Name: Gibson Marine Construction
Address: 2131 Range Rd., Clearwater, FL, 33765, USA
Telephone: 727-942-3111
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

How to Prepare Your Boat and Boat Lift for a Hurricane or Major Storm

September 27, 2022 by gibson Leave a Comment

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Ian was upgraded to a Category 3 storm early Tuesday morning, September 27, 2022. A category 3 storm is considered a major hurricane, meaning it has the potential to cause devastating or catastrophic wind damage and major loss of life. With hurricanes of this magnitude, it is of the utmost importance to fortify your property as best possible.

In order to protect your boat and boat lift for a hurricane or major storm, keep these tips in mind:

Preparing Your Boat for a Major Storm

If you have enough time to do so, the best way to protect your boat during a hurricane or major storm is to remove it from your boat lift and put it in a garage or boat storage facility. Outdoor storage farther inland and away from the potential storm surge can be an option. If you cannot remove your boat, raise the dock lift as high as you can to try to keep the boat above the storm surge. And don’t forget to secure your boat to the lift. Also, remove plugs from your boat so water can drain out and not overload your lift.

If you cannot remove your boat and your boat lift’s cradle doesn’t rise high enough to keep it above the potential storm surge, there are extra steps to take. It is still advisable to raise your boat as high as the boat lift goes, secure your boat to the lift, and use long ropes to secure your boat to anchor points. Even if the storm surge lifts your boat off the boat lift, the long anchor ropes will help to keep it near your property.

Preparing Your Boat Lift for a Potential Storm

For boat owners able to remove the boat from the boat lift, the best way to prepare a boat lift for a major storm is to lower the cradle on the lift all the way to the bottom. Leaving the cradle in the water prevents it from swaying the winds or being lashed harshly by waves in a storm surge, thus protecting the lift itself and the dock.

If your boat lift has a low-profile installation, it is possible the tide surge could bring corrosive saltwater right into your boat lift motors, switches, and covers. Remove these items from your lift and store in a safe, dry place. Those with a sealed direct-drive system should remove the gear unit as well. Before you do though, lower the cable down to its lowest point as the cable will free spool back down regardless. Last but not least, tighten all the nuts and bolts on the lift so you don’t lose any small parts during a potential storm.

5 Things to Consider When Purchasing a Boat Lift

August 27, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

Whether you live right on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, or along one of the many inland waterways, it is a good idea to purchase a boat lift for your property. A good boat lift protects your boat against the jostling of the waves and the beating it could take when storm surges roll in or the tide ebbs and flows. Selecting the right boat lift requires consideration. Before just picking the most affordable model, think about the following factors.

Manual or Electric?

It might seem foolish to purchase a manual boat lift when there are so many models available with a powered winch, but there is more to consider than just power vs. manual effort. While a manual boat lift requires physical labor on your behalf to crank the wheel and raise your boat, electric boat lifts use a small motor to operate a winch and lift your boat out of the water. However, the decision isn’t as simple as physical labor compared to pushing a button.

In order to use an electric boat lift, you’ll need to have convenient access to a power source. Running electrical lines and using a motor requires extra maintenance after your boat lift is installed.

Length and Width

As you might expect, the length and width of your boat impact the type of boat lift you consider installing on your coastal property. The beam of your lift needs to support your boat, while its strength and weight capacity should also be able to accommodate your boat. Take care to think about future upgrades you may make, and ensure that the boat lift you install now can handle your current boat as well as larger vessels you may buy in the future.

Sling Style

If your home is located along a shallow stretch of shoreline, you may want to consider purchasing a sling-style lift rather than a rigid, cradle design. The straps in a sling model lie flat on the bottom, making it easy for you to load your boat into the lift. As long as you can float your boat in close to the lift, you’ll be able to raise it out of the water with your sling lift.

Materials

The most popular materials used in the construction of boat lifts are stainless steel and galvanized steel. For residents of Florida’s Gulf Coast, stainless steel is the recommended material in boat lifts because of the potential for corrosion in saltwater. You need to keep in mind the impact of UV rays, corrosion, and cracking when selecting the material used in the construction of your boat lift.

Maintenance

Every aspect of boat ownership comes down to proper maintenance. From your vessel itself to your dock and boat lift, owning a boat means keeping an eye on the maintenance needs of your watercraft. Check with your installer to learn about the care required for the cradle, winch, cables, and motor (if electric) to ensure that your boat lift operates effectively for years to come.

