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The Rose Key Projects

October 4, 2023January 22, 2021 by mhaley

Rose Key Satellite Image - IMM Quality Boat Lifts Project

Rose Key lies at the center of a privately held archipelago in Monroe County, Florida, located a few miles north of the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. The island chain and surrounding waters boast a storied past, from the discovery of Biscayne Bay by Ponce de Leon to the CIA using Rose Key as a safe house and training area. More recently, the popular 1980s TV show, Miami Vice, used Rose Key as a film location. Rose Key was named in honor of Rose Zumpano, a long-time South Florida philanthropist, who loved to share with others the wonders of the Florida Keys.

IMM Quality Boat Lifts has been fortunate enough to be involved with many of the island’s marine construction projects. Our very first project involved some of the island’s unique history. The CIA built a marine railway to launch watercraft into the island’s southern channel and over the years, it had become inoperable. We repaired the concrete structure, supplemented the steel rails with aluminum rails, upgraded the machinery and customized the shuttle to accommodate the Rose Key’s Carolina skiff. These projects were standard fare for a boat lift manufacturer of our size and caliber, but the following projects will highlight the design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities no other boat lift company possesses.

When you have an amazing client like the Zumpano family, you often get asked to take on projects that are outside your normal product line. The family wanted to repair a skyway to provide access from the compound’s center to the southeast tip of their barrier island. Their Rose Key Skyway would cross the horseshoe-shaped canal system that encircles the main island. They wanted a retractable span to cross the canal that would be installed as a seamless part of the Rose Key Skyway.

So, IMM Quality Boat Lifts built them a Vlotburg span and decked it to match the walkway. Below you can see the Vlotburg under construction and a video showing how easy the span is to retract by hand.

The Rose Key Skyway was the project that tested our manufacturing capacity. We needed to manufacture thousands of feet of aluminum handrailing. Some of the handrailing was manufactured on an angle to deal with changes in elevation. Below, you can see the Rose Key Skyway under construction, some of the engineered sections, the completed Skyway, and finally, a drone video that highlights the magnitude and scope of the Rose Key Skyway aluminum handrail project.

The Rose Key Skyway was designed to terminate with a gazebo and terminal dock. The family needed railing around the dock, along with some gates. We designed some aluminum columns with a stainless-steel cable railing system to accomplish this project. Below are some photos of an engineered rendering of the gazebo, the gates, and the gazebo under construction.

Now, after many months, the work on the Rose Key Skyway is complete! IMM Boat Lifts successfully refurbished the skyway from the center of the Rose Key compound to the dock at the property’s perimeter.

Feeling inspired by this feat of design, engineering, and manufacturing? Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE, and IMM Quality Boat Lifts will give you a call!

Originally Posted: January 22, 2021
Updated: July 9, 2021

Is it possible to use a boat lift with a yacht?

January 28, 2021January 7, 2021 by mhaley

Navy boat is lowered into the water by IMM Quality Titan yacht lift boat lift

Simply put… YES!

A yacht conveys a particular image to most people—often an expensive vessel with lots of space and high class. It is understandable then, that yacht ownership can become a matter of pride for a boat owner. Since they are so large and heavy, many owners falsely believe that it is not possible to safely use a boat lift with a yacht. We are here to tell you that you do not need to give up the convenience, protection, value and safety a boat lift provides now that you have finally upgraded to a yacht. IMM Quality Boat Lifts has been customizing and creating boat lifts for larger vessels for decades.

The IMM Quality Titan Yacht Lift comes in standard models from 75,000 pounds up to 250,000 pounds (Need something bigger? Contact our engineers). Each Titan Yacht Lift is custom designed by our engineers in consultation with the yacht manufacturer. Our engineers collect careful measurements of the yacht dimensions, the weight distribution, the water depth, tidal range and other conditions at the slip where the lift will be installed. Every detail is used to make the perfect fit and proper hull support for your dream yacht. When you take a look at all the features that are incorporated into the Titan Yacht Lift, it is no surprise that the Titan is known as the ultimate boat lift on the market.

One of our contractors in the Florida Keys, Marathon Seawalls and Docks, had a client that wanted something special for their 48-foot Viking Yacht. Naturally, we suggested the 100K Titan Yacht lift for them. The customer was very concerned about protecting their yacht from storm surge. Therefore, the contractor installed 40 foot Malaysian spun 14 inch diameter concrete piles so that the Titan powerheads would be installed 12 feet above the dock. This configuration will allow the cradles to be raised above the height of typical storm surge.

The Titan powerheads are completely enclosed to protect the components from wind, rain, and salt spray. The Titan powerheads are the most powerful and efficient drives in the industry, thereby maximizing output torque and lift speeds. To create the perfect look at the dock, the customer wanted the powerheads and cradles to match the color scheme of the boat. We are able to color match to any color that the customer desires. The customer provided a sample of “ethereal blue” to us and we had the powerheads and cradles professionally powder coated to match their Viking yacht. The two-toned color scheme (ethereal blue / white) was very striking.

Custom design services are included with the purchase of a Titan Yacht Lift. Viking Yacht Company provided us with the hull design so that our engineers could custom design the bunk system. We utilized a keel beam and stanchion pad design to properly lift this yacht. The engineered schematic for a bunk system designed to properly lift the 48’ Viking Yacht is shown below.

Most of the weight is carried in the stern of the 48’ Viking yacht. Heavy duty 4’ by 4’ stanchions pads were designed to carry this weight. We chose a linked column design to evenly distribute the weight across the pad and to provide a unique look that matched the piles.

