Daytona Seawall RepairCall (386) 333-6570

Boat lift repair and installation around Daytona Beach

A four-post boat lift beside a wooden dock on a calm canal, holding a small white center-console boat on its cradle above the water, with a gray motor box mounted on one piling

A boat lift keeps the hull out of salt water, which means less growth and less wear, but the lift itself lives in that water. Most lift problems are the parts that move: cables, pulleys, switches and the motor. A new lift runs about $2,000 to $20,000 in Angi's 2026 figures, while a new set of cables is a few hundred dollars.

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End view of a four-post boat lift. Two of the four pilings are shown, one on each side of the boat. Beams across the tops of the pilings hold an electric motor and gearbox. Steel cables run down from drums on the beams to a cradle under the boat. The cradle has padded bunks that the hull rests on, and the boat is raised clear of the water.motor and gearboxdrumcablesbunkscradlepilingboat
A four-post boat lift, seen from the end. The motor turns drums that wind steel cables, and the cables raise a cradle with padded bunks under the hull. The cables, pulleys and motor wear out first, which is why most lift repairs are a cable, a switch or a motor rather than a whole new lift.

What kinds of boat lifts are there?

  1. Four-post lifts: Four pilings, beams across the top, and cables that raise a cradle under the boat. Lift maker ShoreMaster puts these at about $4,000 to $15,000.
  2. Hydraulic lifts: Raised by hydraulic pressure instead of cables.
  3. Floating lifts: Air or water tanks that rise and fall with the water. Floating lifts are exempt from a state environmental permit under Florida Statutes 403.813.

Whatever the type, the lift has to be rated for the loaded boat. ShoreMaster's guidance is to take the boat's dry weight from its spec sheet and add 25 percent for fuel, batteries and gear.

What goes wrong with a boat lift?

Most calls are one of these:

  1. Frayed or rusty cables: Broken strands or rust on the cable are a warning; a cable that snaps drops the boat.
  2. Motor or switch trouble: The lift hums but won't turn, runs one way only, or trips the breaker.
  3. Worn pulleys or drums: Grinding, squealing, or cables winding unevenly.
  4. A cradle out of level: One end riding higher, or bunks worn through to the frame.
  5. Pilings working loose: The whole lift shifts when it's loaded.

ShoreMaster's maintenance list is short: inspect cables, pulleys and motors, lubricate moving parts, and check for leaks on hydraulic lifts. It gives a well-kept lift a life of 10 to 20 years.

How much does a boat lift cost?

Angi's 2026 national range for a boat lift is $2,000 to $20,000, with manual lifts at the low end and electric lifts at the high end, and an average around $8,000. For repairs, ShoreMaster puts replacement cables at about $100 to $300 and motor or hydraulic repairs at $500 to over $1,500, before labor.

A new lift on an existing dock counts toward the dock's permitted size, so adding one can push a small dock over its limit. See dock building and the cost guide.

Do I need a permit for a boat lift?

Under Florida's rules, a pile-supported lift installed in an existing slip at a legal dock is exempt from the state environmental permit, as long as it adds no platform, walkway or roof. A floating lift is exempt too. A local building permit is still required, and a new slip falls under the county's manatee plan.

What should I do with the boat and lift before a hurricane?

UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant advise moving boats 48 to 72 hours before a storm is expected, and say the safest place is on dry land away from the coast. If the boat can't come off the lift, BoatUS says tie-downs may help keep storm surge from lifting it out of the cradle.

After the storm, check the lift before running it: bent beams, pilings that moved, and cables that were under strain all need a look first.

Common questions

How often should lift cables be replaced?

There's no fixed schedule in the sources we checked. Replace them at the first broken strands, kinks or rust, and have them inspected along with the pulleys at least once a year.

Can a lift be added to my dock?

Usually, if the dock and its pilings can take it and the added area stays within your city's and the state's size limits.

Why won't my lift go up?

Often a tripped breaker, a failed switch, or a motor or capacitor problem. If cables are slipping or the drum is grinding, stop using it until it's checked.

Sources: ShoreMaster (a lift maker), Are boat lifts worth it? (source); ShoreMaster (a lift maker), How much does a boat lift cost? (source); Angi, How much does it cost to build a dock? (Sept 2026) (source); Florida Statutes 403.813, permits not required (2026) (source); Florida Administrative Code 62-330.051, exempt docks and boat lifts (source); Volusia County, Manatee protection plan: single-family residence (source); UF/IFAS Disaster Preparedness, Boat prep for hurricane season (source); BoatUS, Hurricane preparation for boaters (May 2025) (source).

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

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