Sananda

Table of Contents

• • The Problems with Boat Slings
  • The Advantages of Cradles

Do you plan to build or install a boat lift for a waterfront home or marina? Many boat owners ask whether a boat lift sling vs cradle lift is the best choice in this context. However, the solution depends on a combination of factors, including your installation location and the shape of your boat. Before it is possible to determine whether boat lift slings vs cradles are better for your application, it is important to understand how these two boat lift accessories differ.

What are boat lift slings? Also called hoist slings, these straps wrap around your boat to offer support and distribute the boat’s weight while it is lifted. Boat lift slings are often used in the commercial shipping industry, but also have residential applications when installed within a boathouse lift.

However, it is incredibly important to be careful when choosing the fabric used for your boat lift slings. The best hoist slings are made from polyester – as opposed to nylon – due to the material’s low stretch value. A polyester boat sling more effectively maintains its working load limit when wet.

Another consideration when purchasing boat lift slings for sale would be to consider the thickness of the manufacturing material. For small personal watercraft like kayaks or jet skis, a 2-ply sling is likely sufficient. For larger vessels, 4-ply thickness offers heavy duty use and greater durability.

The Problems with Boat Slings

Poorly sized or ill-fitting slings can exert too much pressure on your boat’s hull and sides, which can result in expensive damage. This often occurs when boat lift slings are not properly paired and fitted to the specific type of boat lift installed at your home or marina.

Boat owners who experience problems with their boat slings also report the following concerns:
• Too much trouble positioning the straps
• Straps wearing through quickly
• Chafing the hull at contact points
• Hard to get close to the boat to wash it down
• Difficulty closing the windshield window due to straps closing up
• Lose of valuable boathouse space to large suspended slings
• Limited ability to customize slings or prevent damage over time

Did you know that water depth also affects whether boat lift slings vs cradle lifts can be used for your boat lift? Boaters who live on canals or in areas with frequent inclement weather activity should avoid using slings. If your boat is resting within slings when a heavy storm hits, your boat might swing and knock into your dock, incurring pricy damage. Even worse, boats kept in slings have been known to float away when the waters levels rise quickly. Yikes! Who wants to risk that?

As a result, boat slings can only be reliably used within shallow water settings. That makes them most commonly suited for use on shallow lakes. It’s why most boaters will tell you that cradles are the safest choice for boat storage.

The Advantages of Cradles

Cradles are overwhelmingly popular with boat lift owners – and for good reason. Much like the bunks on a trailer, the cradles on a boat lift help secure a boat into place. Because they are designed to deliver support and stability, the cradles can provide a much higher degree of security and protection for long term storage – and heavy summer storms – than boat lift slings.

Properly installed cradles distribute the weight of the boat evenly as it is lifted above the water. This prevents damage and strain to the hull. A variety of materials, from wood to fabric, can be used to further cushion your boat’s hull and protect it from harm. Here’s an example of a Legacy 32 hull supported by custom designed stanchions and pads. The stanchions that are more lateral have long, bleacher plank pads that are flexible and provide the best support to curved hulls.

Another advantage is the way that cradles can be customized to suit almost any setting – not just shallow water. With a few easy modifications, cradle lifts will accommodate watercraft of all sizes, shapes and materials.

Check Out These Custom Sailboat Cradles

IMM Quality Boat Lifts designed these custom cradles for one of our clients who wanted to store a sailboat at their waterfront home.

Our innovative in-house engineering team customized the marine-grade aluminum cradle beams to the specifications of their boat. The V-shaped dip in the cradle beams become more pronounced with sailboats that have larger keels and the length of the stanchion support tubes changes based on the shape of the sailboat hull. Installing custom bunks to carefully store the sailboat in place above the water, when it is not in use saves time and money on boat lift maintenance and bottom paint, too!

At IMM Quality Boat Lifts, we connect future boat owners and marine contractors with the best boat lift products in the industry. When it comes to boat lift accessories, such as boat lift cradles for building or installing a boathouse lift, IMM Quality offers a wide variety of marine-grade products for sale.

Our patented designs offer a variety of boat lift configurations for traditional four and eight piling vertical lifts, elevator, beamless, Trident three pile, deck lift, jet ski, kayak lift and, of course, boat house lifts. Beyond the sheer versatility of our product lines, IMM Quality Boat Lifts has the ability to customize any lift to any individual’s dock and watercraft.

If you are a residential customer considering a boat lift for your home, we would love to hear from you! We help all of our customers connect with an IMM Quality dealer located near you. Working with a qualified, professional marine contractor ensures the best installation experience and a lifetime of use out of our carefully engineered products. As a family-run business, we understand how much that matters!

Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE and we will give you a call!

READ MORE: Our Superlift Is Built for Speed

Would you like to buy a set of professional tools without paying full price? From Saturday, September 3 to Friday, September 9, Florida marine contractors, boat owners, mechanics and hobbyists can score state-wide tax savings on a variety of tools that are commonly used by skilled trade workers. This sales tax holiday was established by the Florida Legislature in 2021 to support Florida residents and businesses.

For most tools, a specified amount has been set by the Florida Legislature per item or category of item. Retail stores will not collect state sales tax until the retail price exceeds this specified amount. Then, the stores will only tax the portion of your purchase that exceeds the legislature’s set threshold. However, the sales tax holiday does not include rentals of eligible items or sales that occur within a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Click here to view the complete list of eligible tools and criteria from the State of Florida.

And if your summer plans include less shopping and more boating, we’d love to do the heavy lifting to help you get your family on the water as easily and quickly as possible. Request a quote for your custom boat lift today!

READ MORE: Get Back to Doing What You Love Most with IMM Quality Boat Lifts

IMM Quality Boat Lifts would like to take the opportunity to highlight some incredible work by one of our preferred partners, Williamson Bros Marine Construction.

Headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, Williamson Bros Marine Construction has specialized in building custom docks, seawalls and tiki huts since 1996. Built on four generations of marine construction expertise, this family-run business has grown into one of Southwest Florida’s premiere companies.

Much like IMM Quality Boat Lifts, the Williamson brothers have built their reputation and business with a commitment to exceptional customer service and old-world craftsmanship. They will design your dream project from scratch, with your needs and goals in mind.

These shared values have allowed a partnership between IMM Quality Boat Lifts and Williamson Bros Marine Construction to flourish. The recent installation of a custom boat lift for a specialized Sherp vehicle highlights how our two companies work together to create solutions for any custom marine construction project.

Engineering a Custom Boat Lift Installation

Recently, one of the Williamson Bros’ clients came to them with an unusual custom request. He had recently purchased an Argo Sherp Pro XT. The Sherp was originally designed to be a rescue vehicle for use in the Himalayan mountains. It can easily transition between water and land. The Sherp’s 71-inch tubeless tires provide more than enough buoyancy for the Sherp to float and function as four paddlewheels that power the Sherp across open water. The capabilities of this amphibious utility vehicle allow it to navigate the most difficult terrain anywhere on Earth.

Our client brought a grand vision for this custom boat lift project. Fitted with all the creature comforts, including a grill, and with seating for eight, he intends to use the Sherp to transport his family through the waterways of Cape Coral. He can drive onto land anywhere they like to have a picnic or enjoy the coastal environment.

However, he simply did not want to tie up the Sherp to his dock. He worried about the effects that constant submersion in saltwater would have on its components. What if someone untied the lines and simply floated the Sherp away? Obviously, he needed the safety and security of a boat lift.

Custom Boat Lift Installation with Williamson Bros Marine Construction

IMM Quality Boat Lifts and the Williamson Bros partnered together to tackle multiple challenges that arose during the project.

The first hurdle to overcome revolved around modifying a standard boat lift to handle the rolling load of the Sherp as it drives onto the lift from land. Obviously, it made sense to deck over the cradles to provide a drivable surface. But how would we prevent the decked platform from swinging away from the seawall, as the Sherp tried to drive onto it?

Most boat lift companies can only offer fixed cookie-cutter designs, because they do not have the manufacturing capabilities to make their own boat lift parts. However, IMM Quality’s factories can make any structural part that our engineers design, thanks to our advanced manufacturing process. As a result, IMM Quality Boat Lifts had the ability to custom-engineer and manufacture a solution that delivers a superior product design for our client.

Our solution involved extending the lift’s top beams so that they were cantilevered past the support pilings. That way, the lift cables would hang as close to the seawall as possible (see layout figure below). This wider installation of the cables would limit the amount of swing.

Figure of Lift Layout

Furthermore, if the cable “drop” was located at the standard installation position, there would be several feet of decked platform between the seawall and cable. The Sherp would push down on this overhanging platform, creating a lever force centered on the cable. This could cause the platform to tip up, like a seesaw.

By installing the cable “drop” as close to the sea wall as possible, we eliminated the possibility of the platform tipping. Finally, we designed special platform guides that rode the pilings as the lift goes up and down. These guides further limit the decked platform from shifting around.

The second hurdle that we had to overcome was how to safely lift the weight of the Sherp. The lift cradle beams had to be framed with additional aluminum to support the Sherp’s weight. And, it had to be done in a way that the deck’s Thru-Flow panels could be installed securely.