The brains behind the system are the custom controls that are made in-house. The large gray box contains the major components of the control system. Variable frequency drives are at the heart of the system along with the programmable logic module. These provide both a soft start and stop to lessen the shock loading. This is accomplished by altering the frequency to the motors which will change the speed at which the motors turn. The system is “load-sensing”, which allows the lift to run faster than normal with a partial load. The drives can provide dynamic braking by injecting DC current into the motors. The dynamic braking is strong enough to stop and hold the lift in place without the assistance of the powerful brakes. By using dynamic braking in conjunction with the powerful motor brakes, the controls improve load management and increase the life of the lift components. Each powerhead operates independently and has its’ own limit switch. This allows the lift to stop automatically at the “up” and “down” positions and make the cradles self-leveling.

Even with all of this technology, the lift controls are exceptionally easy to use. In the picture above, the lower box houses the controls the homeowner interacts with. Simple “up”, “down” and “stop” control switches. The Titan Yacht Lift comes with “key fob” style remote controls with buttons for the same three functions. The controls have built-in overload protection, surge protection, and safety logic that automatically senses a problem and stops the lift. If you are worried about someone operating the lift while you are away, there is a keyed shut-off switch or you can close the control box door and secure it with a padlock. With all of the safety features built into these simple, straightforward controls, the homeowner can rest assured that the Titan Yacht Lift has their vessel safe and secure.

With all the yachts as unique as their owners, the IMM Quality Boat Lifts Titan Yacht Lift is the only choice to meet your custom needs. For the customer with exacting standards and when only the absolute best will do. Take a look at our design and see why IQ boat lifts are Built for a Lifetime.

Custom Superlifts Are a Key Component of World’s First Smart Marina

March 17, 2024December 15, 2020 by mhaley

Blue and white boat is raised from the water using an IMM Quality custom superlift at Gulf Star Marina in Fort Myers

Gulf Star Marina has been receiving a lot of praise for its revolutionary new marina. The automated storage and retrieval system is truly a technological marvel. Included in this achievement are the critical technological and engineering contributions from IMM Quality Boat Lifts that were necessary for the automated marina to function properly. IMM Quality Boat Lifts brought four major contributions to the project: 1) An industrial duty Superlift, engineered to run all day, every day. 2) Modifications to the Superlift structure to work seamlessly with the automated rail mounted shuttle. 3) Designing a universal bunking system that will accommodate boats with stepped hulls, v-hulls, catamarans, pontoons or tri-toons up to 16,000 pounds and 40 feet in length. 4) Building a one-of-a-kind boat lift control system that communicates with and perfectly integrates into the automated storage and retrieval system. Getting the boat out of the water is an important first step, and without IMM Quality Boat Lift’s expertise, this first-of-its-kind project would never have come to fruition.

Industrial duty 44,000 pound Superlifts were installed in both of the marina slips. Unlike the Superlift, typical boat lift drives (E-drive, Sea-Drive, H2, etc.) use a screw gear to turn a toothed gear. These drives are highly inefficient (~30%) which makes them very difficult to backdrive (the ability of the toothed gear to turn the screw). This allows manufacturers to save money by not including a brake. It is kind of scary that the only thing holding the boat up on those lifts is the inefficiency of their drives. On the other hand, Superlifts use cycloidal drives. These amazing drives are super-efficient (>96%), have no teeth or screw threads to wear out or break off, and use fail-safe brakes to hold the lift in place. The greater efficiency of the Superlift drive translates into faster lift speeds and lower energy use. The bombproof design of the cycloidal drive allows us to offer them with a lifetime warranty.

Many modifications were made to the standard Superlift to make it function with the automated rail mounted shuttle. The key factor is that the lift must come to the exact same “up position” every time so that the rails on the lift perfectly align with the rails on land allowing the automated shuttle to function properly. In the picture below, the rails are aligned properly.

We also wanted to minimize forces that could misalign the cradles. Therefore we used pivoting cable pulley brackets to minimize side-loads from pulling the cradle beams off-center. These pivoting pulleys will also result in greater cable life.

The automated shuttle is connected by an electrical communications cable that provides power and carries the signals that control the shuttle’s movements. We installed a channel down the center of the cradle (see red arrow in the picture below) to capture and support the automated shuttle’s electrical control cable.

We installed roller guides to travel up the sides of the rectangular concrete piles to prevent the lift cradle from shifting from side to side or from front to back within the slip. These guides prevent the lift cradles from shifting with changing currents and when a boat enters the slip.

The slip’s concrete seawall has a concrete support for the land side rails that extends out over the water (see picture below). We used roller guides that traveled up both sides of the concrete support to set the side to side position of the lift’s cradle. We developed an alignment locking mechanism that had a square tube with a bracket and two guide rollers installed on the underside of the concrete support for the land side rail (not visible in picture). This element was installed perpendicular to (90 degrees) a matched square tube with a bracket and two guide rollers (shown below as “Alignment Locking Mechanism”). These two elements come together (think interlocking C’s) and set the three dimensional position of the lift cradle so that the land side and lift cradle rails are perfectly aligned.

To provide walk around access for the marina staff, we installed port, starboard and stern access platforms. The platforms are made from Thru-Flow to provide maintenance-free decking in a marine environment. For added safety, we also installed handrails along the sides of each lift.

One of the biggest challenges was designing a universal bunking system that would accommodate any boat up to 16,000 pounds, 12 foot beam and 40 feet in length. There are so many different shapes and sizes of boat hulls that our engineers had to design a highly flexible system for the lift. We started with adjustable bunk brackets that can rotate (see below). These brackets allow the bunks to be vertical or angled and they provide the flexibility to deal with different beam sizes.

Another key element of the universal bunk system was the bunk covers. We used a cushioned PVC bunk cap. These covers have just the right amount of give that allows the bunks to better conform to a variety of hull shapes including standard or stepped hulls. Another neat feature of the universal brackets is that they can fold down out of the way (see below). This allows the installation of specialized bunks for catamarans, pontoons and tri-toons onto the lift cradle.

