The alternative I recommend for many situations in place of a boat lift is a “boat ramp”. When you hear “boat ramp”, you might think of the public boat ramp where we launch our trailerable watercraft from a trailer down an incline into the water. But when I refer to a boat ramp here, I am refering to a metal framework with rollers on it that sits on the shoreline, makes way for a boat to be rolled onto it, and at the same time can winch the boat up onto the shore - and therefore out of the water. Its sort of like an extra long boat trailer without wheels.
Boat ramp
If your shoreline has a quick drop-off, a boat ramp may in fact be your only solution. Boat lifts require minimums and maximums for depth and use. But a boat ramp can simply drop your boat into deep water as seen in the picture. For gradual shorelines, longer ramps are used to reach floatable depths.
For ease of maintenance, a ramp provides easy access to the entire boat for attention and repairs. Boats on lifts remain suspended over the water, and are accessible by swimsuit.
When the season ends, boat lift owners have to carry their entire boat lift out of the water and store it on the shoreline. Then they need to put their boat on a trailer, and store them somewhere as well. Ramp owners leave their boats in storage on the ramp itself. On my ramp, I only have to lift out the eight-foot section that reaches into the water - and that’s it. No storage of the boat. No messing up the shoreline with a boat lift (which for year-round residents does matter). Reverse the picture in the spring and the benefits repeat. This is the best news for boat ramps.
Ramps are not for everyone. But do yourself a favor and consider the benefits and possible use for your location. Then tell us what you think.
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