Boat lifts and PWC lifts
A lift keeps the hull out of the water between weekends. On Lake Martin, it also has to keep working when the lake drops for winter.
Long summers on warm water are hard on a boat left floating in a slip. A lift raises it clear, and a PWC lift or floating port does the same for personal watercraft. Lifts go into a new dock or get added to an existing slip.
How many PWC lifts are allowed?
- Up to two PWC floats or lifts, or one of each, can be allowed if they meet setback and length rules.
- A third PWC float or lift counts against your square footage and needs a written permit.
- Adding to a dock is a modification, which needs Alabama Power's approval before the work.
Will it work at winter pool?
Each fall the lake comes down toward 484 feet, and every six years it goes about 3 feet lower. A lift on a fixed dock in shallow water may sit on the bottom or lose the depth needed to float the boat off. Lifts on floating docks move with the water. A builder checks depth at the slip at winter levels before recommending a lift.
How do you size a lift?
Lifts are rated by weight. Add the boat, motor, fuel, batteries, gear and any water aboard, then leave a margin. The builder also checks slip width, how the lift attaches to the frame, and whether a floating dock has enough flotation to carry the load.
Signs a lift needs service
- Frayed, kinked or rusty cables
- A motor that hums but won't lift, or trips the breaker
- Cracked bunks or a boat that sits crooked
- Slow lifting or leaking hydraulic fluid
- The dock leaning when the boat is raised
Power and safety
Lift motors need grounded, protected circuits installed by a licensed electrician. If wiring is damaged or breakers keep tripping, turn the dock's power off at shore and keep swimmers away until it's checked.
The builder prices the job after seeing your lot, the water in front of it and any structure that's already there. We don't quote prices, and a number given before a site visit is only a rough guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I add a third jet ski lift?
A third or additional PWC float or lift counts against your square footage and requires a written permit from Alabama Power.
Should I install a lift during the drawdown?
Alabama Power recommends doing permitted work during a drawdown, when there's more lakebed access. Ask your builder about timing.
Related services
More background: Lake Martin dock permit guide.
Want the dock done before summer pool comes back?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Lake Martin will call you back to talk through your lot, the drawdown and the Alabama Power permit.