Boat Lifts - Leave up or submerge?

sea_n_ski · 09-07-2010, 06:27 AM

This is the first year I have boat lifts. There is no way to take them out of the water because they weigh a ton. Not to mention it took 4 guys all day to put two of them together. They told me to just leave them in the water over the winter retracted on the bottom. I have a circulator, so ice isn't an issue.

My question is: Do I leave them up or down? If I leave them down they are underwater with the piston is retracted. But the carpeted bunks are underwater. Will they rot? If I leave them up, the bunks are out of the water, but the piston is extended and will they pit or corrode? Also in the event a chunk of ice does hit it, the lift could get damaged.

Up or down?

09-07-2010, 06:27 AM	#1
sea_n_ski Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atkinson & Meredith, NH Posts: 45 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Boat Lifts - Leave up or submerge? This is the first year I have boat lifts. There is no way to take them out of the water because they weigh a ton. Not to mention it took 4 guys all day to put two of them together. They told me to just leave them in the water over the winter retracted on the bottom. I have a circulator, so ice isn't an issue. My question is: Do I leave them up or down? If I leave them down they are underwater with the piston is retracted. But the carpeted bunks are underwater. Will they rot? If I leave them up, the bunks are out of the water, but the piston is extended and will they pit or corrode? Also in the event a chunk of ice does hit it, the lift could get damaged. Up or down?