Pontoon Boat Lifts

Pontoon boats are certainly a different type of boat than anything else out there. The dual or even triple pontoons underneath the boats provide more stability than any other type of boat but they also provide a challenge for all pontoon boat owners who dock their boat: finding a suitable lift to handle their pontoon boat.

This page is dedicated to reviewing and comparing pontoon boat lifts to determine which type and brand of pontoon boat lift is the best one for your money, the best one overall, as well as any accessories or additional considerations that will have to be made when selecting a pontoon boat lift.

Pontoon Boat Lift Reviews

March 23, 2021 by Dan

Choosing the right boat lift is as important as selecting the right pontoon boat. There are different brands each of which offer various variants of pontoon lifts with unique designs. It can be quite confusing to select one of these. Going through the pontoon boat lift reviews can help persons to find the right product for their needs. Before sifting through the available brands and their offerings, a boat owner must decide on the features they are looking for in the lift. These will include the weight it can support, construction material used and the type of lifting system it employs.

Boat Lift Brands

There are various boat lift brands that a boat owner can consider and narrow down the right one based on their pontoon boat lift reviews.

Shorestation

In boat business since 1959, ShoreStation is a company renowned for its pontoon lifts. The aluminum vertical lifts from this brand area available in carrying capacities from 1500 lbs. to 7000 lbs. and can accommodate boats with maximum beam width varying from 9 feet to 11 feet across different models. They come in manual and automatic configurations. Besides these, specialty pontoon lifts are also offered by the brand that have a maximum load capacity of 10000 lbs. Standard adjustable legs, extension legs and deep-water variants are also available.

Pier Pleasure

Pier Pleasure has been around since 1974 and is one of the most respected brands based on the rave pontoon boat lift reviews by its customers. It manufactures cantilever and vertical lifts for pontoons. The cantilever lift from the brand is quite popular due to its 20-year structural warranty and aluminum construction. It can support boats with 9.5 feet beam width and 2400 lbs. weight. Vertical pontoon lift variants from the brand can support a maximum weight varying from 3000 to 5000 lbs. and beam width of 9.5 to 10 feet. These are ideal for shallow waters.

Hewitt

With an experience of over 40 years, Hewitt has outstanding pontoon boat lift reviews for its narrow pontoon lifts. These come in capacities of 2000, 2400 and 3000 lbs. and also include a 12 feet canopy. They have full length beams that lift the boat from in between the pontoons for equal weight distribution and minimizing risk of damage to the boat. The pulleys and cables are out of water when the lift is raised and ensure no undue stress due to waves hence increasing the life of lift.

Porta-Dock

Another great brand for lifts based on pontoon boat lift reviews is Porta-Dock backed by five decades of research and innovation. The offerings from the brand include cantilever lifts, vertical lifts and shallow water lifts. Port-Dock’s cantilever lifts have two models, one with support for 84” beam and 1200 lbs. weight and other with 95” beam and 2000 lbs. weight. The models in the vertical lift line have maximum weight capacities varying from 2200 to 6000 lbs. and can support boats from 113” to 120” beams. Shallow water lifts of this brand can carry boats with 3000 to 5000 lbs. weight and 113” to 120” width. A buyer is presented with multiple bunk options that include deluxe pontoon bunks and full pontoon bunks among others.

By exploring these and other brands and going through their pontoon boat lift reviews, a boat owner can arrive at a decision for the best lift to match their pontoon.

Pontoon Boat Lift with Canopy

July 8, 2017 by Dan

Quite a few manufacturers provide a pontoon boat lift with canopy that not only protects the boat from being corroded by water but also prevent and damage from sun, rain and other environmental damages. An individual may consider lift models that include a canopy for additional protection for their prized pontoon boats.

Hewitt Narrow Pontoon

Hewitt has been building lifts for boats since 1972 and their experience allows them to manufacture one of the best products in the market. Their Narrow pontoon boat lift with canopy comes in three different models which are suitable for pontoon boats of different lengths and weights. These include a 20 feet model that can handle 2000 lbs., a 24 feet model that can carry 2400 lbs. and a 28 feet model that can lift boats with up to 3000 lbs. weight. The unique point of these lifts is that the beams are positioned between the pontoons. As they are equal to the length of the boat, it allows the weight to be distributed more proportionally making it easier to lift and lower boats. All the models come with a 120” canopy that provides protection to the boat from weather, sun and wind. The frame is constructed from aluminum which ensures that it is not corroded due to exposure to water. It includes a self-braking winch for operation that can either be installed in front or on side of the lift for easier operation.