The final, and possibly most impressive engineering contribution, was the one-of-its-kind control system (see below). Common power came in for both Superlifts and split to the two shut off switches. Each lift had its own control system which allowed each slip to operate independently and simultaneously. For safety, each control system had a ground fault circuit interrupter with a fault indicator light to alert the staff.

The marina’s automated stacker system is powered by 480-volt electrical service and the electrician delivered 480-volt power to the Superlift site. Boat lifts typically utilize only 240-volt power, so we had to find components and design a control system that could handle this high voltage. Here you can see the power supply, terminal strips, relays, variable frequency motor drive controllers, brake contractors, and logic module (see below). These controls incorporated a soft start and soft stop to decrease the shock load (mechanical stress) which will extend the life of the lift. These controls also directly communicate with the automated stacker system and are tied into all of the emergency stops of the system. The controls prevent the automated shuttle from being sent to the Superlift while it is in use.

It was very important to the marina that our lift had simple controls for their staff to use. Pictured below is the control box for one of the slips. We also included two handheld remote controls with simple “up”, “down” and “stop” controls. Each remote control could control either lift. By pressing the “1/2” button, the remote control toggles between slip 1 and slip 2. The marina also wanted the lifts to be able to run in an automatic mode and this ability was incorporated into the control system.

The limit switches were some of the most important components of the control system. They were used to make sure that the lift always stopped in the proper “up” and “down” positions. If the lift was not in the proper position, the automated shuttle might fall into the water, get stuck, or even damage a boat. Each lift had four powerheads (a single powerhead pictured below), each with their own independent rotary limit switch. The limit switches automatically stop the lift in the proper position. If the lift cradle became out of level, having independent limit switches at the four corners will make the lift cradles automatically self-level.

In addition, the controls utilized lever-style roller limit switches near each rail. These limit switches allowed precise positioning of the lift and made sure that the land side and lift cradle rails were properly aligned.

IMM Quality Boat Lifts was excited to be part of this amazing project. We feel a sense of hometown pride knowing that SWFL has the most advanced marina in the world. Our engineers always enjoy the unique challenges of these large custom projects. Although they are often a labor of love and mostly research and development projects, the knowledge we gain from these projects is invaluable. All of our customers can look forward to some fantastic innovations based on what we learned at Gulf Star Marina. Happy Boating!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Custom Superlifts and Smart Marinas

What are Custom Superlifts Boat Lift?

Custom Superlifts are specialized boat lifts designed and manufactured by IMM Quality Boat Lifts to meet the unique needs of boat owners and marinas. These lifts feature custom-engineered components and innovative technology to provide superior performance and functionality.

What role do Custom Superlifts play in the world's first Smart Marina?

Custom Superlifts are a key component of the world's first Smart Marina, a cutting-edge marina equipped with advanced technology and automated systems for enhanced efficiency, safety, and convenience. These lifts contribute to the overall functionality and modernization of the marina.

What makes Custom Superlifts ideal for Smart Marinas?

Custom Superlifts are designed to integrate seamlessly with the smart infrastructure of modern marinas. They may feature advanced automation, remote control capabilities, and compatibility with smart monitoring systems, allowing marina operators to optimize operations and provide exceptional service to boaters.

What are the benefits of incorporating Custom Superlifts into a Smart Marina?

By integrating Custom Superlifts into a Smart Marina, marina operators can streamline boat storage and retrieval processes, enhance security and monitoring capabilities, and improve overall customer experience. These lifts help maximize space utilization and minimize downtime, contributing to the efficiency and profitability of the marina.

Can Custom Superlifts be tailored to specific marina requirements?

Yes, Custom Superlifts are designed to be highly customizable to accommodate the unique needs and specifications of each marina. From size and capacity to functionality and aesthetics, these lifts can be tailored to meet the exact requirements of the marina and its clientele.

How does the automation feature of Custom Superlifts benefit marina operators and boat owners?

Automation features integrated into Custom Superlifts allow for remote operation, scheduling, and monitoring of lift activities. Marina operators can efficiently manage boat traffic, optimize lift usage, and ensure timely storage and retrieval of vessels. Boat owners benefit from convenient access to their boats and enhanced security measures.

Boat Lift and Dock Winterization

December 10, 2021November 19, 2020 by mhaley

Winter is coming. It is all too easy to believe that there is no need for ongoing care during the winter months, but it is important to realize that without proper preventative care, ice can wreak havoc with your dock and boat lift, which may result in thousands of dollars in damage. As the ice expands and contracts, the pressure can cause your dock to become misshapen or damaged. Strong winds, tides and seiches can also cause ice floes into your dock, damaging pilings and dock structure. If snow builds up on top of your boat, the extra weight may cause your boat lift to fail if it isn’t removed promptly.

How To Protect Your Dock

The goal is to prevent ice from forming around your permanent dock. There are two main methods, bubblers and deicers. A dock bubbler uses self-weighted air hoses connected to an air compressor on shore. The low pressure, high volume air releases thousands of bubbles through holes in the hose which agitate the water and brings warmer water to the surface. This keeps the area free of ice and works best when the water depth is 6 feet or less. Dock deicers are a submersible unit with a built-in impeller and motor that is installed below the dock. The deicer’s propellers create an artificial current that draws up warmer subsurface water to the surface. Creating a continuous flow of warmer water to the surface prevents ice from forming. Although these methods are not full-proof, they are good enough to protect your dock during most winters.

