The Importance of Having a Boat Lift To Protect Your Watercraft

Why You Should Consider Investing In A Boat Lift

When you think of a boat you likely think of it in water. This common assumption makes perfect sense—it is literally designed for water, but did you know that leaving it in water all year round can actually create damage and reduce its value? There is an easy way to prevent this damage and keep it in pristine condition all year round—invest in a boat lift.

What is a Boat Lift?

A boat lift is exactly what it sounds like—a lift that sits on the water and lifts your boat above the water, protecting it from waves, weather, and the elements.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Boat Lift?

Offers Protection

A boat lift is an excellent investment because of the protection it provides to your boat, extending its life and keeping it in good shape, no matter what the weather situation is. Water damage and banging against the dock can wear away at the structure of your boat, so if it’s out of the water when not in use, its overall longevity will benefit.

Keeps Your Boat Secure While In the Water

While you might want to protect your boat by keeping it out of the water, the inconvenience of literally storing it outside the water on land is a pain most choose to avoid. A boat lift allows you to keep your boat floating right above the water you use it in, so it is conveniently where you need it, when you need it. It also keeps your boat secure, so no one can break in or ride off with it.

Less Cleaning Required

Because the boat is away from the water, the bottom is less dirty and therefore requires less cleaning. Dirt from leaves and algae is avoided when the boat isn’t staying in the water all season, so you don’t  have to scrub it away. If you want to keep the interior clean, consider investing in a canopy to add to the lift. 

Extends Your Boat's Lifespan

Because the boat is being protected from the elements and wear and tear that would come from being in the water, the boat itself will hold up longer. This means its lifespan will be increased, so you can use it longer, or get more for it should you decide to eventually sell it.

Makes It Easier to Do Maintenance Checks

Because the boat is floating above the water, it is easy to do quick spot checks around the exterior of the boat to see if there is any damage building up or maintenance that might need to be taken care of. It allows you to see the entire boat without dragging it out of the water.

What Happens If You Don't Have One?

Exterior Damage

Without a boat lift, if you keep the boat in the water all season long, you’re leaving it open to exterior damage that will reduce both its value and its lifespan, and create increased maintenance costs throughout the life of the boat. 

Water Damage From Water Level Changes & Conditions

Water damage is the main issue you will come across when storing your boat in the water. When water levels shift and debris builds up from storms, the stress on your boat will increase. It can also cause damage to props and shafts, as well as hull blisters.

Corrosion

If you’re not careful, the water damage can lead to corrosion, which will lead to leaks in your boat (and a potential safety issue) if you’re not careful.

Mildew

It is inevitable that algae will build up on a wet stored boat, which, if not cleaned regularly, creates mildew issues that could be detrimental to your boat and your health. Storing the boat above the water avoids the level of buildup that leads to these issues.

Difficult to Clean and Spot Issues

Because there are issues with the elements—the weather, algae, and mildew—wet storing your boat makes it much harder to clean, purely because the boat itself is exposed to the water 24/7. The differences in buildup on a wet stored boat versus a dry stored boat are immense—a boat lift makes the boat itself much easier to clean.

At the end of the day, the value increase you get from purchasing and using a boat lift is certainly worth considering. While it is an extra investment upfront, it pays in dividends when you factor in the time and money saved, and the years of extra life you will get out of the boat.