A portable boat lift is a

tool A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by animals, animals use simple tools, only human bei ...

designed specifically to allow one person to

transport Transport (in British English) or transportation (in American English) is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land tr ...

, set up, and safely separate

boats A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size or capacity, its shape, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically used on inland waterways s ...

from boat trailers. Portable boat lifts are intended to be used on

land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land sur ...

, rather than near, in, or on the water. Sometimes referred to as a boat hoist, this equipment holds the waterfcraft out of the water so that maintenance and repairs can be performed. Portable boat lifts may differ in design, cost, weight, and function but they are by definition portable. Portable boat lifts are relatively new to the boating industry. A portable boat lift is different from a

gantry crane A gantry crane is a Crane (machine), crane built atop a wikt:gantry, gantry, which is a structure used to straddle an object or workspace. They can range from enormous "full" gantry cranes, capable of lifting some of the heaviest loads in the wor ...

fork lift A forklift (also called industrial truck, lift truck, jitney, hi-lo, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is a powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. The forklift was developed in the early 20th c ...

with elongated forks, or

machine A machine is a physical system that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to natural biological macromol ...

, none of which can be easily transported from location to location. A portable boat lift is not a boat lift which is commonly found attached to a

dock The word dock () in American English refers to one or a group of human-made structures that are involved in the handling of boats or ships (usually on or near a shore). In British English, the term is not used the same way as in American Engl ...

. Although some devices allow one person to separate a boat from a trailer or lift a boat up and out of the water, they are not by definition portable. The term "boat lift" originally referred to lift locks. In modern usage the term "boat lift," as opposed to "portable boat lift," usually refers to devices permanently installed at a dock to simply lift a boat above the water, a type of ship lift. It is not specifically designed for separating a boat from a trailer. Prior to the introduction of portable boat lifts, boat lifting work could only be performed at shops or locations that had access to cranes, machines,

forklifts A forklift (also called industrial truck, lift truck, jitney, hi-lo, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is a powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. The forklift was developed in the early 20th c ...

, or similar lifting equipment. Portable lifts allow individuals, professional boat and boat trailer mechanics, boat and boat trailer painters or anyone needing to separate a boat from a trailer the ability to perform the work by themselves away from a shop.

References

External links

Portable

Remove a Boat from a Trailer with a Portable Boat Lift
Boat lifts {{water-transport-stub