email Jerry with any questions.
Jerry Englebert
Contact Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