How To Protect Your Boat Lift

The first thing to do when winterizing your boat lift is to perform a thorough inspection. Pay special attention to your cables and replace them if there is any sign of fraying. Spraying the cables with a penetrating lubricant may protect them from ice. If your lift has a chain or bearings that require lubrication, make sure that they are sufficiently lubricated. It is best to store your boat on-shore during winter. If this is not possible, make sure to raise your lift as high as possible and secure the cradles to the top beams and other dock structure using strapping. This will prevent your boat from rocking in the wind and will support the boat if a cable were to break. These measures should be sufficient to safeguard your boat lift as long as the underlying dock structure and pilings are not damaged.

We recently wrote about a customer of ours that had a neat idea to protect his elevator-style boat lift during the Michigan winter. He safely stores his boat on land during winter and uses our custom engineered pivoting brackets to lift the elevator tracks out of the water for winter storage. What a great way to prevent track damage from the ice.

How To Protect Your Boat

Nobody knows how to better protect your boat than the insurance experts at BoatUS. Please check out their complete guide to winterizing your boat. It is really well written and thorough.

Here’s looking forward to Spring so that we can begin boating again.

Adding Value to Your Property

November 9, 2020 by mhaley

The home improvement craze that has swept the nation has shown many people how to increase the value of their property through simple projects. An increased sales price is not the only way a home improvement can add value to your property. Certain improvements allow new leisure activities that make life more fun.

A client of ours uses Airbnb and Vrbo to rent his waterfront property as a vacation home. He provides the use of a kayak and paddleboard to his renters as an added benefit for his property. His customers used to have to drag the bottom of the kayak and paddleboard against the seawall edge, scratching and damaging them. There was also the issue of safely getting into the kayak, or onto the paddleboard, from the top of the seawall. Our client wanted a safe and easy way for his vacationists to launch the kayak and paddleboard from the corner of his seawall. We suggested our dual kayak lift.

After approving the layout, we arranged the installation with a local contractor.

Just finishing anchoring the dual kayak lift to the sea wall.

The engineer who designed the lift went to inspect the installation and got a photo with his creation. Our clients looked at the other options on the market and chose the IMM Quality Kayak Lift because they were amazed by its stability and rigidity. The competitor’s lifts all were rickety, uncomfortable and unsafe. They were also impressed with how simple the lift was to operate.

We have always taken pride in using the highest quality materials with the best engineered designs. In addition to our unmatched build quality, the ergonomics of our lifts are second to none. Other kayak launches use vertical ladders installed against the seawall with a small platform or no platform at all. This makes the ladder difficult to get on from the seawall, it is uncomfortable, and increases the likelihood of falling off backwards from the ladder. Our kayak lift has the ladder installed perpendicular to the seawall, the ladder is angled for easy climbing and it terminates at a large and stable platform. Along with the large grab rails, these features make the IMM Quality Kayak Lift extremely easy and safe to use.

An Install Photo.

Installation Photo — Another Install Photo.

A Nice Property With Dual Kayak Lift — What A Nice Property!

It is easy to see how installing an IMM Quality Dual Kayak Lift added a lot of value to their property. Improving the safety and comfort of their guest’s experience must be priceless. Great work!

Custom Beamless Boat Lifts

March 18, 2024October 22, 2020 by mhaley

IMM Quality Boat Lifts has over 40 years and three generations of engineering excellence. Our company makes use of our expertise to custom design boat lift solutions that meet specific requests from our customers. If you have been working with another boat lift company and you have gotten the feeling that they want to sell you a “one size fits all” solution, please give us a ring and talk to our engineering design team. Our design services are included in the pricing and we will make sure that you get a custom lift design that is exactly the way you want it. Best of all, with an IMM Quality boat lift, you can rest assured that you are getting the best-engineered boat lift on the market.

A customer of ours from Bennington, Nebraska was building a really cool dock for his property. This dock was being constructed of reinforced concrete and steel I-beams. The customer sent us the design of his dock.

His dock was designed to have two slips, one for a Sea-Doo 230 SP Jet boat and the other for two Sea-Doo Sparks. The design of the dock did not have any pilings available to mount the boat lifts. The customer wanted the lifts to be bolted to a post that was welded to the dock framework. When we received the customer’s plans, the dock construction was already underway.

After consultation with our engineers, a plan was agreed upon. The customer did not want top beams mounted above the deck height, so our beamless boat lifts were selected for this project. Our Beamless lifts have powerheads at all four corners whereas the industry standard is just two powerheads. Not only does this provide extra power and speed, by using four powerheads our Beamless lifts do not require any components to be installed below the waterline. These benefits greatly increase the durability of our Beamless lifts. Our engineers then sent the homeowner a slip layout showing how our Beamless lifts and his watercraft would fit in the dock.

There are some additional neat features that this project incorporated. We designed the PWC bunks so that one set was four inches higher than the other. This height difference is useful when you only want to use one of the jet skis. You can float off one jet ski while the other remains securely on its bunks. The Beamless boat lifts also use the GEM GR4A controls. In the automatic mode, all four powerheads operate until the built-in limit switch is engaged. However, these controls also allow you to independently use only a single powerhead. This way you can tip your watercraft on the lift to assist with drainage or for any other reason.

Here the customer is practicing using only a single powerhead at a time with the GR4A.

We all know how much fun it is to go boating. And it is great to dream big. If you need a boat lift at your dream house, IMM Quality Boat Lifts custom design service is here to make your dreams a reality. Happy Boating!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IMM Quality Boat Lifts and Beamless Boat Lifts:

What sets IMM Quality Boat Lifts apart from other companies?

IMM Quality Boat Lifts boasts over 40 years and three generations of engineering excellence. We specialize in custom designing boat lift solutions tailored to our customers' specific requests, ensuring they receive a personalized solution rather than a generic "one size fits all" product.