If you’re considering purchasing a new boat lift for your property, and have questions about which boat lift is right for you, contact us today!

Tips for Preparing Your Boat, Dock, and Boat Lift for a Major Storm

August 12, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

It’s been a record 10 years since the state of Florida has suffered a direct hit from a major hurricane. The state’s official hurricane season started on June 1, and with months to go until the season officially ends on November 30, there’s no better time than now to learn how to prepare your waterfront property for a potential tropical storm or hurricane.

Florida possesses some of the nation’s greatest beaches, beautiful waterways, and excellent offshore fishing. The past decade of relative calm on both coasts and a population growth throughout the state of 2.5 million new residents means that many of the state’s boaters are either rusty or inexperienced altogether in preparing for a storm. In order to protect your boat, dock, and boat lift, keep these tips in mind as hurricane season continues.

Preparing Your Boat

Assuming you have enough warning and the time to do so, the best course of action you can take with your boat is to remove it from your boat lift and store it away from the potential storm surge in a safe place. If you cannot remove your boat, raise the dock lift as high as you can in an attempt to keep the boat above the storm surge, and don’t forget to secure your boat to the lift. Also, remove plugs from your boat so water can drain out and not overload your lift.

Preparing Your Boat Lift

For those who were able to remove the boat from the boat lift, the best course of action during preparation is to lower the cradle on the lift all the way to the bottom. Leaving the cradle in the water prevents it from swaying the winds or being lashed harshly by waves in a storm surge, thus protecting the lift itself and the dock.

Saltwater that streams in during the storm surge collects inside your sealed housing and freezes up the gears, and can result in costly replacement and repair costs to get your boat lift operating smoothly again after the storm. Follow these steps in the event that the state’s decade-long winning streak ends this year, and you’ll be prepared to weather the storm!

Which Type of Boat Lift is Right for you?

July 14, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

If you are a boat owner lucky enough to have your own waterfront property at which to store the boat, you should have a boat lift to protect your precious seafaring watercraft from Mother Nature! When your boat is not in use, a boat lift help can keep it out of the water away from barnacles, storms or any other potential, damage-causing hazards. It can also help you move your boat from one location to another, like from an inlet to a boat storage facility before a hurricane hits. Many different types of boat lifts are manufactured every day and we install lots of different styles to best suit your needs.

The types of boat lifts we install, include:

Aluminum Boat Lifts
Galvanized Boat Lifts
Davits
PWC Lifts
Swinger Style Lifts

With so many options, one can’t help but beg the question, “what kind of boat lift is right for me?” Well we are here to help you answer that question! Boat lifts are like shoes, one size does not fit all. Some boat lifts are great for large boats on the open sea, while other boat lifts would be better suited for a small boat in a calm freshwater lake. Below are a few things to consider when making the decision about which type of boat lift you need.

Freshwater or Saltwater?

Staying knowledgeable about ways you can prevent the wear and tear of your boat lift can be financially beneficial in the future. Damage to a boat lift can be very expensive, and sometimes irreversible. One way you can prevent damage to your boat lift is to think about what kind of water in which your boat lift will be working. Is it fresh or salt water?

Salt water can be corrosive which is why, if you are boating out at sea, a stainless steel boat lift should be your go-to answer. Stainless steel contains a high proportion of chromium and nickel, are very resistant to corrosion and other chemical reactions, and are easy to clean, polish, and sterilize. For this reason, stainless steel has a great relationship with the salty sea and is the best choice for any sea faring vessel.

But what about if you like to go boating out on a beautiful freshwater lake? The water in a freshwater lake is less harsh and gentler on boat lifts, which is why a galvanized boatlift would be a great choice for those kinds of environmental conditions.

Small Boat or Large Boat?

Some boat lifts can’t lift boats of certain specifications. For example, you wouldn’t make a boat lift designed for small lake boats lift a large sea yacht would you? Just like you wouldn’t make a boat lift designed for only deep water lift a boat that is in shallow water. Again, it is like a shoe, not one size fits all, so be sure to take the size and usage of your boat into consideration when purchasing a boat lift.

More Questions?

Still not sure which boat lift to get? We can give our expert advice on what kind boat lift would best fit your needs, and then we can install it for you, from beginning to end! We love our lakes and oceans and we would be more than happy to assist in your next project! Feel free to contact us by calling 727-942-3111 or here.