Installing Boat Lifts In Mucky Bottom Lakes

Installing a boat lift in a mucky bottom lake can be challenging. The nature of the lake bed will determine the style of the base pad required for the support framework. The muck can cause the boat lift to sink and make levelling difficult. To overcome this, one can use oversized base pads, muck mats, or sweeps to minimise the headache muck can cause. A cheaper option is to simply enlarge the size of the base pads to expand the surface area and distribute the weight of the equipment more evenly. For more extreme situations, a muck blaster can be used to remove silt, muck, weeds, and debris from the surface and bottom of the water column. Alternatively, a BoatLift Mat can be used to stabilise the boat lift and prevent it from sinking into the muck.

Using a Boat Lift Helper airbag system

Muck is the toughest challenge when it comes to installing a boat lift in a lake. It can cause sinking and instability, and it is very unpleasant to deal with. Boat Lift Helper offers an airbag system that can help with this issue.

The Boat Lift Helper airbag system is an innovative solution for installing a boat lift in a mucky bottom lake. It is a simple, effective, and hassle-free method that eliminates the need for manual labour and heavy lifting. The system consists of inflatable airbags that attach to the lift and remain underwater throughout the season.

To install a boat lift using the Boat Lift Helper airbag system, follow these steps:

• Attach the airbag system to your lift: The system includes inflatable airbags with attachment straps to secure them to your boat lift.
• Roll your lift into the water: You can use a boat lift wheel kit to assist with this step, making it easier to move the lift into the water.
• Inflate the airbags: Stand on your dock and inflate the airbags using a small air compressor with a standard 1/4" NPT air fitting.
• Float the boat lift to the desired location: Once the airbags are inflated, the lift will float, allowing you to guide it to the end of the dock or your preferred position.
• Deflate the airbags: After reaching the desired location, deflate the airbags one at a time to secure the lift in place.

The Boat Lift Helper airbag system offers several benefits. It eliminates the need for physical labour and heavy lifting, keeping you high and dry during the installation process. It also provides flexibility, allowing for easy adjustments if the lift needs to be repositioned or if water levels change during the season. Additionally, the airbags can be deflated and removed for fall removal, and the lift can be rolled out of the water with the help of wheels.

The Boat Lift Helper airbag system is a convenient and efficient solution for installing a boat lift in a mucky bottom lake. It simplifies the installation process, ensures stability, and provides the flexibility to make adjustments as needed.

Using a mat to stabilise the lift

Muck is a common issue for boat owners and can be a tough obstacle to overcome. It can prevent you from levelling your boat lift and creating a stable surface on your dock. One solution to this problem is to use a mat to stabilise the lift.

Boat lift mats are designed to stabilise lifts on soft and mucky lake bottoms. They work by creating a snowshoe effect, distributing the weight of the lift and boat over a larger area. This reduces the amount of weight pressing down on the mucky lake bottom, preventing the lift from sinking. The mats are made from strong geotextile fabric and reinforced with an aluminised steel frame, which provides a level and stable base for any sized hoist.

There are several benefits to using a boat lift mat. Firstly, they are easy to install, with assembly taking just 10 minutes. Simply slide the frame into the mat fabric and place it in the desired location. They also create a weed-free area around your lift, as the fabric traps soil particles and prevents them from spreading. This keeps the water and shoreline around your dock and lift area clean and clear.

In addition, boat lift mats are environmentally friendly. They are non-toxic and do not use any chemicals, so they will not harm the lake ecosystem. The mats are also built to last, with the fabric expected to outlast the boat or boat lift. This makes them a cost-effective solution, as you won't need to keep replacing them.

Boat lift mats come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different types of watercraft, from personal watercraft to large pontoons. When choosing a mat, it is important to consider the weight of your lift and boat to ensure the mat can provide adequate support.