With an in-house engineering and design team, this was an easy task for IMM Quality Boat Lifts. Look at this engineer’s drawing of the 7-foot by 20-foot decked platform to see how we resolved the issue.

Engineered Drawing of the 7-Foot by 20-Foot Platform

Finally, we had to design bunks to lift the Sherp without damaging the vehicle. The client wanted the bunks so that the lift would take the weight off the tires. That way, they could be deflated to extend the life of the tires.

Custom Boat Lift Installation with IMM Quality Boat Lifts & Williamson Bros

After the design and manufacturing of any custom boat lift is complete, the final critical piece of the puzzle is the lift installation. Poor installation negates the safety and reliability of your lift, while proper installation ensures years of use from your investment. It’s why IMM Quality Boat Lifts is grateful to partner with qualified installation professionals like Williamson Bros Marine Construction.

Williamson Bros deploys highly knowledgeable crews with decades of experience to work on each boat lift installation project. You can clearly see the crew’s attention to detail and the quality of their craftmanship in the pictures and video shared above. Their tremendous experience is invaluable with custom lift installations.

Why? Sometimes what looks good on paper doesn’t work in the real world. The practical, hands-on experience that Williamson Bros brings to the job allows them to make design alterations while in the field, if something doesn’t match up perfectly or meet the homeowner’s expectations.

As you can see from the finished product, the partnership between IMM Quality Boat Lifts and Williamson Bros Marine Construction delivered excellent results for our client.

When you combine world-class engineering, state-of-the-art manufacturing and decades of top-quality marine construction experience, great things will happen. If you have a dream that you would like to see turned into reality, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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! To reach the Williamson Bros to schedule your boat lift installation, please call 1-844-WB-BUILT or go online to request a quote.

READ MORE: Check out this custom Superlift installation at a Cape Coral waterfront home!

Some people feel the need to go fast. Super fast.

For boaters who are ready to take their game to a whole new level, the Superlift by IMM Quality Boat Lifts is the fastest boat lift for sale on the market. Our Superlift can safely and quietly raise million-dollar yachts from the water at the mere touch of a button!

We believe the Superlift is the finest industrial-duty boat lift in service. Our accomplished engineering team has developed next-level design innovations that transform and improve the functionality of our Superlift drive. It has revolutionized the boat lift industry.

This is due to the cycloidal reducers in the boat lift drive, an engineering marvel that renders obsolete the traditional worm drives in our competitors’ designs. These incredible cycloidal reducers function as a type of gearless drive system.

 

By using cycloidal reducers to enhance the capability of our Superlift boat lift drive, IMM Quality Boat Lifts is able to minimize contact stress and deliver precise lifting action with zero backlash. Energy efficient and whisper quiet, cycloidal reducers also experience minimal wear. To understand the science behind the Superlift drive’s cycloidal reducers, and why they work better than most competing gear boxes, check out this blog post.

This translates to a much longer service life with tremendous energy savings – and better value for your investment. Nothing can touch the performance of our Superlift as the fastest four-post boat lift for sale in the industry. IMM Quality Boat Lifts is so confident in the Superlift’s cycloidal reducers that we offer a lifetime warranty for each Superlift drive!

Our Superlift Is the Most Dependable Boat Lift for Sale

But, going fast isn’t the only area where the Superlift outperforms other boat lift products for sale. Because the Superlift was engineered for industrial duty, it is meant to run all day, every day. As a result, the performance of the Superlift’s drive system is so strong and dependable that IMM Quality Boat Lifts has never experienced a single failure in the history of our Superlifts. Not one single failure.

The Superlift pictured here features kicked custom-designed cradles that accommodate this Nor-Tech 450 Sport at a dock with low water depth. One of our preferred partners, Williamson Bros Marine Construction, delivered the professional, high-quality installation for this Superlift in Cape Coral, Florida.

When only the absolute best will do, the Superlift is your only choice. This superior boat lift is the perfect combination of beauty, speed and power. It’s built to last a lifetime!

Feeling inspired by this feat of design, engineering and manufacturing? Let us create the lift you deserve. Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE and we’ll give you a call!

IMM Quality Boat Lifts ^TM manufactures the world’s best boat lifts – and the news is out! Our well-appointed facilities in Fort Myers, Florida, buzz with daily activity. We have an expertly trained team of more than 40 designers, engineers and manufacturers. Each year, we ship more than 2,000 American-made boat lifts across the country and throughout the world.

During the past five years, we’ve made headlines globally and experienced a marked increase in consumer demand for our safe, maintenance-free boat lifts. As a result, IMM Quality Boat Lifts has invested more than $3 million into new equipment, factory improvements and facility space. That allows us to grow and expand our business capabilities while prioritizing a safe environment for our employees.

