Posted on July 21, 2022
Does a Tritoon Boat Need a Special Lift?
Written by HydroHoist Marketing
If you’re stepping up your waterfront life, one of the items on your list might be investing in or upgrading to a tritoon boat. Part of why you might be thinking of a tritoon boat is because of its size—they’re great for really spreading out, bringing a bunch of friends and family, and having a great time on the water. However, this size can make storage seem overwhelming. After all, a bigger boat needs a bigger lift, right?
What makes a pontoon boat lift special?
Pontoon boat lifts need a different design, structure, weight capacity, and distribution from lifts for V-hull boats. Their design needs to be stronger and more stable to support the pontoons—this will usually involve a wider and longer frame to distribute the weight and specialized cradles and bunks. There will be carpet or vinyl protection on the lifts to ensure that the underside of your boat and your pontoons won’t get damaged.
So does a tritoon boat need a special lift?
While you don’t necessarily need a totally new lift to support your tritoon boat, you’ll definitely need one that can support your boat’s size. If you’re transporting your tritoon boat to and from the water with a trailer, you’ll definitely want to support the center pontoon while it’s in transit. For boats that will be sitting still on a lift at the water’s edge, however, that kind of support isn’t necessarily required. Some manufacturers will have kits available that can enable you to adapt your existing boat lift to support a tritoon, but be sure to follow their recommendations before modifying your lift for your safety as well as your boat’s.
What to consider in your boat lift design
Whether you have a jet ski or a tritoon boat, you’ll need to do some homework to find the right boat lift. Think of all the considerations you would factor in for your boat dock and apply those same guidelines to your boat lift. You’ll need to know the size and weight of your boat, especially if you have a newer model that might be larger and heavier. Don’t forget to triple-check the weight of your boat, and don’t just use the dry weight in your spec sheet—factor in everything that could weigh it down, including fuel, supplies, and a margin of error to be safe. You’ll also want to keep your shoreline in mind, so think about the size of your slip as well as its location and the depth of your water.
While boat lifts of all types tend to come in standard sizes, it’s possible to modify the list to fit your needs. And, keep in mind, some types of lifts work better for particular shorelines. A local dealer who knows about your water and everything on the market can tell you more about what would fit your needs best.
HydroHoist Free-Floating Boat Lifts
One of the biggest benefits of a floating boat lift is that it can work at nearly any water depth. When made from high-quality materials and by talented marine engineers, floating docks are as stable as options mounted on legs or piles. Whatever size boat you have, how big of a slip you’re working with, or the type of water you’re sailing in, HydroHoist can recommend a tritoon boat lift option that works for you.
For recommendations and advice on the most versatile free-floating boat lifts on the market, contact HydroHoist and get in touch with a dealer near you.