Vertical Boat Lifts

Vertical Boat Lifts
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Vertical boat lifts are the most common lifts we sell. These lifts work for pontoons, tritoons, runabout, deck, fishing, and ski boats. These are our most adaptable lifts and more than likely is what you are looking for. We offer vertical lift with capacities from 2500# to 8000# and higher. Our vertical lifts vary in width from 108" to 132".

Cantilever Pontoon Lift
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If you have a pontoon, do not have a need for a canopy and have a mostly flat lake bottom a cantilever pontoon lift may work for you. Cantilever pontoon lifts work in extremely shallow water and are inexpensive. This style lift is designed to lift from under the pontoon between the toons. These lifts offer good stability and are a great alternative to a more expensive vertical lift. These lifts do not adapt well to lake bottom slope. With the addition of leveling legs, they can handle up to 32” of slope front to rear. These lifts are 18’ long and longer. Also, these lifts work best in 42” of water or less.

PWC Lift
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PWC lifts are specifically designed for use with jet skis. We offer two types of vertical PWC lifts:

Vertical PWC Lifts
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‍Great for use in deeper water or in areas with heavy waves or water fluctuation. These lifts are designed similarly to our larger vertical lifts, just in a smaller package. Our vertical PWC lift has a capacity of 1200# and a beam of 63". These lifts have a carriage travel of 60".

Cantilever PWC Lifts
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We offer several models to fit your needs. Our Double PWC Lift allows you to lift two PWCs on the same lift. We offer double models with single winch or dual winch applications. We offer economy models and a more robust standard model with capacities from 800# to 1200#.

There are many types of boats being manufactured today. The difference is hull types determines the hardware and accessories needed to properly equip the boat lift for your needs. The common hull types are:
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Pontoons and Tritoons
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Pontoons and Tritoons require very different setups than other hull types. Boat lifts can be equipped with two different styles of bunks or racks for Pontoon/Tritoon use. Both styles of hardware are an additional cost to the base price of our vertical lifts.

Our preferred method is the use of our standard Pontoon/Tritoon racks. This method is very stable and allows the lift to work in the shallowest of conditions. The racks also act as guide-ons for the boat. This makes it much easier to load and unload while keeping the boat straight and minimizing drift inside the lift. The standard Pontoon/Tritoon racks are also the most cost effective solution for supporting your Pontoon or Tritoon.

We can also outfit your boat lift with vinyl bunks to cradle each toon individually. This type of setup provides individual support for each toon but sacrifices some stability on longer boats and costs more than our standard hardware. This type of hardware also requires slightly more water depth than our standard hardware. Supporting the boat from under each toon may be the recommended way your boat manufacturer intended.

Runabouts, Deck and V-Hull Fishing Boats

Runabouts, Deck and V-Hull Fishing Boats all require our standard vinyl bunks. Our vinyl covered, aluminum framed bunks contour to the hull of your boat and the vinyl cap will not trap debris like carpeted bunks. The bunks are also little to no maintenance with the vinyl and aluminum combination. This is the most common hardware on vertical boat lifts and comes standard with the boat lift.

Our preferred method is the use of our standard Pontoon/Tritoon racks. This method is very stable and allows the lift to work in the shallowest of conditions. The racks also act as guide-ons for the boat. This makes it much easier to load and unload while keeping the boat straight and minimizing drift inside the lift. The standard Pontoon/Tritoon racks are also the most cost effective solution for supporting your Pontoon or Tritoon.

Direct Drive and V-Drive Ski Boats
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Direct Drive and V-Drive Ski Boats require our Ski Bunk Hardware. This hardware includes longer stands for the bunks that provide additional clearance for the skegs of the boat. If this hardware is not used in thisapplication, the skegs of the boat and the lift can be damaged. There are a few applications where the Ski Bunk Hardware can be omitted. Please consult us to determine if this is the case.

The debate is over what style boat lift is better has been raging since the early 90's. It seems that ever since the vertical style boat lift hit the market the boat lift industry has debated which one is better. Both designs have advantages and it seems that every dealer has a different opinion.

Cantilever Boat Lifts
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They are a simplistic design. They have a fixed main frame and a swinging carriage that the boat rests on. The carriage is designed to swing downward and back as the lift is lowered. Likewise, the carriage swings upward and forward as the lift is raised. The carriage rests on two H frames. These H frames are attached to the main frame and pivot with the carriage.
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We can also outfit your boat lift with vinyl bunks to cradle each toon individually. This type of setup provides individual support for each toon but sacrifices some stability on longer boats and costs more than our standard hardware. This type of hardware also requires slightly more water depth than our standard hardware. Supporting the boat from under each toon may be the recommended way your boat manufacturer intended.
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‍Advantages
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‍Cantilever lifts are less expensive to manufacture and therefore are less expensive to purchase. These lifts rely on a single cable and two main pulleys with up to three additional pulleys. The weight of the boat rests on the H frames rather than the cable when the lift is in the full up position. This takes stress off of the cable and increases its life expectancy. Some claim that cantilever lifts are better in shallow water conditions. This is only true if the lift is set up out of level. Most homeowners do not accept this.
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‍Disadvantages
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‍Cantilever lifts have a limited lift height they can achieve. They are restricted by the height of their H frames. Most cantilever lifts can lift to 40” or so. That means that if the lift is in 30” of water, you can only pull the boat 10” out of the water. If you have large waves to contend with then a vertical lift is a better design for you. Also, the carriage can not travel completely down because of the interference of the H frame on the main frame. This means that most cantilever lifts will require more water to operate than a vertical lift. Cantilever lifts do not adapt to fluctuating water levels as easily as a vertical lift. Cantilever lifts will need to be moved in and out as water levels rise and fall.