Are design services included in the pricing of IMM Quality Boat Lifts?

Yes, our design services are included in the pricing. Customers can work directly with our engineering design team to create a custom lift design that meets their exact requirements and preferences.

Can IMM Quality Boat Lifts accommodate unique dock designs, such as those without pilings for mounting boat lifts?

Absolutely. We excel in designing solutions for unique dock configurations. For example, we have successfully accommodated customers with dock designs featuring no pilings by utilizing alternative mounting solutions, such as bolting lifts to posts welded to the dock framework.

What are Beamless Boat Lifts, and what are their key features?

Beamless Boat Lifts are a specialty product offered by IMM Quality Boat Lifts. These lifts feature powerheads at all four corners, providing extra power and speed compared to industry-standard lifts with only two powerheads. Additionally, Beamless lifts do not require any components to be installed below the waterline, enhancing their durability and longevity.

Can Beamless Boat Lifts accommodate different types of watercraft?

Yes, Beamless Boat Lifts can be customized to accommodate various types of watercraft, including jet boats, jet skis, and other personal watercraft (PWC). Our engineers can tailor the lift configuration to fit the specific dimensions and requirements of each watercraft.

What additional features do Beamless Boat Lifts offer?

Beamless Boat Lifts offer several innovative features, including adjustable PWC bunks with different heights to accommodate multiple watercraft securely. The lifts also feature GEM GR4A controls, allowing for automatic operation with all four powerheads or independent operation of individual powerheads for specific tasks, such as drainage or maintenance.

How can I get started with designing a custom boat lift for my waterfront property?

Simply reach out to IMM Quality Boat Lifts to discuss your needs and preferences with our expert engineering team. We'll work closely with you to create a custom lift design that aligns with your vision and ensures optimal performance and functionality for your watercraft.

Boathouse Lift Solutions

August 22, 2022October 14, 2020 by mhaley

red and white boat uses boathouse lift solution by IMM Quality

IMM Quality Boat Lifts has a long tradition of engineering excellence. Our company makes use of this expertise to custom design boat lift solutions that perfectly fit your property. If you have been working with another boat lift company and you have gotten the feeling that they want to sell you a “one size fits all” solution, please give us a ring and talk to our engineering design team. We will make sure that you get a custom lift design that best suits your needs. With an IMM Quality boat lift, you can rest assured that you are getting the best-engineered boat lift on the market.

Sometimes, putting a lift into a boathouse can be rather difficult. Many of our competitor’s designs require the lift to be made a permanent part of the boathouse structure. Their boat lift top beams are made with risers that support the boathouse roof structural framing. Therefore, to replace the lift, you must literally take the roof off the boathouse. Or what if the boathouse was made before you were able to install a boat lift? Again, you would have to remove the roof before installing these kinds of lifts. We have always felt that this was a poor engineering solution. The engineers at IMM Quality Boat Lifts have developed solutions for boathouses that will give you many options to choose from. Why let another company force you to tear your boathouse roof off when IMM Quality can provide you a boat lift for your existing boathouse that is safe, durable and easy to use.

Our customer on Flathead Lake in Bigfork, Montana wanted to install a boat lift into a beautiful boathouse that he was building. This boathouse had some unusual design features. None of the piles went above the level of the dock’s decking. The boathouse was framed with large timber beams that were secured to the dock framing. The structural beams that run parallel with the slip have decking directly below them. This prevents hanging the boatlift from beneath these structural beams because the decking would be in the way of the cables and cradles.

Our first suggestion was to hang the boatlift from the structural beams that run across the slip. Due to the location of the cross-members and the center of gravity of the boat, this choice would have required the boat to be located “off-center” within the boathouse. The customer did not like the look of this solution. Therefore, we suggested using side-mount brackets with standard top beams. These brackets allow the installation of the top beams parallel with the slip, but move the cable drop away from the decking, out over the water.

Here is a side mount bracket.

Here is the engineered drawing of a side mount bracket.

And here is a picture showing how the side mount brackets allow the installation of standard top beams to the side of structural beams.

Once the customer was happy with how the boat lift would be mounted to the boathouse structure, our design team made sure that everything else made sense. The customer provided the dimensions of the dock and boathouse. He provided the type of boat and mentioned that he might like to upgrade to a bigger boat in the future. From this information, our engineers created a slip layout and custom-designed the top beam’s length, capacity and winder position to accommodate the largest size boat that could conceivably fit within the customer’s boathouse. These custom modifications resulted in the boat lift top beams being cantilevered with a cable drop forward of the side mount brackets. This will give the customer some room to grow.

Slip layout with boat lift design to maximize boat size within boathouse.

All that was left was to install the lift, get a boat on it, and enjoy the time on Flathead Lake! Great job by all involved.

The Best Custom Engineered Boat Lifts

March 18, 2024October 6, 2020 by mhaley

IMM Quality Boat Lifts has a long history of custom engineering. It is fun to take a customer’s dream and make it a reality. A customer of ours from Florida also has a home on Lake Michigan. They wanted to install an elevator style lift to their pier so that the tracks would be able to pivot out of the water during the winter months to avoid damage from the ice. From the customer’s sketches, we were able to design a custom Platinum 20K elevator lift to meet his needs. The tracks have a special bearing plate on the end to rest on the rocky lake bottom. The track to pier mounting brackets were designed with a pivot pin to allow the tracks to swing out of the water. This post details the design of the custom lift that perfectly met our customer’s needs. The following images show the customer’s hand drawn sketches that our engineers used to design the lift. The sketches detail the layout of his pier and steel piles. The sketches also show the foot plate for the track, a removable pile mount bracket and a seawall (pier) mount bracket that has a pin in it, allowing the lift to pivot out of the water. A detailed sketch showing how to offset the pile mount bracket from the pile was also given.