Using a long pole to auger into the lake bed

First, it is important to understand the "bottom conditions" of the lake. In this case, we are dealing with a mucky bottom lake, which can be challenging to work with. The standard auger types, such as cast aluminum or resin, may not provide the necessary "grip" in muddy or mucky conditions unless you can penetrate the muddy material and screw into a more solid substrate.

One option specifically designed for muddy or mucky lake bottoms is a mud auger. A mud auger combines the penetrating power of a self-tapping auger with the lateral stability of a base pad. It is essentially a wide, round base pad that has been fashioned into an auger. The extra surface area of the mud auger provides more "grip" and resists the dock pipe from shifting or pulling out of the mud. Make sure to use the appropriate size of the mud auger for your dock pipe.

When installing the boat lift, follow these steps:

• Attach the mud auger to the long pole, ensuring it is secure.
• Use the pole to "screw" the auger into the lake bed. Apply torque to the pole to secure the auger into the muck.
• Continue this process for each dock support, ensuring they are stabilized and secure.
• Once all the augers are in place, you can then install the boat lift, following the manufacturer's instructions.

It is important to note that this process can be physically demanding, and you may need assistance from friends or family, or you can consider hiring a service to help with the installation. Additionally, keep in mind that removing the augers from the lake bed can be challenging, and you may need to use special tools or techniques, such as a water jet or a large pipe wrench, to loosen and extract them.

Using a long pole with a mud auger can be an effective way to install a boat lift in a mucky bottom lake, providing stability and security for your boat.

Using a small bottom plate and plywood board

If you have a mucky bottom lake, you may encounter some challenges when installing a boat lift. A few inches of muck is typically not an issue for standard-sized bottom plates, but if you're dealing with more substantial muck, a larger plate or a bottom board might be necessary.

If the muck is sinking in at 6 to 14 inches before reaching solid ground, you can opt for a larger plate, typically a 12-inch cast plate. These plates are designed to attach to the bottom of your dock post, either by welding or with a thumb screw. While stamped steel plates are an option, they tend to be less durable and may bend under pressure. Cast plates, on the other hand, are stronger and more reliable, especially when designed correctly. Another advantage of two-piece castings is the ability to adjust the pole's height, providing additional stability on soft bottoms.

For more extreme situations with muck exceeding 14 inches in depth, you may need to use bottom boards. This method involves clamping a small bottom plate about 1.5 feet up the pole and placing a treated plywood board underneath. The board should be at least 2 feet square and have a hole in the centre to accommodate the pole. Treated plywood is recommended for its durability and resistance to rotting. By using a bottom board, you can customise the size of the board to fit your specific needs.

While there are other options available, such as permanent mounting bases designed for mucky bottoms, using a small bottom plate and plywood board is a relatively economical and effective solution to stabilise your boat lift in a mucky bottom lake.

Using a barge to install the lift

Using a barge to install a boat lift in a mucky bottom lake is a great option if you want to be hands-off during the installation process. While it can be more expensive than the manual installation, using a barge has several benefits.

First, a barge can make the installation process much easier, as it can be used to transport the boat lift to the desired location on the lake. This eliminates the need for manual labour and reduces the risk of injury. Second, a barge can help protect your shoreline. Sliding heavy dock sections or boat lifts into the water can damage your lakefront, but using a barge can minimise this impact, leaving your shoreline virtually untouched.

Additionally, a barge can be useful if your boat lift becomes submerged. Severe weather, collisions, or other factors can cause your boat lift to end up underwater. A barge can make recovering your equipment much more manageable and less time-consuming.

When hiring a barge service, it's important to consider the scheduling. You will need to coordinate with the service provider to find an installation date that works for them, which may not always align with your preferred timeline. It's also worth noting that you may have limited control over the placement of the boat lift, and adjustments may come with additional costs.

Overall, using a barge to install a boat lift in a mucky bottom lake can be a convenient and efficient option, especially if you want to avoid the manual labour and potential shoreline damage associated with manual installation.

Frequently asked questions