Boat owners who want to keep their hull out of the water often ask whether a boat lift or a floating drive-on dock is the better choice. Both protect the hull from growth and corrosion, and the right one usually depends on the boat and on how often it goes out.
A boat lift raises the boat on a cradle using a motor. It can hold larger, heavier boats and lifts them well clear of waves and wakes. In exchange, it needs power at the dock, regular care of motors and cables and a strong base such as pilings.
A floating drive-on dock is a shaped float that the boat drives onto, so the hull rests on top and out of the water. There is no motor involved, and small boats and jet skis can get on and off in seconds, which makes it popular with owners who head out often. Upkeep is mostly cleaning, although drive-on ports generally suit smaller boats and personal watercraft rather than large ones.
A few questions tend to settle the choice. How big and heavy is the boat now, and how big might the next one be in five years? How often does it go out? Daily users often love the speed of a drive-on dock. What are the water depth and tide range at the site, and is power available at the dock?
Some owners end up using both, with a lift for the main boat and a drive-on port for jet skis.
Supreme Floating Docks builds floating docks in South Florida and is also a Neptune Boat Lift dealer, so owners can compare both options with one team and pick the one that fits their boat and their routine.