From these drawings, our engineers were able to design the novel parts that would be needed to make an elevator lift work with our customer’s unique needs.

Here is the design of the elevator track (rails) foot plate that will rest on the rocky bed of Lake Michigan.

Here is the design of the removable pile mount bracket that clamps to the elevator track. The layout of this bracket has the track run offset to the pile and when removed allows the tracks to tip backwards over the pier without the piles getting in the way.

This is the design for the seawall mount that will attach to the pier and elevator tracks. The pivot bolt will allow our customer to pivot the elevator lift’s tracks out of the water during winter to avoid damage from the ice.

Here is the custom engineered Platinum 20K elevator lift just after arrival in Michigan!

Lake Michigan Custom Platinum 20k Elevator

Here you can see the offset pile mount bracket and the pivoting pier mounted bracket.

Lake Michigan Custom Tracks Platinum 20k Elevator

Close up of the removable pile mount bracket showing how the tracks are offset from the pile.

Lake Michigan Custom Platinum 20k Elevator Close Up Of Pivot

Close up of the pivoting pier mount bracket. Below the water line you can make out the elevator track foot plate.

Lake Michigan Custom Platinum 20k Elevator Installed

Here is the IMM Quality Boat Lifts custom engineered Platinum 20K elevator lift installed and ready to go. It is just waiting on the delivery of the customer’s new boat. We can’t wait to see this lift in action and then stored for the winter with the tracks tipped up. Will update with photos when available. With three generations of engineering experience, IMM Quality Boat Lifts has the experience and knowledge to tackle any situation. So if you need something special, don’t hesitate to call our custom design specialists. Happy boating!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Custom Engineered Boat Lifts

What is custom engineering, and why is it important for boat lifts?

Custom engineering involves designing and manufacturing boat lifts tailored to meet specific customer requirements and unique situations. At IMM Quality Boat Lifts, custom engineering allows us to create solutions that perfectly fit our customers' needs, ensuring optimal performance and functionality.

Can you provide an example of a custom-engineered boat lift?

Certainly! One example is a custom Platinum 20K elevator lift designed for a customer with a home on Lake Michigan. This lift was specifically engineered to pivot out of the water during winter months to avoid ice damage, using innovative design features and specialized brackets.

How does the custom engineering process work at IMM Quality Boat Lifts?

Our custom engineering process begins with understanding the customer's requirements and unique challenges. Our team of experienced engineers then utilizes advanced design tools and techniques to develop tailored solutions that address the specific needs of each customer.

What are some key features of the custom-engineered Platinum 20K elevator lift for Lake Michigan?

The custom Platinum 20K elevator lift features specialized tracks with foot plates designed to rest on the rocky bed of Lake Michigan. Additionally, removable pile mount brackets and pivoting pier mount brackets allow the lift to pivot out of the water during winter, minimizing ice damage.

How are customer specifications incorporated into the custom engineering process?

Customer specifications, such as sketches and drawings, serve as the foundation for the custom engineering process. Our engineers work closely with customers to understand their vision and requirements, translating them into practical and innovative design solutions.

What sets IMM Quality Boat Lifts' custom-engineered lifts apart from standard models?

Our custom-engineered lifts are designed to meet the specific needs and challenges of each customer, offering unparalleled functionality, durability, and performance. With three generations of engineering experience, we have the expertise to tackle any situation and deliver exceptional results.

How can customers benefit from partnering with IMM Quality Boat Lifts for custom-engineered solutions?

By choosing IMM Quality Boat Lifts for custom-engineered solutions, customers gain access to decades of engineering experience, knowledge, and innovation. Our team of specialists is dedicated to providing personalized service and delivering high-quality, tailor-made boat lifts that exceed expectations.

Designing the Ultimate Flats Boat Lift!

October 1, 2020September 28, 2020 by mhaley

If you are a serious angler and have dedicated yourself to fishing the excellent shallows around the coastline, you are probably familiar with microskiffs. They are fast enough to get you wherever you want to go and light enough for one person to drag back into deeper water when you run aground. Most microskiffs have less draft than fishing kayaks, allowing you to explore some very narrow creeks or even navigate the flats during the lowest tides of Florida’s winter. So whether you want to fish the backwaters, or if you simply enjoy finding hidden pools
deep in the mangroves to get away from it all, a microskiff may be a great boat choice for you.

Word has really gotten around about the innovative new Kayak Lift from IMM Quality Boat Lifts. A customer of ours was blown away by how much better our kayak launch was than anything else on the market and asked if we could modify it to accommodate his microskiff. The engineers at IMM Quality Boat Lifts have a rich history of designing innovative products that perfectly meet the needs of our customers. They were able to modify our Kayak Launch into a simple, yet full-featured, lift for microskiffs. This post details the design process.

The figure above shows the changes our engineers made to the Kayak Lift to accommodate microskiffs. The figures on the right show a side view and top view of the standard Kayak Lift whereas the figures on the left show the same views with the modifications for microskiffs. As you can see, the size of the mounting base was increased by 125% to deal with the greater forces associated with the heavier microskiffs. To fit the larger microskiffs, the bunking area was widened and lengthened. Also, the 1 ½” square tube (1/4” wall thickness) cradle beams on the Kayak Lift were increased to 2” by 3” I-beams to support the microskiffs. Materials stress analysis was performed on the new design using the Autodesk Inventor software package and the structural analysis was examined and confirmed by an outside engineering firm. Finally, we upgraded the lift to an electric winch, housed the battery inside the base and incorporated solar panels into the skin of the base.

