Here's a question for you: What's the most effective antifouling method around? Ablative bottom paint, hard bottom paint or maybe that new E-Paint? The answer is that it is none of these. The best way to prevent fouling on your boat's bottom is to keep it out of the water.

For boats that are trailerable or can take advantage of rack storage, this is simple enough. But what about boats that are not trailerable? The truth is that a growing number of these boaters are enjoying the best of both worlds by installing and using a boat lift.

While lifts are not for everyone – most installations are semi-custom, and they are not cheap – they can keep your boat high and dry, saving a great deal of time and money on maintenance.

BOAT LIFTS UNLIMITEDThis is a 40,000 pound capacity vertical lift. Lifts with a 120,000 pound capacity are available.Like many boat-related projects, success begins with strong research. Whether a lift is practical for you will depend on many factors, including the weight of your boat, the location of your berth, the weather in your area and the size of your wallet.

But the good news is that the market is full of potential solutions – and it seems something new pops up at every boat show.

VERTICAL LIFTS

While there is much to look at, most boat lifts fall into three common styles: vertical or hoist lifts, articulated lifts and flotation lifts. Each has its pros and cons.

In a vertical lift, the boat enters a cradle and is hoisted – yes, vertically – out of the water. A series of four or more cables are attached to the cradle and used to raise and lower it via cable winches that are electrically or hydraulically powered.

The most common installation is between four pilings, which must be located precisely for each design and model to work properly. If you do not have pilings along your dock, or if the pilings are not properly spaced, you will need a marine contractor to drive new ones. For that reason, it is wise to work with a lift supplier who can drive piles or who has a good relationship with a piling company.

BOAT LIFTS UNLIMITEDVertical boat lifts can be adapted to many boats. This is a setup for a sailboat with a winged keel.Vertical lifts are are generally used in deeper water and are available in a wide range of capacities – from 1,000 pounds to more than 120,000 pounds. As you can imagine, the bigger the capacity the more exacting the installation, and higher-capacity lifts often require more piles to support the weight of the boat.

In a common installation, a beam is used to connect the fore and aft piling on each side of the lift, and those beams house the cables and winches used to raise and lower the boat. Some lifts also include guides to control the cradle as it travels in and out of the water. Guides are also sometimes attached to the cradle itself to allow proper positioning of the boat on the lift.

The cradle must lower itself far enough under water to allow the boat to position itself on the cradle without striking it. In extreme cases, some manufacturers can provide low-profile cradles for use in shallow water. The cradle configuration must be matched to your hull configuration – and most lift manufacturers can supply cradles and brackets to match just about any boat. Setups for everything from tunnel hulls to sailboats with keels to custom cradles and bunks are available.

Vertical lifts are generally made of aluminum or galvanized steel. The winch gear boxes and motors are available in steel, aluminum and, in some cases, stainless steel. Avoid mixing stainless steel components with galvanized steel, because that combination leads to corrosion in salt water.

Another factor to consider is adequate electrical power at the lift location. Smaller models are available in either 120 volts or 240 volts. The larger models are only available in 240 volts, so make sure the proper voltage will be available at your lift location. A 10,000-pound lift will require 30 amps at 120 volts or 15 amps at 240 volts. Again, it is wise to deal with a single supplier who can take into account all these factors and provide the electrical, pile driving and installation services required.

As with all boating systems, lifts offer a number of options. For example, some vertical lifts offer a remote control that allow you to start lowering while you approach, so the cradle is in the water and ready when you get there. Some owners also incorporate a boat house or sun cover to provide additional protection for the boat. This can reduce the necessity for covering an open boat, provide UV protection for the hull, and reduce the need for waxing.

Another common option are gangplanks or work platforms around the cradle. These allow you to access various parts of the boat while it's out of the water – great for tasks like washing and waxing. Some folks dislike having to look at the high pilings and associated hoisting gear, and special low-profile models are available that keep the overall height to a minimum, preserving the water view and minimizing clutter.

There are also models that cater to those with limited room for installation, such as on a canal (as you can imagine, the need for a minimum of four piles results in a fairly wide footprint). This style of lift utilizes two vertical rails – usually angled slightly for easier launching in shallow water – that are attached to a dock or seawall. A cradle with one side open is cantilevered from those rails and is winched up and down. Capacities of up to 20,000 pounds are available for piling or seawall mounts.

ARTICULATED LIFTS

While vertical boat lifts are common in deep water, articulated lifts are best suited for waters from three to eight feet deep.