Shore Master Pontoon Lifts

For a person shopping for a pontoon boat lift with canopy, Shore Master is another manufacturer worth considering. Their lifts come in three different models. The 4010 PTN can take a weight of up to 4000 lbs. while the 5500 PTN can support boats with 5500 lbs. capacity and they both can be installed with a canopy with size varying from 23 to 33 feet for protecting the boat. The 701168 PTN model from Shore Master is ideal for longer and heavier boats as it can accommodate boats with a weight of 7000 lbs. The lifts can be equipped with the Lift Boss or Lift Mate motors for operating the lifts easily using a switch, key or a remote. Both the lift and canopy frame is welded for increased durability and high-quality construction. The lifts include guide rails for docking the boat correctly and evenly distributing its weight across the lift.

Shore Mate Pontoon Lifts

Shore Mate manufactures pontoon boat lifts with canopy that free a person from the hassles of having to cover their boats for protection every time they use them. They offer the L45120V and the L4500H pontoon lifts each of which can accommodate boats with a maximum weight of 4500 lbs. and beam width of 10 feet. The former is a center lift that picks the boat from in between the pontoons and is ideal for shallow waters that have a depth greater than 8 feet while the latter is a cantilever style lift that picks the boat up from under the pontoons and is ideal for deep waters greater than 18 feet. Each of these can be pre-fitted with a canopy for added protection.

Click this link for additional information about Fun Pontoon Boat Accessories.

Boat Lift for Pontoon

July 6, 2017 by Dan

If a pontoon boat is left in water bodies, the chemicals and constituents in the water can have a corroding effect on the boat. To ensure that a pontoon boat looks new and is well maintained, an owner may consider a boat lift for pontoon to keep it out of water while it is being docked. These lifts are available in different shapes and sizes for accommodating pontoon boats from distinct manufacturers.

Type of Lifts

There are different types of boat lifts for pontoons available depending on their design.

Center Cradle Lift: A center cradle lift has its beams positioned to pick up the boat from in between the pontoons. These lifts are ideal for shallow waters.

Bunk Style Lift: Bunk style lifts have cross beams under the pontoon for lifting the boat. These lifts require deep waters to be used.

Floating Docks: Floating docks are generally made up of buoyant parts that are combined to form a dock for boat storage. These are drive-on and low maintenance but generally do not come with canopy.

Choosing a boat lift

A few factors must be considered while choosing a boat lift for pontoon that is an ideal fit.

Weight of the boat: Pontoon boats come in different sizes and with different seating capacity. These affect the weight of the boat along with other installed equipment. Lifts are designed with a predefined weight supporting capability for safe storage. These may vary anywhere between 1200 lbs. to 15000 lbs. or even more. While selecting a lift, an individual must ensure that it can support the weight of the pontoon that they are buying it for. Overloading a lift may cause it to fail and even damage its structural integrity.
Dimensions of the boat: Boats have different dimensions and these must be factored in while choosing a lift. The length of a boat can vary from 14 feet to 30 feet while its beam width may range from 7 feet to 12 feet. A custom-built pontoon may even be longer and wider. Choosing the right boat lift for pontoon will require a person to ensure that the lift has enough room to dock their boats.
Type of Water: A lift to be installed in seawater will have to be treated for increasing corrosion resistance as compared to that to be fitted in fresh water. The depth of the water will also have an impact on the buying decision. For shallow waters, a vertical lift may be ideal while for deep waters a bunk style lift will be better. While choosing the boat the type of water body and its depth must be considered.
With Canopy or without Canopy: Boat lifts are available both with and without canopy. An added canopy removes the hassles of having to cover the boat after every use. A boat lift for pontoon without canopy will require a person to purchase a separate cover for the pontoon boat though it will cover the boat better. A person may choose one among these based on their personal preferences.
Manual vs motorized: Some of the lifts are operated with hand while others can be fitted with a motor for easier operation. The motorized lifts will require a power source. A user may choose one of these depending on their requirements.

Consulting the lift manufacturer regarding the specifications of the boat can help a person to decide one which is perfect for their needs.

Click this link for additional information about Fun Pontoon Boat Accessories.

Pontoon Boat Lift Prices

June 30, 2017 by Dan

A pontoon is a metallic tube, flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load over it. Boats using pontoon as a floating device are called pontoon boats. Pontoon boats are typically cylindrical and do not have inside access; they are simply for flotation.