The final step was to make sure our lift would work at the customer’s home. Careful measurements were taken of the seawall, pier and shoreline. Water depth measurements and tidal fluctuations at the pier were taken. Then we put together a slip layout for the customer’s approval.

Our customer couldn’t wait to get the lift installed. Here are some pictures of the final result.

Advice for Summer Rainstorms

July 13, 2022September 17, 2020 by mhaley

Summer is boating season, and going out boating with a bunch of friends or family members on a typical summer day is always a good time. So, whether this is your first summer on the water or you have been boating for decades, we have one gentle reminder about summer rain and keeping your boat on a lift. You need to make sure that the rainwater doesn’t overload your lift.

Many people believe that installing a bilge pump system, especially one with a high flow rate (> 1,000 gallons per hour), is enough to safeguard their boat on a lift. In fact, some people will turn off the system when the boat is on the lift, thinking it is completely safe because it is “out of the water”. You should NEVER do this. Water weighs 8.345 pounds per gallon and excess water can quickly overload a boat lift. Rainwater may accumulate in a hull location that is off-center to the lift, causing excess stress on one corner of the lift that may cause a failure. Always leave your bilge pump system active when your boat is on the lift.

Even with a good bilge pump system, heavy rainfalls from summer storms can easily overwhelm the bilge system. And the torrential rains from tropical storms and hurricanes can overwhelm the bilge pump in a matter of minutes, overloading the lift to the point of catastrophic failure. That is why it is also a good idea to open your boats drain plugs when it is stored on a lift (just don’t forget to put them back in before you go boating again). Furthermore, if you know a hurricane is coming, it is always best to remove your boat to dry land during the storm.

It is better to be safe than sorry, and if you take this advice, your boat and lift will safely weather the summer storms. We hope you enjoy your time on the water, and please, don’t wind up like this guy!

Ready for Export!

September 2, 2020 by mhaley

Our Made in America products are the finest in the world. Our commitment to quality and durability is getting our products noticed the world over. Made in our factories in Fort Myers, Fl,
IMM Quality Boat Lifts ships our products to the four corners of the world. Whether it’s Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Africa, or Asia, we have you covered. We freight orders all over North America, with this recent order on its way to Canada. We are conveniently located close to the port of Miami, which allows us to send our boat lifts to any port in the world via cargo containers. If you want American Made style and world-class durability for your boat lift, your best choice is IMM Quality.

Fishin’ With A Mission

February 26, 2021September 2, 2020 by mhaley

IMM Quality Boat Lifts was a proud sponsor of the Fishin’ With a Mission event this year at the South Seas Resort on Captiva. We all had a blast in the sunshine and caught some amazing fish!

The weather was beautiful all weekend and the kids had so much fun.

The fishing shirts were really awesome this year. They kept you cool and protected from the sun.

All the parents waiting for the kid’s tournament off the docks. The fish were really hungry this year. I have never seen so many fish caught so quickly. Everyone did a great job.

Congratulations to all the winners from the adult’s offshore tournament.

1st Place- Boatmaster Trailers with 161.75 total inches,
2^nd Place and largest Snook to JanPro with 157.75″ / 34.5″,
3^rd Place and largest Trout to VanDyk Mortgage with 156″/23.5″,
and largest Redfish to Twisted T’s with 33.75!!

A big thank you to Saint Michael Lutheran School and all the organizers. We can’t wait for next year!

Paddle Through These Six Benefits of Using a Kayak Lift

August 22, 2022July 6, 2020 by mhaley

Paddle Through These Five Benefits Of Using A Kayak Lift or custom boat lifts

Living on the water has been a long-time dream of yours. Besides delivering daily spectacular views, your waterfront home gives you the chance to do more kayaking. Kayaking is a proven way to tone muscles, increase weight loss, and reduce stress. However, just like everything else in life, your success with kayaking depends on the level of effort that you put into the activity. The benefits of using a kayak lift help to ensure that kayaking remains a lifelong pursuit. Here are five benefits of employing a kayak lift when launching your craft from your permanent dock.

#1 Safe, Stable Launch

Remember your introduction to kayaking? Capsizing and splashing around in the water was just part of the experience. Today, you find your thrills gliding through the water without getting soaked. Employing a kayak lift at your dock or seawall allows you to safely enter your kayak without the risk of flipping it. The aluminum structure is securely attached to your dock. The lift cradles your kayak while you climb down the ladder and board your craft safely and securely using the lift’s ADA compliant handrail. This is a great option if you want to minimize flipping hazards for kayak photography trips or for winter kayaking.

#2 Built for Comfort

Most kayak lifts feature a ladder that runs straight up the wall, so you climb down with your back to the kayak. It’s hard to board in this position, which is why the unique design of the IMM Quality Boat Lifts kayak launch includes a ladder perpendicular to the dock or seawall. The ladder is also angled slightly, making it much easier to climb than a ladder that is completely vertical. An angled ladder ensures less risk of falling backward while boarding, and especially when returning home tired and shaky. At the foot of the conveniently perpendicular and angled ladder is a large platform with plenty of space to turn around and place all your things.

#3 Accommodates Many Sizes and Styles of Kayaks

You’ve become quite the expert about everything kayaking over the years. After much research, you know the kayak size and configuration that suits your lifestyle the best. Whether you need a kayak that can conquer choppy surf or one that you can easily maneuver in a calm canal, you can get a kayak lift to fit it. Kayak lifts have adjustable bunks that can support kayaks of varying widths. You’ll still be able to use the lift if you upgrade your kayak or have one of those specialty models such as a catamaran kayak. The kayak lifts that are offered by IMM Quality Boat Lifts support up to 1200 pounds of weight.

#4 Easy Re-Entry

Nothing’s worse than taking awesome pictures while kayaking and having your equipment ruined when you try to disembark from the craft. When you use kayak lifts, you can just glide right up to your dock and safely climb up the ladder without getting you or your gear wet.