But what actually makes our boat lifts better than the rest? It’s simple: IMM Quality Boat Lifts manufactures all the structural parts that go into our boat lifts. That means we can approach any project, or any client’s vision for custom design, with complete freedom. We never take a “one-size-fits-all” mentality.  

You’ll never catch us cobbling together pre-made, commercially available parts to make a product that’s the “best of what’s available,” under any circumstances. Boat lifts cobbled together from existing parts always sacrifice performance, durability and safety. Instead, our advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities give us tremendous flexibility to design and create any part needed to assemble a precise, custom-manufactured boat lift with specialized capacity or enhanced accessibility. No one else has that capability.  

Engineering the World’s Best Boat Lifts  

To accomplish this, IMM Quality Boat Lifts deploys a refined engineering process for the highest quality boat lift products for sale in the industry.

• Aluminum Delivery
• Cutting
• Machining
• Welding
• Assembly
• Shipping

Our facility setup provides our manufacturing team with the same resources as national automotive and aerospace companies that produce highly refined products for travel and space exploration. Similarly, our patented technologies and designs outperform the competition and cannot be purchased elsewhere.

Our exceptional attention to detail along every step of this process is why many of our original boat lift products are still in operation after over 40 years of consumer use!

Step #1: Marine-Grade Aluminum Delivery  

It all begins when a shipment of marine-grade aluminum arrives at our production facility in Fort Myers, Florida. We use only aluminum for our boat lifts. That’s because a fundamental property of aluminum is that it only oxidizes on the surface. Comparatively, steel and iron will rust all the way through. Therefore, aluminum retains its structural integrity in situations where steel and iron would fail.

Galvanized steel is coated with zinc to limit its oxidation. Unfortunately, the zinc coating is easily scraped off during transport, which can quickly lead to rust. Some competitors use materials like galvanized steel to craft components in their boat lifts. In some cases, those products may already be rusting upon delivery! How long will these products last before they fail?

Salt water is especially harsh on lesser materials, which can degrade the performance and longevity of your boat lift. That’s why IMM Quality Boat Lifts only uses the best materials: marine-grade aluminum and stainless steel. Only marine-grade aluminum or stainless steel can stand the test of time. These best-in-class materials ensure our customers gain a lifetime of use from their boat lift purchase.

Step #2: Cutting Boat Lift Parts  

Our engineers design each lift using the industry’s most modern computer-aided design (CAD) software. We carefully review our designs using materials stress-analysis testing software. We also extensively test the designs at our facility before any product is approved for sale.

Although we’re confident in our designs, we still send them to outside engineering firms for review. Their engineers will independently analyze our designs and provide signed and sealed copies of our engineering specifications. These documents can be used during the permitting process to legally certify that our products exceed Florida’s current building code, the most rigorous marine construction code in the nation.

Once it is time to build a boat lift, we generate a work order. This document contains all engineered drawings and instructions to manufacture every part of a lift. Before making the first cut, our production manager carefully reviews specifications for each boat lift while ensuring we have the necessary materials on hand.

After the materials arrive, each piece of aluminum must be cut into the right size before machining the parts. Our CAD designs are converted into computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) files. Those files are then imported into computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines. With the CAM files loaded, our CNC auto-saws quickly cut the stock aluminum material into the correct pieces.

Taking this computer-guided approach to engineering streamlines an otherwise time-consuming manufacturing process. It allows IMM Quality Boat Lifts to keep up with increased demand for the world’s best boat lift products!

Additionally, taking a computer-guided approach to our engineering process allows our team to consistently produce precision-cut boat lift parts. No matter how diverse or customized the design specifications may be, we can cut even the smallest parts with confidence. That ultimately shows in the quality of our products!

Step #3: Machining Boat Lift Parts 

Once the raw materials are cut down to size, the next step is machining. Using 3D modeling software, we complete manufacturing with our fully computerized CNC machines, which guarantee precision and quality. The following series of photos and videos show the production of a gearbox mount plate, from engineered drawing to fully machined part.

Here is an engineering schematic of a mount bracket designed to attach the gearbox to the top beam of IMM Quality’s 32-40K Platinum boat lifts.

As they say, measure twice, cut once! In the video below, you will see the CNC machine’s probe determines the exact location of the aluminum blank before starting to cut.

Next, the CNC mill makes a perfectly flat surface for the part.

Then, it’s time to cut the aluminum part down to the engineer’s specifications.

Finally, this next video shows the CNC mill forming threads within the gearbox mount bracket for screwing in bolts.

The surface texture seen in this before-and-after photo is deliberate.

