How to Winterize Your Boat Lift

If you have a boat lift and live in a climate where winter is a thing, then tips on how to winterize your boat lift will come in handy. As a seasonal boater, the last thing you want come spring is to be ready to take your boat out and discover your lift doesn’t work. Boat lift winterization prevents damage and keeps your lift working as it should, and keeps you on the water where you belong.

Boat Lift Winterization: Why It’s Important

If you live in a colder climate, you are no stranger to winterization. Boat lift winterizing is just another thing you need to do before the cold weather sets in to make sure winter does not take its toll.

Freezing temperatures can severely damage the hydraulic systems and frames on your boat lift. Severe storms and ice build-up can also cause damage. Ice build-up can create pressure that shifts your lift and dock out of alignment, leading to expensive repairs. This will take money out of your pocket and delay your time to enjoy your boat, which is why you own it in the first place. Proper boat lift winterization is a preventative measure that takes less time and money, and can extend your boat lift’s lifespan.

Understanding Your Boat Lift System

The first step in boat lift winterization is understanding your boat lift system. The main components of a boat lift are:

The bunks or cradles, which securely support the boat’s hull
The framework, which provides structural stability and holds the cradles in place
The winch system, including the spool, which raises and lowers the boat
The cables or straps, which connect the boat to the lift. Cables bear most of the boat’s weight and need to be frequently checked for wear and tear.

The three main types of winch systems are hydraulic, electric, and manual. Each has different crucial components and specific requirements that need to be identified and assessed in the winterization process.

Hydraulic Lift

Knowing how to winterize a hydraulic boat lift includes understanding its key parts, including:

The electric pump motor that moves hydraulic fluid to the cylinders
The reservoir that stores the hydraulic fluid
The cylinders and pistons that help lift the boat
The control valves and heat exchanger that regulate the flow and temperature of the hydraulic fluid

Each one of these parts needs attention for hydraulic lift winterization.

Electric Lifts

The electric motor that powers the winch system is the main component of an electric boat lift. Winter care is most concerned with removing and storing the motor indoors, as well as keeping it greased, and the rollers, bunk, and guides inspected for wear and tear.

Manual Lifts

The key components of a manual lift winch system includes the drum, ratchet mechanism, gear system, and handle. Pay attention to these parts and keep them greased and working properly.

Your boat lift needs a professional inspection about every three to five years to keep it working properly, but regardless, at the end of each boating season you need to check your boat lift system before you are ready to winterize it. If you notice something isn’t working right, it is a good idea to either get it fixed now, or at least get the parts so you are not wasting any time when boating season starts again.

Options for Winterizing your Boat Lift

There are two main options for boat lift winter protection: leaving your lift in the water or removing it for storage.

If you live in a mild climate without the risk of harsh winter storms or excessively cold temperatures, or have a specifically designed bubbler system to prevent ice formation, then you do have the option to winterize a dock lift in the water along with your boat.

How to winterize a boat on a lift:

Inspect your boat lift
Secure it firmly to the dock
Check and lubricate your cables
Change the oil and filter
Drain the fuel tank and add fuel stabilizers
Cover the boat with a protective cover

If you live in a climate with harsh winters including intense storms and cold temperatures, removing your lift for cold season storage is your best bet.

Winter Storage: Boat Lift Removal

The easiest way to remove your lift for the winter is with a boat lift wheel kit and jack. Once it is out of the water you can conduct a thorough inspection of the cables, beams, bunks, gears, motors, and pulleys. Look for wear and tear and if any parts need lubrication, such as the chain or bearings, now is a good time to do it.

Boat lift being inspected wear and tear just before the winter.

It’s best to store your lift indoors, if possible. If you don’t have the space, then protecting it from the elements with a cover is necessary. Removing the motor, if there is one, and storing it indoors is highly recommended. For your boat lift frame, winter prep may include resting it on wheels or pads to ensure it stays dry. Make sure it is properly secured to whatever it rests on.

It is also possible to disassemble your boat lift for the winter and stack the parts indoors or on shore with a cover. This includes:

Removing the canopy
Taking apart the beams and cradle
Disconnecting the chains or cables
Taking apart the frame

If you opt for this method, label the parts and stack neatly for easier assembly in the spring.

Preparing for Winterization

The winterization of your boat lift needs to be timed so that it is complete before freezing temperatures set in. This can vary, depending on where you live, but don’t leave it until the last minute, as fall weather can be unpredictable. Make sure you gather the necessary tools and materials you will need to complete the winterizing process. Also, follow your manufacturer’s guidelines and ensure that safety precautions are taken.

Boat Lift Winterization: The Step-by-step Process

No one wants winter damage to a boat lift. Prevention starts with winterization. The step-by-step boat lift winterization process if you keep your boat lift in the water includes:

Inspecting your lift for worn or damaged parts, identifying issues, and replacing or repairing parts where needed
Checking your lift for proper mobility, ensuring it moves freely to prevent breaking in the colder weather
Looking at the condition of the cables and other components to ensure their strength and integrity to withstand freezing temperatures
Securing the lift in place to protect from storms and preventing strain on components and fixtures
Checking the bearings and grease points, and greasing where necessary
Removing any lift motors and storing indoors to ensure it continues to work properly
Protecting electrical components from moisture damage

Drain your Hydraulic Systems

In addition, draining a hydraulic system, if you have one, can prevent freeze damage to boat lift parts within the system. Follow your manufacturer’s guide for the boat lift draining process. Consider using boat lift antifreeze in your hydraulic systems for extra insurance against costly damage.

Lubricate Moving Parts and Cables

Make sure to check moving parts and take precautions to protect lift cables. Winter can cause excessive moisture and freezing temperatures to damage these components. Lubricating moving parts and cables creates a protective barrier to keep them in working order.

Other Lift Components

Winterizing a boat lift also means paying attention to specific parts, such as lift canopies, motors, and bunks. Winterizing lift motors includes lubrication and proper storage in a dry place that does not experience freezing temperatures. Check canopies and bunks for wear and tear.

Boat lift canopy winter protection also includes removing and washing the canopy before storing it. Also make sure it is completely dry so as to prevent mold and mildew. Storing the canopy in a breathable protective bag or box can also prevent excessive moisture from accumulating as well as protecting it from small animals. Do not bind the canopy in storage, which can cause creasing and splitting.

Hire a Professional

Professional lift winterization is an option for any of these steps, especially if you want to ensure it is done properly. Boat club winterization services also exist to help with some or all of these steps. Again, a little investment in winterizing your boat lift, can save you a lot of time and expense down the road.

Boat Lift Winter Monitoring

Winters can be harsh on equipment making winter monitoring necessary. Keep up boat lift maintenance in winter by conducting regular check-ups to monitor your boat lift throughout the colder months. Look for signs that may point to potential issues and put a plan in place if an emergency situation arises.

Spring Boat Lift Preparation

After a long winter you are most likely going to be itching to get your boat out on the water, but there are steps you need to take to get your lift ready to go. When the spring weather arrives, you need to:

Safely reactivate your lift
Inspect it for any winter damage
Prepare it for the boating season

Boat Lift Winterization: The Last Word

The point of having a boat lift system is to make it easy to get your boat in and out of the water. The point of winterizing your boat lift is to keep your boat lift from becoming damaged in the off season and ready to go when boating season starts up again.