No matter what you have for your boat lift, they all have a couple things in common that no lift can operate without. One of those things is the all mighty boat lift motor. Motors are simple-a rotational shaft that spins in either direction, depending on which way you want your lift to go, turning gears on either a gear plate or a gear box.
The best benefit of how these motors work is that when they do eventually fail, they will not cause any damage to either your boat lift or your boat. All of the weight is held and locked within the gear system, meaning a motor can be replaced without and hassle or caution. The only downside is that when a motor fails, the boat lift will not turn the pipe controlled by that motor. Always ensure when operating your boat lift that all parts are functioning as expected and one side or corner is not stuck unmoving.
The most obvious signs that a boat lift motor is about to fail are smoke coming from the motor, or a louder than normal buzzing sound emitting from the motor. These signs are useful, but they often don’t give you enough of a head start before failure actually occurs.
One common misconception is that rust is a sign of a bad motor, but this simply isn’t the case. A motor can last as long as 30years! Rust can appear after just 5 when exposed to the salt water conditions that most boat lifts exist.
Another thing we like to tell our customers is that its best to wait for a motor to fail before replacement. Motors are costly and for many its easier to wait for failure rather than spend on what may not even be neccessary. With that being said we also understand the need for peace of mind in replacing early. Speak with a member of our team to find out what best suits you.
The only way to truly see a early warnings signs for a motor is to have them tested for their electrical amperage pull as they engage and run. This is of course included in all Northstar Marine’s annual maintenance plans, as well as a wide range of other aspects when your lift is inspected.
A common question we get asked is how you can extend the life of your motors, and the answer is quite simple. Treat them with care. Running your lift up and down repeatedly in a short amount of time is the easiest way to start the downfall. Proper wiring also ensure the motors get the right amount of power at all times. Too often do we find motors will ungrounded systems.
If you have any questions about your motors or you boat lift in general, please feel free to reach out. We are happy to assist you!
(727)-424-6207
info@northstarmarinellc.com