Boat Lift Maintenance

T

timinfla2

New Member
Sep 22, 2008
578
Folks,
I just moved into my place down here in FL and it has a boat lift out back.

Just for safety's sake, I had a boat lift company come out and inspect the lift to see if there was anything that I needed to do.

They faxed me the quote (pictured below). It dang near knocked my socks off! I know everything in boating is more expensive, but shi*!

At any rate, I'm wondering if you guys have any insight as to the rates I'm being quoted below. The guy was a really nice guy and seemed honest, so let's assume all recommended items need to be done.

I'm most interested in hearing if people have done any of the maintenance items themselves. For example, I'd like to replace my own cables. Also, I think I'd be more than qualified to replace the runners myself instead of paying $700 in materials for him to do it...

Thank you in advance for any help!

-Tim


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My time is free on the weekends ;-)

However, the will to do it myself and the ability are two different things. For one, I'm not sure how to replace the cables - and after looking all over online for a how-to guide, I've been skunked.

Does anybody have any input here?

-T
 
Just a thought. I would take a look at how many of your neighbors (assume others have a similiar setup) have lifts and ask them what they do, if this (quote) seems reasonable and who they use. Most of the time you will find someone that has done it himself (just like a DIY'erat a marina) and they would be willing to assist as well as welcome you to the neighborhood.
 
I am not sure why he wants to replace the cables. How old is the lift. We have a lift that is currently not being used (old boat), but when we did, all we had to do was grease a couple times a year. There are about 20 grease fittings on ours. It takes about 20 minutes to grease them all.

If your cables are frayed, they will need to be replaced.
 
Yeah, the cables are definitely frayed - I'm not going to trust them to hold my boat.

I definitely will ask around for advice in the neighborhood. It looks like a job I could do myself, but looks can sometimes be deceiving...
 
Yikes, that is crazy! You can buy a brand new 12,000lb lift for between $4500-$6000.

I don't have a lift yet, but I've researched them well. We plan to install a 12k low-profile lift on our pier by next spring. DIY. I'm going with aluminum for corrosion resistance but also as it will be easier to install myself (or with some buddies).

Try to find the manufacturer and then the installation manual or user manual. Within the user manual will be annual maintenance that you should be able to perform yourself, if you want to. Who is the manufacturer? FWIW, I'm looking at Storm Surge boat lifts...

Tom
 
Review how the existing cable setup is (I'd recommend you take pics prior to removing them.) You can probably get the parts at a local marine hardware shop(or an online place maybe). I'm not sure what they mean by thimbles, pulleys? I'd think seriously about doing this work myself.
 
VTSeaRay said:
Review how the existing cable setup is (I'd recommend you take pics prior to removing them.) You can probably get the parts at a local marine hardware shop(or an online place maybe). I'm not sure what they mean by thimbles, pulleys? I'd think seriously about doing this work myself.
Click to expand...

Here are some pictures. The first is the sorry assembly of the cable wrapped around the drum.

The second picture is where the bitter end of the cable is inserted into the drum. Does anybody know how to get that end of the cable out of the hole?



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Just looking at the picture of the cables, I can confirm that you have serious cable issues. The cables should track and spool evenly, just like a spool of thread. When the cables start to wear and frey (sp?) then the cables start bunching up like that. I have purchased lifts on two occassions and assuming that you are not replacing pilings or the electrical service, you could purchase a really nice entirely new lift for less than $5K.

I would suggest that you get several quotes from different dealers and then start working them against each other to get the best price. I personally would not attempt to replace the cables given the value you that you have in your brand new boat. With business as slow as it is now, you should be able to find hungry dealers eager for your business.
 
****UPDATE****

My freaking boat is coming in WED! Awesome but holy crap - they were forecasting Friday...

So now I'm in a serious lurch because I have to get this done ASAP and I am way too tied up with work to do it myself.

If anybody can recommend somebody who can do this in the next 48hrs, I'd be willing to pay $550 for their time.

let me know :)

Tim

PS, I'm calling around myself as well ;-)
 
first of all the cable loop as you show is a problem that occurs when the lift bottoms out or floats free without a load on it. My DECO will do this on occasion, it's not that big a deal to fix just unwind it and manually correct it.

it should not happen offten but it does happen. as for the cables you should be able to order cable sizes and lenghts from just about any FL based lift builder or from most of your independ boating supply stores. the cables are normally held on the spool with a compression screw and on the frame with a shackle.

as for maintance their will be grease bibs on the 4 corners of the cross members and on the spools. I normally grease these once a year.

the big thing to watch is the poles as if they as not wraped, they will get eaten up in the matter of a few years (5-7) and will need to be replaced or repaired.

on mine I also have a GEM Box so that I can Load and Unload via remote control. really makes it easy.

Here is a link to a lift company in my back yard. they may be able to give you a local retailer where you can get what you need to get your lift up to date.

http://www.decoboatlift.com/

here is an internet site which should have everything you need.

http://www.lunmarboatlifts.com/inde...9b711d79c-8DDFE3D1-96B7-D26B-4775CE795EF7EAD2
 
Tom,
Thank you very much for the rundown - after about 20 phone calls, I think I might be OK - I found somebody in Ft Lauderdale that might be able to get out here tomorrow morning - that would be awesome!

Thanks folks for the advice!

-Tim
 
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