While the machine could create a perfectly flat face for the aluminum, a ridged surface provides friction and helps prevent the part from slipping under high torque. It’s just one more example of the innovative improvements that set IMM Quality Boat Lifts apart from competitors. This is thanks to extensive manufacturing capabilities that allow us to design, engineer and manufacture all components for our boat lift products at our own facilities!

IMM Quality Boat Lifts uses the best equipment and technologies available to manufacture the highest quality boat lift parts, such as the modern software suite that designs our products and runs the CNC machines.

• CNC auto-saws
• CNC vertical mills
• CNC horizontal mills
• CNC routers
• CNC lathes
• CNC plasma cutters
• CNC iron workers
• CNC punch presses
• Hydraulic presses
• Hydraulic breaks
• Hydraulic shears
• Hydraulic pipe and tube benders
• Drill centers with sliding presses on linear rails

For example, one boat lift design might call for the use of a CNC vertical mill to drill holes for future assembly. For another, a turn on the lathe might be needed to finish the creation of a boat lift’s new pulleys or cable winders. The result is meticulously precise, reliable boat lift parts that are ready for welding.

Step #4: Welding the World’s Best Boat Lifts  

While some parts are ready for assembly directly after machining, other parts are combined into a larger construct. Generally, we only bolt together those parts that require adjustability. For example, bunk brackets are bolted to cradles so that the spacing of the bunks can be adjusted in the field. Otherwise, we weld our parts together to create a rigid unibody construction.

Quality welding begins with the best equipment. For stainless-steel parts like the pile mount strap, we have dedicated Millermatic 255 MIG welders. For all the aluminum parts, we have dedicated Miller systems with XR-Alumafeed guns and AlumaPower 450 machines. Both systems have push-pull guns with synergic-pulsed MIG welding. This type of welding increases ease of use and achieves “stacked dimes” on every weld.

Our primary welding department is spacious enough for six welders to work simultaneously to keep up with high production demands. Even more important than the equipment and workspace, all our welders are American Welding Society-certified tradesmen with more than 100 years of combined experience. Once our experts complete the welds, they are cleaned and inspected to make sure they meet IMM Quality Boat Lifts’ quality control standards.

This video demonstrates the precision welding of a bearing block to the stepped channel for one of IMM Quality’s boat lifts.

Step #5: Assembly

Now that precision-cut pieces of marine-grade aluminum have been welded and machined into final form, it’s time for assembly.

We have three separate areas where our team assembles the top beams, cradles and bunks. We even purchased and installed a specialized crane lift. This makes it easier for our staff to transfer heavy parts across the factory while assembling shipments.

To prepare the top beams, our staff:

• Install the drive pipe and the drive system with gearboxes and motors.
• Pre-wind the stainless steel cable.
• Install the cover over the drive system.

Many people are surprised at how competitors often deliver the lift un-assembled, relying on the installer to correctly assemble the gearbox and electric motors into their top beams!

To assemble the cradle beams, we pre-install the pulleys, wedge-lock cable adjusting mechanism, guide-post brackets and bunk brackets. A bunk system appropriate to your boat’s hull design is made to order. Rest assured: There will be no top-side rivets to scratch your hull on our bunks!

Once assembly is complete, our shop manager inspects each order for accuracy. Then, our expert team carefully wraps and bundles all boat lift components for delivery, including the top beam, cradles and bunks. We also include any additional accessories along with straightforward installation instructions.

Although the pandemic created many challenges for manufacturers, IMM Quality Boat Lifts has successfully grown our very own fleet of delivery trucks. We now have a grand total of eight trucks. This allows us to make deliveries across the United States and Canada, satisfying North America’s increased demand for the world’s best boat lift products.

Today, IMM Quality Boat Lifts is ideally situated to deliver our shipments to any port in the world. This economy of scale keeps our delivery costs low while the cost of shipping freight continues to skyrocket.

Buy the World’s Best Boat Lifts from IMM Quality

After reviewing our engineering process, it’s clear that IMM Quality Boat Lifts manufactures the world’s best boat lifts. As we continue to innovate and improve upon our industry’s best boat lift products, IMM Quality remains focused on safety, quality and performance. Meanwhile, we still provide exceptional value with every purchase.

Our expert engineering team is always available to consult with clients on custom design projects. We love a challenge and look forward to meeting your boat lift needs in the years to come.

Learn more about IMM Quality Boat Lifts  or explore our product lines on our website. Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE and we’ll give you a call! 