Since the carriage of a cantilever lift travels backward as it travels down, this makes loading and unloading of the boat more difficult. The operator must stop the boat before it completely enters the lift in anticipation of the forward movement of the carriage. The carriage will travel about 30”-36” forward and backward during its travel.

Craftlander Vertical Boat Lifts

Operate with a vertically moving carriage around a fixed main frame. The carriage is suspended by one winch cable and four balance cables. The winch cable carries the majority of the load while the balance cables ensure that the carriage stays level.There are 10 pulleys that guide the cables in a Z pattern through the carriage of the lift.

Advantages

‍Vertical boat lifts are not restricted by H frames and therefore can lift much higher than a cantilever lift. Most vertical lifts can lift at least 60”. That means in 30” of water a vertical lift raise a boat 30” or more out of the water. This is especially important in areas with large waves and fluctuating water levels. Vertical lifts can operate in lower water levels than a cantilever lift.

Craftlander lifts require only 7” plus the draft of your boat of water to operate. If you have a boat with a 13” draft, then a Craftlander vertical lift will require 20” of water to work. This is about 6” better than most cantilever style lifts. Because a vertical lift lifts straight up and down, it is easier to load the boat on the lift. The operator can stop the boat in the exact positioning desired front to rear. Vertical boat lifts tend to be more stable in deep water applications when compared to cantilever lifts.

‍Disadvantages

‍Vertical boat lifts are more expensive than cantilever lifts because of the additional moving parts. Vertical lifts also require larger more expensive winches to do the same task. This also means that more maintenance is required. Vertical lifts are more sensitive to being out of level. Vertical lifts need to be within 6” of level front to rear and 2” from side to side. If a vertical lift is out of level the carriage will rub on the corner columns and place uneven weight on the cables and pulleys.

What is a Craftlander Boat Lift?

‍Craftlander boat lifts are manufactured in Roscommon, MI. They have been manufactured here since 1979 by NuCraft Metal Products. NuCraft Metal Products is a family owned business that produces high quality products.

What Materials Are Used?

‍Craftlander boat lifts are manufactured in Roscommon, MI. They have been manufactured here since 1979 by NuCraft Metal Products. NuCraft Metal Products is a family owned business that produces high quality products.

Craftlander boat lifts are constructed of all aluminum frame pieces. Our boat lifts bolt together allowing them to be easily transported. Also, if any damage does occur to your lift, you can simply purchase parts individually rather than being forced to purchase large assemblies. This helps save you money.

Our cables are made of stainless steel. The one exception to this is our winch cable. Our winch cable is made of galvanized steel to prevent fraying and to add strength. Our pulleys are made of a self lubricating plastic and have stainless steel bushings.

Our Craftlander vertical boat lifts come with a twin I beam carriage construction. The main frame is built from 2”x6” tubing and 3” square vertical columns. Our standard bunks are made of aluminum construction and are vinyl covered. Our Craftlander vertical lifts come standard with a 52” aluminum winch wheel. Our winch boxes are made of the heaviest materials and feature double gear reduction to ensure a manageable winch wheel.

‍Why Are They Priced Lower Than Your Competition?

‍While it is true that Craftlander boat lifts are priced lower than our competition, a Craftlander lift gives up nothing in fit and finish and overall quality. We use the same materials as ShoreStation, Shore Master, Pier Pleasure, and Floe to build our lifts.

Our prices are lower because we have perfected the entire boat lift purchasing process. We have spent many years streamlining the process from manufacturer to consumer. Craftlander does not have elaborate advertising programs or dealer financing programs. This can cost a manufacturer a lot of money, and that cost gets passed on to the consumer. Craftlander is also less expensive because they don't use a lot of fancy extruded components. Other manufacturers use extruded pieces to help reduce weight and allow certain proprietary qualities in the design. These extruded pieces significantly drive up the cost of a lift and complicate parts availability. We handle all of the shipping ourselves and we buy in bulk. Our installation process has been developed over many years so we can install boat lifts with less equipment and minimal manpower. You will often find us out on our routes installing five or more boat lifts and covering over 500 miles per day. Craftlander focuses on making boat lifts, we focus on selling, installing, and servicing them.

‍What Makes You The Right Dealer?

‍We will not allow our customers to feel abused or forgotten. Our drive and dedication is fueled everyday by phone calls or emails from new customers telling us their stories of frustration.

When you call Lifts & Docks, you will be greeted by friendly people. You will be asked how we can help serve you and what your concerns may be. Our dedication is second to none. We love this industry. We love what we do.

We will never stop trying to get better. Every year we dedicate the offseason to make one part of what we do better. Develop new equipment, new techniques, examine our purchasing strategies. You name it, we’ve worked on it and we’ll continue to. This is our industry. Nobody knows more about it and nobody does it better. Yet every morning we wake up and are so thankful to be part of this.We want to thank you for the opportunity to show you why we are better. You will not be disappointed.

Store Your Boat on a Vertical Boat Lift

Have Additional Questions?

Additional resources

Frequently asked questions

Boat Lifts

Docks

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Vertical Boat Lifts

Store Your Boat on a Vertical Boat Lift

Have Additional Questions?

Additional resources

Frequently asked questions

Which Style Boat Lift is Right for Me?

Which Model Boat Lift is Right for Me?

How Much Does Your Boat Weigh?

How Wide is Your Boat?

What is Your Lake Bottom Like?

What is Your Water Depth?

Cantilver vs Vertical Boat Lifts—What Are They and Which One is Better?

How Much Water Do I Need?

How Does The Purchase Process Go?

Why Craftlander, Why Lifts & Docks?

Boat Lifts

Docks

Contact Us

Financing Available!