Posted on November 24, 2022

How to Care for Your Boat Lift Motor

Written by ShoreMaster Marketing

Boat lift motors are the ultimate convenience for any waterfront property owner. If you have access to electricity at your dock, you can use a motor to raise and lower your boat into the water with the push of a button. Protecting your boat has never been so easy. To keep your boat lift in good working order, the motor needs proper care. Looking for signs of wear and following these boat lift maintenance tips will help extend the life of your boat lift motor, boat lift, and boat.

Seasonal Care

While boat lifts are designed to be outside and on the water long term, you should still do regular inspections, home maintenance, and take care of your boat lift motor. If you’re a seasonal boater, ensure that your boat lift motor is stored properly and in good condition before and after you store it for the season. Also, if you have a 120v motor, you’ll want it unplugged when it’s not in use—a summer thunderstorm could wreck it, especially because it’s more sensitive to lightning strikes.

Signs of Rust

Corrosion is one of the fastest ways for anything made of metal to get damaged in the water. Check your capacitor cover and motors for any signs of rust or water retention. There should be top-side and bottom-side drain holes. The top-side holes should be closed to avoid letting water or debris in, and the bottom-side ones should be open to allow proper drainage.

Lubrication

Motors are made of moving parts, meaning they need lubrication in order to function without wearing out. For full functionality, you should grease the boat lift motor’s drive pipe and bearing every four to six months (and first thing when you get it out of storage if you’re a seasonal boater that stores it for the fall and winter). This allows you to look at the motor itself for any wear and damage.

Thorough Inspections

While looking at your boat lift motor, or even your boat lift itself, make special note of any parts that might need to be repaired or replaced. Ensure all nuts and bolts are tightened, parts properly fastened together, and anything that looks worn should be replaced or noted if it’s not quite there yet.

Covering Up

Boat lift motors are designed to be outside, so they don’t really need covers. In fact, being covered too tightly can cause problems by trapping moisture inside the motor. However, if you’re taking your motor inside for fall and winter storage, it should be placed on a plank of wood and kept somewhere dry. If you’re not taking your motor inside, you should cover it to prevent snow, ice, and water damage.

Stocking Up on Parts

No matter how good your boat lift motor maintenance is, you’ll need some parts repaired or replaced every now and then. If you can’t determine which part is contributing to your motor’s underperformance or need some help with repairs, your local dealer can help. Not only will they know what part you need, but they might be able to help with installation and repairs as well.

If you’re in the market for a new boat lift motor, or boat lift parts for your existing one, ShoreMaster can help. Our extensive dealer network means that you’ll have someone by your water who knows it the best, and you would be putting your trust in an industry leader and innovator. For more information, get in touch with a ShoreMaster dealer near you.