With so many new pontoons in the market (small pontoon boats, mini pontoon boats, fast pontoon boats and many more), boat lift manufacturing companies are introducing a new line of pontoon boat lifts in order to accommodate today’s bigger, larger, and heavier pontoons. Pontoon boat lifts are a new trend in the market, even though they have been there for a long time. Companies like Shore Master, are marketing the boat lifts since quite some time now. The primary difference between a boat lift and a pontoon boat lift across the waterfront equipment industry is that when the dealer would add the appropriate pontoon accessories to a standard vertical or cantilever style boat lift to make it suitable for pontoon boats.

Pontoon Boat lifts provides protection to the pontoon boat along the entire length of the pontoon boat, imposing minimum or no danger to the pontoon boat. They are an easy, smooth option for the safety of the pontoon boats. The pontoon boat lifts are generally made with aluminium, which allows for weight saving, gives way to low maintenance and provides long lasting value both for the pontoon boat as well as the pontoon boat lift. The standard features of the boat lift make them unique for every pontoon boat they are designed for. They are generally made of standard aluminium wheel with spinner knob, and they also come with rubber end caps; they are easy to assemble. When the lift is in up position, the pulleys and cables are completely out of the water.

When it comes to the pricing of pontoon boat lifts, companies tend to make the budgeting processes easier by designing and creating specific models. The price for pontoon boat lifts vary from $3500 to $12000 according to the following features:

Size of the pontoon boat
Shape of the pontoon boat
Weight of the pontoon boat
Boat owner’s preferences
Usage of warranty
Company of the pontoon boat lift ( a Hewitt Pontoon boat lift costs around $3475, whereas a Shore Master pontoon boat lift would be priced around $ 6000 to $12000)

Usage of warranty is an important point to be noted. Suppose a pontoon boat lift is $6000, and one purchases it with the fifteen year warranty period as a guide to determine the potential length of the pontoon boat lift ownership. Thus this averages out to $400 per year, and per month it comes down to just $33 per month. Since the boat lift is protecting the pontoon boat which costs around $10,000-$40,000 (on an average), one can see the incredible value which comes along with the protection and convenience, a pontoon boat lift provides.

Click this link for additional information about Fun Pontoon Boat Accessories.

Pontoon Boat Lift Reviews – How to Choose Best among the Best Ones?

June 5, 2017 by Dan

A pontoon boat lift is a simple mechanical device, used for the transfer of boat between waters at two different elevations. However, it offers more than just simple lifting/transferring of the boat and saves a lot of time and money. Boat lifts are not glamorous, but they can make all the difference in determining how much you will enjoy your water pleasure and day away. It is because they protect your investment apart from other functions. Hence, you know that there are many good products out there but being maybe a newcomer in the world of boating may mean a dilemma: how to be sure about the best ones and to buy finally? Maybe the answer is simpler than you would think and it calls for a lot of initial reading, research and learning information and why not from pontoon boat lift reviews.

A word of mouth’s value can be best seen exactly on the Internet, both in its positive and negative sense. Still, important to remember: the best ones will be quite often mentioned, cited and shown in searches. Speaking of pontoon boat lifts, pontoon boat lift reviews are of great significance. Why would that be? Keeping your pride and joy on a boat lift is a good move because lifts eliminate the need for bottom paint, the danger of sinking in the slip, and the dirty watermarks that form in many marinas. But lifts are also both problematic and expensive. Well, boat lift reviews suggest you should consider these six things when you are in the market for a boat lift: location/structural strength, water depth, slip width, weight and capacity, flotation tanks and finally, there is a question of geometry if you should you get cylinder or square lift tanks. All these and similar issues are discussed, analyzed and published in many professional magazines present online, of course, and subscribing to them sounds like a useful and logical idea

HydroHoist Boat Lifts is one of the leading pontoon boat lift reviews and checking them online would result in a lot of useful information on their products and based on that ability to compare with other brands. Their most popular boat lift model – revolutionized to defy rust, corrosion, and the elements is UltraLift2. Also, you will be able to check out the complete product catalogue of Hydrohoist Marine Group online.

JetDock online knowledge center is another great pontoon boat lift review that can keep you posted on latest pontoon boat news where you will find a PDF library, floating deck assembly, boat mooring and installation, boat lift and boat dock legislation and permitting section, etc.

Whether you are a first time boater or an “old salt’’ you should always check the pontoon boat lift reviews to get the best out of your water experience, to learn how to achieve that on the fastest and the most cost effective possible way and to enable that to last long.

Click this link for additional information about Fun Pontoon Boat Accessories.