READ MORE ABOUT IMM QUALITY BOAT LIFTS’ SUPERIOR ENGINEERING: 
The High-Speed Alumavator Boat Lift 

There was once a time when families shared a single car, and it was the norm to park in the driveway or on the street. As the years passed, many families began investing in a second car.  People soon discovered the benefits and convenience of owning a home with an attached garage.

This same trend is starting to take place in the boating community. It started in regions with colder climates, where protecting your boat with an enclosed garage made a lot of sense. Now, boat garages have become popular among homeowners in Southern Florida.

In fact, IMM Quality Boat Lifts is currently putting the final touches on the installation of two Superlifts into a boat garage in Cape Trafalgar on Marco Island. We wanted to share some pictures of the dual boat lift installation process in action.

The vision for this project came from the homeowners, who wanted two independent deck lifts for their watercraft. The photograph above shows the installation of top beams for both Superlifts. One platform lift would be used with their Intrepid 410 Evolution, while the second platform would accommodate their Zodiac and Novurania ridged inflatable boats along with their jet skis and other personal watercraft.

In total, there is more than 1,500 square feet of platform for our lifts to handle. Working in consultation with the couple’s architect and home builder, our engineers designed a superior support structure for the two separate 44,000-pound Superlift boat lifts.

As shown above, the builder used a combination of portable winches and the lift cables during the installation of the cradle beams and deck support beams.

In this photo, you can see that there is an I-beam installed between the two lift cradles. It will support the keel of the Intrepid 410 boat. The I-beams that support the decking have been installed. Work is still underway on the installation of the cross beam supports for the decking.

This picture showcases the installation and wiring of the two GEM GR4A control boxes. Both Superlift boat lifts have limit switches with auto-stop at all four corners. This allows the platform to self-level at the top and bottom. Input power to the lifts was 3-phase 240 volts.

In the photo above, you can clearly see how each lift can operate independently of the other. The picture displays the keel beam and stanchion pad bunking system for the Intrepid 410. Both Superlifts have been decked with picture framing.

The photo above shows how closely the decked platform aligns with the poured concrete boat garage slip.

This view looks from the water, through the boat garage and towards the street. The bunking on the deck shown on the left accommodates the ridged inflatable boats and personal watercraft. The house sits on top of the garages, with a U-shaped driveway. Not shown in this picture, the garage for the cars is located to the left.

The end of the lift has a lowered stern platform to safely accommodate the Intrepid’s motors during docking.

This image shows the view from the driveway, looking through the boat garage and out to the water. Here, the Intrepid 410 boat is bunked with both Superlifts in the raised position.

Finally, it’s time to put the finishing touches on, including a nice new coat of paint for the boat garage. Rather than the Intrepid boat, a center console regulator is located on the Superlift. This photo shows the boat garage door nearly closed, and you can see the bunks for the ridged inflatable boats tipped down. The bunk system has tilting brackets that allow these bunks to fold down and accommodate a deck insert. This lets the homeowner enjoy one seamless, flat deck surface when the ridged inflatable boats are not on the lift.

It doesn’t take much imagination to see how nice having a home with a boat garage would be! In the photo above, you can see the Regulater boat on one lift and the Novurania on the other, with the boat garage door open.

The secret about boat garages is out! In fact, IMM Quality Boat Lifts already has a third boat garage on Marco Island under construction. This Marco Island project uses one of our amazing Titan Yacht Lifts. We will share photos from this new boat garage in the future as progress continues.

Want a Boat Garage of Your Own? Contact IMM Quality Boat Lifts Today!

Feeling inspired by this feat of design, engineering and manufacturing? If you can picture yourself with an incredible boat garage system like this, please contact our sales staff. Complete our contact form or request a quote, and we’ll take great care of you!

READ MORE: The High-Speed Alumavator Boat Lift by IMM Quality

Boats come in all shapes and sizes – just like people. That’s why IMM Quality offers custom boat lifts and accessories for your personal watercraft. We want to help you, your family and your boat, jetski or kayak get in the water safely and quickly!  

At IMM Quality Boat Lifts ^TM, we can help owners improve access to their personal watercraft or boat so that you spend less time boarding and more time enjoying your vessel out on the water. This can be accomplished by tailoring boat lift accessories such as gangways, handrails, and floating boat docks to meet our client’s individual specifications. Whether you’re looking to accommodate elderly grandparents, young children, or friends who may visit you in the future, the goal is to ensure no one has to miss a day on the water with loved ones. 

Make Simple Modifications with Boat Lift Accessories 

Boat lift accessories can vastly improve the ease of access from your waterfront home into your boat. For example, it may be helpful to have a pedestrian walkway that leads to floating docks from fixed structures or land. By regulating the steepness of a slope’s incline, this gangway can provide improved, independent access for people with disabilities. Our kayak lifts with modified handrails offer another prime example of boat lift accessories that can make it easier to board your watercraft. 

