Guide
Boat lift cleaning: bunks, cradles, beams and cables
Lifts sit in the water full time and grow faster than the boats on them. These are the parts that matter.
Parts that collect growth
- Bunks, cables and pulleys, and any part of the lift frame that sits at or under the water.
Why it matters
- Dirt and growth trapped in carpeted bunks can wear the hull's finish each time the boat sits down; smooth vinyl bunks are less prone to it.
- Growth on cables and pulleys can hide kinks, fraying or corrosion under it.
Sources
- Lunmar Boat Lifts: Boat lift maintenance tips — https://lunmarboatlifts.com/blogs/news/boat-lift-maintenance-top-3-tips-you-should-know
- ShoreMaster: What are bunks on a boat lift? — https://www.shoremaster.com/about-shoremaster/news-events/articles/what-are-bunks-on-a-boat-lift/
- ShoreMaster: Checking for dock and lift damage — https://www.shoremaster.com/about-shoremaster/news-events/articles/checking-for-dock-and-lift-damage/
- Frontiers in Marine Science (peer-reviewed): Managing biofouling on submerged static artificial structures — https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.759194/full
Related service
Underwater Inspections & Photography — Underwater photos and inspections for insurance, a pre-purchase check, or just knowing what is down there.