Boat lifts and PWC lifts
A lift keeps the hull dry and clean between trips. Here's how lifts fit into the slip count and size limits on Smith Mountain Lake.
Boats left in the water all season pick up growth and staining, and the hull and drive wear faster. A lift raises the boat clear, and a PWC lift or floating port does the same for personal watercraft. Lifts can go into a new dock or be added to a slip you already have.
Does a lift count as a slip?
- Bolt-on PWC lifts and floating ramps don't count as boat slips if they can't reasonably hold, or be modified to hold, a boat.
- Their area still counts toward the dock's total square footage.
- Lift areas built into the dock itself, like a single or double PWC slip, do count as a slip.
Because slips are capped by your shoreline frontage, how a lift is built can matter for what else fits on the dock. A builder can lay out the options.
Is the water deep enough?
Lifts need enough depth under the boat at the lake's normal range. The level usually moves only a foot or two a day, but extended droughts can drop it further, and Appalachian Power requires dock owners to acknowledge that depth may not be enough during low inflow or drawdown. Check the depth at the slip before choosing a lift.
How do you size a lift?
Lifts are rated by weight. Add up the boat, engine, fuel, batteries, gear and any water aboard, then leave a margin. The builder also checks slip width and length, how the lift attaches to the pilings or frame, and the canopy if you want one.
Signs a lift needs service
- Cables that are frayed, kinked or rusty
- A motor that runs but won't lift, or trips the breaker
- Bunks that are cracked or hold the boat crooked
- Slow lifting or leaking hydraulic fluid
- Bent or loose brackets where the lift meets the dock
Power and safety
Lift motors need properly grounded, protected circuits. Wiring work on a dock should go through a licensed electrician and any county electrical permit that applies. If you see damaged wiring, shut the power off at shore and keep people out of the water nearby.
Pricing comes from the builder after a look at your lot, your shoreline and what's already there. We don't quote prices, and anything said over the phone before a site visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
- Moneta
- Huddleston and the dam end
- Hardy and the Roanoke River end
- Union Hall and the Franklin County shore
Common questions
Can I add mooring whips without a permit?
Yes. Appalachian Power says mooring whips can be added to an existing dock without its approval.
Will a PWC lift use up one of my slips?
A bolt-on PWC lift that can't hold a boat doesn't count as a slip, but its area counts toward square footage. A PWC slip built into the dock does count as a slip.
Related services
- New boat docks
- Boathouses and covered docks
- Dock repair and expansions
- Riprap and shoreline stabilization
More background: Smith Mountain Lake dock permit guide.
Planning a new dock, a boathouse or a lift for the new boat?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Smith Mountain Lake will call you back to talk through your lot and the Appalachian Power permit.