Easy Access & Versatility with the Ascension Stair Lift 

In addition to boat lift accessories, you may want to investigate one of our specialty boat lifts. A great example of revolutionary boat lift engineering, the Ascension Stair Lift makes heading for open waters easy! It’s designed for those who want improved access for fishing, boating and swimming near their waterfront home. 

 

Functioning as an adjustable height boarding platform, the Ascension Stair Lift offers self-leveling steps that can orient either up or down. In other words, this boat lift allows you to stand on a flat surface while you raise or lower its platform. This makes it more convenient to board your boat with an assistive device, such as a wheelchair. Parents with young children will also appreciate this feature. And, when leaving the water, the boat lift can be used as an easy-access swimming platform. 

 

With our expert team of designers, engineers, and manufacturers, IMM Quality Boat Lifts is happy to customize our boat lift accessories and products to your needs. Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE and we’ll give you a call! 

READ MORE: Get Back to Doing What You Love Most with IMM Quality Boat Lifts 

This year, between Friday, July 1 and Thursday, July 7, Florida boaters and outdoor enthusiasts can score state-wide tax savings on a variety of boating and water activity supplies, camping and fishing gear, general outdoor provisions and more! The sales tax holiday, known as Freedom Week, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2021 to support Florida residents and businesses.

Here’s how Freedom Week works. For most products, a specified amount has been set by the Florida Legislature per item or category of item. Retail stores will not collect state sales tax until the retail price exceeds this specified amount. Then, the stores will only tax the portion of your purchase that exceeds the legislature’s set threshold.

We have prepared a list of tax breaks to consider before Freedom Week ends on Thursday, July 7. Take advantage of the opportunity to stock up on everything from basic boating supplies to outdoor grills, camping tents, surfboards and even sporting events.

Boating and Water Activity Supplies

When you load up the boat and head for open waters, what do you like to bring? Many of these boating basics qualify for the sales tax holiday. Here is the complete list of boating and water activity supplies that are exempted during Freedom Week by the State of Florida.

The first $25 of the sales price of:

• Goggles
• Snorkels
• Swimming masks

New for 2022! The first $35 of the sales price of:

• Inflatable chairs
• Pool floats
• Pool toys
• Recreational pool tubes

The first $50 of the sales price of:

• Safety flares

The first $75 of the sales price of:

• Coolers
• Life jackets
• Oars
• Paddles

The first $150 of the sales price of:

• Inflatable recreational water turns and floats capable of being towed
• Kneeboards
• Wakeboards
• Water skis

The first $300 of the sales price of:

• Paddleboards
• Surfboards

The first $500 of the sales price of:

• Canoes
• Kayaks

Fishing Supplies

Did you know that Florida is considered the “Fishing Capital of the World,” according to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. With its diverse habitats, tropical weather and miles of coastal shoreline, the state offers avid fishers and amateurs plenty of opportunities to cast a line. During Freedom Week, a range of related supplies are exempt from the state sales tax.

The first $5 of the sales price:

• Bait or fishing tackle if sold individually (or the first $10 if sold as a set)
• The first $30 of the sales price of:
• Tackle boxes or bags
• The first $75 of the sales price of:
• Rods and reels if sold individually (or the first $150 if sold as a set)

General Outdoor Supplies

A trip to open waters is always more fun with gear and gadgets. Prepare for your outdoor boating excursion to ensure you and your guests have a great experience. During Freedom Week, you can save on sales tax while outfitting your boat for the adventures to come.

The first $15 of the sales price of:

• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent

The first $30 of the sales price of:

• Water bottles

The first $50 of the sales price of:

• Hydration packs
• Adult bicycle helmets

The first $100 of the sales price of:

• Non-prescription sunglasses

The first $200 of the sales price of:

• Binoculars

The first $250 of the sales price of:

• Bicycles
• Outdoor gas or charcoal grills

Camping Supplies

Boating and camping go hand in hand, especially for adventurers who enjoy the state’s inland habitat.

During Freedom Week, Florida will not collect the state sales tax on:

The first $30 of the sales price of:

• Camping lanterns
• Flashlights

The first $50 of the sales price of:

• Sleeping bags
• Portable hammocks
• Camping stoves
• Collapsible camping chairs

The first $200 of the sales price of:

• Tents

New for 2022! Residential Pool Supplies

Make a splash for summer when you save on a variety of residential pool supplies during Freedom Week. This new addition to Freedom Week is intended to offset the cost of maintenance and upkeep for Florida residents and commercial businesses.