#5 One-Person Operation

While kayaking can be a good way to socialize with like-minded boaters, sometimes you’ll want to hit the waterway solo. Kayak lifts support solo kayaking trips with easy-to-use functional features and safety mechanisms. You can load your kayak onto the lift, lower it into the water, and glide off to your next adventure without the help of another person who must steady the kayak or hand you gear. Using a kayak lift makes quick work of the bothersome part of kayaking, which is getting into and out of the craft. The hand crank for the manual winch of an IMM Quality kayak lift is installed at 36″, waist height, which makes operation even easier.

#6 Options for Powered Lift Operations

Employing a kayak lift leaves you with more time for paddling and exploring your waterway. Instead of trying to maintain your balance as you enter your kayak, you can simply climb into a stable kayak and lower yourself into the water with a manual or electric winch system. IMM Quality Boat Lifts offers an electric kayak lift that’s solar-powered.

Conclusion

After working hard and playing even harder for the majority of your life, you now want some of the creature comforts that make living more convenient and enjoyable. A kayak lift is one of those items that delivers a fun, hassle-free experience on the water.

Custom Retractable Bridge on the Florida Keys

February 28, 2023June 20, 2020 by mhaley

Aluminum railings on a vlotburg style bridge in Rose Key

Excited to share this new project, a Retractable bridge custom built on the Upper Keys in Florida by our engineering department at IMM Quality Boat Lifts. (Vlotbrug bridge)

This Bridge joins two separate islands and by regulation there was not an option just to build a fixed bridge but needed to be able to leave the space in between the columns completely clear.

Watch the video below to see how it works or check our gallery for more details!

The structure is made of Marine Grade 6061-T6 Aluminum and the decking is made of Thruflow™

Video

Gallery

6 Benefits of Owning a Boat

March 17, 2024June 10, 2020 by mhaley

Owning a boat can open up new opportunities that are simply not possible for people who are stuck on dry land. With so many types and sizes to choose from, it doesn’t matter whether your objective is to fish local waters or travel around the world. Many boats are large enough to accommodate several people, so you can use them for business meetings or social gatherings. You also have a lot of options when choosing a boat since modern vessels can be as luxurious or affordable as you want. If you are thinking about spending time on the water, have a look at the most significant benefits of owning a boat.

1. Freedom to Go Anywhere

One of the biggest advantages of owning a boat is that you can literally go anywhere in the world with your vessel. If your boat is large enough, you could travel between cities or even traverse the open ocean. Even small vessels can be used to circumnavigate the globe. When you own your boat, you can take it out on the water whenever you want. You can go out on the shoreline for a couple of hours after work for a quick fishing trip, or you can go on the voyage of a lifetime for several months. The bottom line is that owning a boat gives you the freedom to go places that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to enjoy.

2. A Home Away from Home

Larger boats can literally be called home. Some boats come with bedrooms (cabins), kitchen areas (galleys), bathrooms (heads), and everything else that you would expect in a regular house. However, you do not have to spend millions of dollars on a superyacht to get a vessel that you can live on comfortably. Many smaller boats come with covered space to sleep, shower, and take shelter from the rain when you are out.

3. Spend Quality Time with Friends and Family

You can share your love of the seas with your friends and family on your boat. Even small boats usually provide enough space for as many as a dozen people to relax together. Therefore, you can spend quality time with your friends and family in a way that is simply not possible on dry land.

4. Boats Can Be Great Fun

Boat owners often get addicted to spending time out at sea because doing so can be exhilarating. If you have not spent a significant amount of time on the water, you will have years to explore waterways with your friends and family. Fishing from a boat is dramatically better than on land since you can travel directly to the spots where the best fish tend to live and look for food. You can also use your boat to host parties for your friends and family, and they can join in on all the fun that there is to be had on the open seas. As a result, boats are one of the best investments available for people who are looking to get more excitement out of life.

5. Learn New Skills

When you own a boat, you will get to learn new skills that most people never have the opportunity to learn. Many boat owners act as their own captain, so you will learn how to pilot, manage, and maintain your vessel. Being a captain comes with a wide range of responsibilities, and you will get to oversee carrying out these functions. In the process, you will learn useful skills that can be used to get more out of your boat or even to transition to an exciting new career path.

6. Potential for a Return on Investment

Nobody can deny that boats can entail high upkeep costs. Nevertheless, you can significantly reduce the total cost of ownership of your vessel by chartering it out for a few weeks or months every year. Many yachts only have to be chartered for a few weeks each year to break even. Owners can then enjoy their boat for the remainder of the year while deducting the cost of maintenance, depreciation, repairs, and even improvements. Since boats tend to retain their value over time, they can be a great way to have years of fun without spending a lot of money. Convinced to give boat ownership a try? Don’t forget to protect your investment by storing it out of the water on a durable boat lift from one of the leading names in the industry – IMM Quality Boat Lifts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 4500 Dual PWC Jet Ski Lift

What kind of freedom does owning a boat provide?

Owning a boat offers the freedom to explore various waterways, from local lakes to the open ocean, on your own schedule.

Can a boat serve as a home away from home?

Yes, larger boats can have living spaces, including bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, making them comfortable for extended stays on the water.

How does owning a boat enhance time with friends and family?

Boats provide a unique setting for quality time, allowing for a range of activities like fishing, exploring, and relaxing together.

What are the recreational benefits of owning a boat?

Beyond transportation, boats offer fun activities such as fishing, water sports, and hosting gatherings on the water.

Can boat ownership offer financial benefits?

While boats require investment, chartering your yacht or boat can offset costs and potentially offer a return on investment.