That time you’ve dreamed about for years has finally come: you’ve bought yourself a jet ski, and you couldn’t be happier.
Sunny days on the water are right around the corner, and you can’t wait to hit the waves on your new craft. But first: you need to get it home, and get it ready for launch with the most appropriate jet ski lift.
Are you unsure which jet ski lift is right for you? Are you unsure how to even choose what’s right for you?
Keep reading to learn some key points when choosing jet ski lifts and floating docks, and how to select the right one for your specific needs.
Capacity
First of all, how big is your jet ski? This is the most important consideration when picking out a jet ski lift. If you buy one that can’t support the weight of your jet ski, it’ll collapse, sending your new prize possession crashing into the water beneath it.
You clearly don’t want that.
You might think that checking the literature given to you when you purchased your jet ski for the dry weight is enough, but you would be wrong.
There are a number of other weight considerations you need to account for when determining the right capacity for your new jet ski lift:
- the dry weight of the jet ski
- the weight of attached gear (seat covers, stuff in the storage bin, etc.)
- weight of the fuel in the fuel tank (about 6.3 lbs per gallon)
- the weight of non-factory add-ons
The weight of non-factory add-ons is a big one because it’s easy to overlook! If you opted for any additional attachments or engine upgrades, you’re going to need to add that weight to the dry weight of the machine noted in the brochure. That’s because this dry weight is the weight of the default model.
And let’s be honest, you should add in the weight of the passengers. Jet ski lifts are not elevators with the built-in safety features, and your lift owner’s manual will tell you not to ride on your jet ski as the lift goes up or down. However, many people will still do it because it is more convenient. Do you want to take the chance of overloading the lift and having it collapse while your passengers are sitting on the jet ski?
Single or Dual?
Although you might only have the one jet ski right now, it’s likely that you’re going to fall in love with it and want another soon. If you have a partner or a family, it’s going to seem even more essential after skiing alone for a few months to get another in the water.
If you see yourself investing in another jet ski in the near future, you might want to consider investing in a dual jet ski lift now. Sure, you could uninstall and re-install when the time comes, but consider the cost and effort involved.
You’ll be thanking yourself later when you’re driving a new jetski home, and you’ll already have a place to put it.
Got Your Jet Ski Lifts?
Ready to get your new toy in the water? Get in touch with us to discuss all your jet ski dock lift needs. We are experts in our craft, and can help you determine exactly which one you need!