The first $100 of the sales price of:

• Covers
• Filters
• Lights
• Nets
• Residential pool and spa replacement parts

The first $150 of the sales price of:

• Residential pool and spa chemicals when purchased by an individual

Additional Exemptions

Florida lawmakers included two other categories of sales tax exemptions as part of Freedom Week: sporting equipment and events.

For sports equipment, the sales tax holiday applies to any item used in individual or team sports, excepting any clothing or footwear. The item must be priced for $40 or less.

For events, Freedom Week eliminates the state sales tax for events or performances scheduled to be held July 1 through Dec. 31, 2022. Events include tickets or admissions to live music or sporting events, movie theaters, performances such as the ballet or musical play, fairs, festivals and cultural events. The exemption also includes entry to museums and state parks, as well as season tickets and annual passes purchased during the six-month period. Additionally, sales tax won’t be charged at private fitness centers.

Click here to view a PDF poster that lists all potential Freedom Week Tax Savings. If your summer plans should include less shopping and events and more boating, we’d love to do the heavy lifting! Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE for your custom boat lift.

READ MORE: Get Back to Doing What You Love Most with IMM Quality Boat Lifts

More than 40 years ago, IMM Quality Boat Lifts designed the Alumavator drive system to replace the venerable flat plate drive. Why? The flat plate drive is known to be noisy, extremely slow and prone to belt slippage. This prevents the boat lift from picking up the boat. 

Recognizing the flat plate drive’s major flaws, IMM Quality incorporated improvements into the Alumavator drive system. As a result, the flat plate’s pulley and rubber belt system were replaced with sprockets and chain for the superior Alumavator. Also, the open worm drive of the flat plate was replaced with a sealed gearbox in the Alumavator. The result is an expertly engineered boat lift that is substantially faster, quieter and does not slip. 

Over the years, we have updated this boat lift product line to include the best of our patented innovations. These include the stepped top beam channel for superior structural support, maintenance-free bearings that require no lubrication, wedge locks for easy cradle adjustment and the integrated cable keeper system. The Alumavator has earned a reputation for legendary durability and represents the best combination of price to performance on the market. 

Although the lift speed of the Alumavator exceeds its competition, there is always a demand for even greater speed. This is especially true today, with more people buying larger boats that require higher capacity boat lifts. Fortunately, the Alumavator is available in a high-speed version that doubles the boat lift speed without sacrificing any of the reliability. In fact, the High Speed Alumavator is available in models up to 54,000-pound capacity. 

Please continue reading after the video to see the included features that make the High Speed Alumavator the most economical high-speed boat lift on the market. 

In addition to its standard features, the High Speed Alumavator also comes with a remote-control unit. It has limit switches to automatically stop the boat lift at pre-set upper and lower limits, as seen in the photo below. The remote-control unit has independent motor control, so that a single motor can run while the others do not operate. This feature makes it easy to level the lift cradles.  

The High Speed Alumavator also uses fail-safe electric motor brakes to make sure that the lift is always safely under control. These types of brakes require power to release. Consequently, if there is an accidental loss of electrical power, the brakes will remain engaged and prevent any lift movement. 

The bunking system of the High Speed Alumavator is custom designed to suit the needs of the intended boat. Keel beam spreaders and stanchion pad supports are typically used in the larger lifts like the 40,000-pound capacity model pictured below. In fact, we included a step in the keel beam spreader to better support the intended boat. The angle of the stanchion pad brackets, as well as the height of the stanchion pads, can all be adjusted. 

The eight-post High Speed Alumavators weld end plates onto the double I-beam cradles for extra rigidity, seen below. The end plates incorporate high-capacity pulleys to extend the life of the lift. Coupled with the keel spreader, the cradle system provides robust support for any boat. 

There are also high-capacity pulleys in the top beams. The number of pulleys in the cradles and top beams depends on the capacity of the lift. However, the pulley arrangement on every High Speed Alumavator ensures equal weight distribution in all parts. This is not the case with many of our competitors! This deficiency shortens the life of their lift cables. All our pulleys use maintenance-free bushings that require no lubrication. Meanwhile, our competitors’ products require frequent lubrication of their pulleys with grease – adding maintenance to your R&R time. 

So, if you are in the market for a high-speed lift, you should definitely consider the High Speed Alumavator. You can check the lift out on our Alumavator product pages for vertical lifts and elevator boat lifts, or feel free to contact our sales staff to discuss your options at 1-800-545-5603. 

Feeling inspired by this feat of design, engineering and manufacturing? Complete our CONTACT FORM or REQUEST A QUOTE, and we’ll give you a call!   

 READ MORE: The IMM Quality Boat Lift’s Revolutionary Ascension Stair Lift