Buying a pneumatic boat lift
 

We're on the waiting list for a slip at the local marina. Probably will be months before one opens up but wanted to hear how prev owners have acquired lifts. Are they normally purchased used and modified for a particular hull or do most buy new?

Current boat is a non-stepped 29' Fountain but a small or mid sized-cruiser may be in the cards someday in the not so distant future. Should I try to find a lift that has the capacity to handle both or should I get a different lift when moving to a cruiser?

Are there any disadvantages to using a 10-12K lb lift with a 6500 lb boat other than the additional expense?

No problem going bigger just keep in mind the width of the 2 slips and get a lift that will expand to the cruiser width.
You will love them.

I had a 32' Fountain on a 12,000 lb lift. I now have a 39' Nor-Tech SuperVee on that same lift, same bunk setup with zero modifications needed except moving the lift farther back in my 42' slip. Go big first. Small will fit on big, big don't work on small. :) As far as aquiring, I'm at LOTO and bought this one from Summerset Boat Lifts used in 2011 and it is a 2010 model. Did not need to change anything to fit my V-bottoms as it was already setup for V hulls.

Buy used and go big. Don't get the old B model hydrohoist, other models are fine

Thx guys. Hydrohoist seems to be the leader, at least around here. What's up with the B model? Can I tell by looking at a pic if it's a B model?

Are the plastic air tanks better than metalic in
regards to reliability?

There just a bad designed, note the plastic steps on the sides
All others pivot up/down from outside arms


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9eb5390ed.jpeg


I have fiberglass tube 15K lift. Good about glass, is anyone can fix, but they have bands that stay in the water which can rust out over time. If your in salt get the newer models

Thx for the B model example. Probably should state this is a deep water marina (120'). All the lifts I've seen here use the 4 external arms.

I noticed on the Hydrohoist site, they mention (on at least one model) that all metal is out of the water when raised. Not sure if that's something new or if they have been like that for a while.

A lot of the lifts I've seen for sale only have 2 boards to cradle the bottom. That seems odd to me since most trailers have 4 boards. I've borrowed a lift a couple of times with only 2 boards. Worked ok for the weekend but seems like 4 would be 10x better especially if it stayed on lift all the time.

The new models have all metal out of the water. Mine is older and has bands that our in the water

Note mine and arms missing but note the bands under the tubes

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fc884a8db8.jpg

This is newer style
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...0bb69d8241.jpg

Assuming the majority of used lifts are going to be the older style. Is band replacement a diy job? Does lift need to be taken out of the water? Either way, sounds like something to address before using it. Slip is in fresh water (Lake Travis).

Can be done in the water and takes many years to wear out. AS before I bought a used fresh water one with bands and I'm good.