Check out our Boat Lifts for Sale!

Protect your investment with top quality products.

Why do you need a boat lift?

Boat lifts help you protect your investment. A lift will get your boat up out of the water, properly securing it for protection and support. It will prevent damage from waves, wind, ice, and the growth of algae which can lead to corrosion. When you buy a quality lift you can reduce all these risks while protecting your boat’s hull and paint. You’ve made a significant investment in your boat and the expert team at LOTO Lift will help you safeguard it.

You can click to explore our individual boat lift models from these pictures, or read on below to learn more about the most Frequently Asked Questions people have about buying and using lifts.

Boat Lift FAQs

We have compiled a shortlist of the top questions people ask regarding boat lifts. We hope you find this helpful! Please be advised that there are different types of lifts so all the answers will not apply to all lifts. The best practice when you have questions will always be to consult with the manufacturer first, if possible. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!

How much does a boat lift cost?

As you can imagine, your price range will vary considerably depending on the model and size of a boat lift your situation requires, the quality of the lift itself, and the company from which you purchase it.

That being said, on average, a lift designed for a 4,000 to 5,000 lb load may be priced somewhere in the general vicinity of $5,500. A larger scale product, such as a higher capacity 30,000 lb lift, will necessarily cost more and you can expect to pay up to $30,000.

A very generalized scale that could help get you in the ballpark would be to figure (roughly) $1 per pound. You must keep in mind that models, features, custom work, specials, the current market, etc. can cause your price to fluctuate a good deal in either direction.

How long will a boat lift last?

All boat lifts will require some maintenance over time. So if you will service and maintain an average lift as recommended, barring any unusual circumstances you can reasonably expect your boat lift to have a good 25-year lifespan. However, on our LOTO Lift models, because we build them to keep all the steel up out of the water you can reasonably expect a life span of 35 – 40 years. Furthermore, the basic product frame and tanks can still last much longer than that! (Read more here.)

Does a boat lift need to be level?

The short answer is yes. Your boat needs to be as level as possible in order to drain out whenever you raise it from the water.

How big of a boat lift do I need?

The goal here is to find the right lift capacity for the actual dry weight of your boat. Many boat dealers diminish the dry weight of a boat in order to make more sales by advertising lighter hauling claims. The problem is that these claims factor out anything else that actually adds weight to your boat. So we apply a rule that the listed dry weight of your boat should be 75% of the lift’s capacity, or less. With this formula, we have never once had a problem with a lift not properly managing the weight of a boat. So, please be careful not to buy a boat lift whose capacity matches or is near the dry weight of your boat.

How do you maintain a boat lift?

We recommend an annual professional inspection of your boat lift. There are many parts that are better served when you have an expert check it out for you. This can save you a great deal of money over time.
If you use a floating boat lift, which is what is primarily used here in the Midwest, the good news is that it requires less maintenance than other types of lifts. The most important thing to do on a regular basis is to keep the surfaces clean and free from debris.
Your boat lift is engineered to a particular set of specifications. So absolutely do not put more weight on your lift than it’s engineered to support. In fact, you should never even test its limits. (See our previous FAQ answer above.)
Inspect all your hardware and bolt mounts. If there is any movement at all in a bolt, this signals that there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Can I leave a boat lift in water during winter?

When you research this online there are differences of opinion on this one. Here at Lake of the Ozarks, the vast majority of owners leave their lifts in with their boats on them. A dock de-icer is the key here. For just a few dollars you can protect the investment you’ve made in your boat as well as in your dock. Ice damages both docks and lifts.

Ice can actually change the dimensions or shape of your boat slip. As the ice freezes and expands, it can actually enlarge the slip. Your boat lift is calibrated to your dock’s slip size. So if your slip changes, your lift will no longer fit properly which will cause problems.

Here’s the rule of thumb to follow; when your dock needs a de-icer, then your boat lift needs a de-icer. It’s a minimal amount to spend to spare you a headache and save you money.

Watch one of our Boat Lifts in Operation

Shot with a GoPro cam, we recorded the lift going from submerged to fully above water. Notice that when it’s finished all the steel is above the waterline, helping to prevent corrosion and make the boat lift last much, much longer.