Cradle, vertical, and elevator boat lifts from 4,000 to 30,000 lb capacity. Custom-sized to your specific boat — not guessed off a brochure. Marine-grade aluminum and stainless hardware only. Installed by Tampa Dock Builders\' in-house crew.
Picking a boat lift sounds simple — it isn't. Get the capacity wrong by 20% and the motors burn out in three years. Get the beam wrong by six inches and the cradle bunks chew up your hull. Get the cable layout wrong and you'll be hand-cranking the boat out of the water during a storm warning.
The right approach: measure the boat (not the spec sheet), measure the dock, measure the tide, and pick the lift system that actually fits the application. We've installed more than 1,800 lifts on Tampa Bay since 1992 and we don't sell lifts off a chart.
Always size your lift for at least 120% of your boat's dry weight, with full fuel and gear. A 24-foot center console dry-weights around 5,000 lbs; the right lift is 8,000 lbs minimum. The reason: motors are sized for capacity, and a lift running near 100% of rated load wears out 3-5x faster than one running at 60-70%.
The other variable is beam width. We measure your boat's actual beam (including spray rails or rub rails) and pick a lift with at least 6 inches of clearance on each side. Cradle bunks get adjusted to match your hull's specific deadrise.
Every lift we install uses 6061-T6 marine-grade aluminum extrusions, 304/316 stainless fasteners only, and stainless cables with corrosion-resistant motors. Galvanized hardware is cheaper — it also pits and fails on Tampa Bay water inside 5-7 years. We don't install it.
For motors, we install Phantom, Lunmar, and Magnum. Direct-drive motors with stainless drive shafts and aluminum spool housings. Wired to a NEMA-rated weather-tight switch box with proper marine GFCI.
Already have a dock and just need a lift? Yes — we install lifts on existing docks across Tampa Bay, assuming the dock structure is sound. Free assessment included with every lift quote. Call .
Lift installation takes 2-3 days once permits are in hand. Permits typically run 3-6 weeks (county and FDEP) — faster than a new dock because the dock structure is already in place. Our crew brings the lift, the new pilings (if needed), the cradle bunks, and the wiring on one of our own trucks. We test under load before we leave.
Most residential boat lift installations on Tampa Bay run $8,000 to $25,000. A simple 6,000-lb four-post cradle on an existing dock with good pilings: about $9,000. A 16,000-lb elevator lift with new pilings and full wiring: about $22,000. Larger commercial-style lifts (30,000+ lb) for yachts and sport-fishers: $30k+.
We install lifts everywhere we build docks — Tampa, Davis Islands, Apollo Beach, Riverview, Westchase, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, and Dunedin.
Pick a lift rated for at least 120% of your boat's dry weight with full fuel and gear. A 24-ft center console (~5,000 lb dry) needs an 8,000-lb lift minimum. We measure your specific boat and recommend the right capacity.
$8,000-$25,000 installed for most residential lifts. A 6,000-lb four-post on an existing dock runs about $9,000. A 16,000-lb elevator lift with new pilings runs about $22,000.
Yes, if the dock structure and pilings are sound. We do a free assessment with every quote. If pilings need to be added or replaced, we include that in the quote.
Permitting: 3-6 weeks. Installation itself: 2-3 days. Total: 3-8 weeks from signed contract to a working lift.
Cradle (4-post) is the standard — works for most boats. Vertical (sling) is better for hulls with unusual bottoms or sailboats. Elevator (single piling) is used when there's no room for four posts; max capacity 15,000 lb.
Aluminum only. 6061-T6 marine-grade aluminum extrusions with 304/316 stainless fasteners. Galvanized hardware fails on Tampa Bay water inside 5-7 years.