Marine hoists are an integral part of any personal boat lifting equipment. The heavy duty marine hoist is the workhorse of every harbor or marina. There are many types of marine hoists available ranging from the recreational boat lift and mobile boat hoists to the marine forklift and commercial marine hoist.

Marine hoists are generally powered either electronically or hydraulically. Both types have unique advantages. Electric marine hoists are capable of lifting many tons of weight while hydraulic hoists are almost impervious to water and salt damage and may be operated by hand held controls.

When choosing a marine hoist consider the following:

1. The maximum possible weight of your water craft or materials to be lifted by the marine hoist. This number must be accurate. To find it, determine your boat’s dry weight, estimate the weight of all additional equipment on board, and estimate the potential fuel weight by multiplying the total fuel capacity in gallons by 8.
2. The beam width. To find this number, measure across the widest point of your water craft and match it to the appropriate marine hoisting equipment.
3. The maximum beam width and weight capacity of the available marine hoists. Manufacturers specify the maximum amount any marine hoist can lift, and these hoists have safety features built in that prevent them from lifting any craft that is too heavy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine which marine hoist is right for you

There are industry standards and codes designed to help you determine the appropriate marine hoist for your needs.

I recommend: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) offers codes and standards for a variety of marine hoisting equipment. These publications are available for immediate download in PDF format or may be ordered in printed book form. The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) offers a document to help choose the most economical hoist for your project. It may also be downloaded for free in PDF format or purchased in book form for a small fee.

Choose the best distributor for your personal watercraft storage needs

If you need marine hoisting equipment for your residential dock or boat house, finding the right equipment is essential.

I recommend: ShoreMaster has an excellent tool to help you decide on the marine hoist that best meets your needs. If you need more help, they have a questionnaire that you can complete, and they will identify the best boat lifting equipment for you. Boat Lift Warehouse has an impressive selection of boat house marine hoist systems, provides assistance in choosing the best system for you, and offers rush delivery. Boat Hoist Direct.com allows you to shop by the type of marine hoist you need or by the size of your water craft. They have discounted prices and offer used marine hoists as well.

For industrial marine hoists or heavy duty marine hoists find a reputable distributor

Many commercial marine hoist and industrial marine hoist retailers offer consulting and maintenance services in addition to equipment sales.

I recommend: Lake City Industries, Inc. has over 40 years experience in designing and building heavy duty marine hoists. Marine Travelift Inc. manufactures a complete line of commercial marine hoists, marine forklifts, marine hoists for construction, and cranes for use on large vessels. You can locate a dealer in your area or contact the factory direct. American Winch and Hoist manufactures and sells retail and custom commercial marine hoists for marina use that range in capacity from 1000 lbs to 8500 lbs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure the maximum weight of your boat does not exceed the maximum lifting capacity of your marine hoist.
• •  Know the specifications and limits of any structure before adding a marine hoist or boat lifting equipment.