Cantilever Lift

The job of a boat lift is to get your boat out of the water when it’s not in use.  They generally do this in one of two ways:  Vertical lifting, or cantilever lifting.

The most common style of lift is the vertical lift.  Vertical style lifts use a series of cables and pulleys to make the carrier travel straight up and down.   Because the direction of lift is in line with the legs, vertical lifts are more stable and able to handle greater weights.    Vertical lifts work well in deep water or in situation where you want to raise your boat higher out of the water–such as place with high waves or fluctuating water levels.

Cantilever lifts work by pivoting the carrier out of the water diagonally.  Cantilever lifts are best suited for shallow water and smaller craft such as PWCs.