Dock lifts eliminate the need for ramps and can be installed in virtually any loading dock position, providing greater capacity and flexibility than truck tailgates.
Roll-Over Capacity: For recessed units, this capacity refers to the maximum axle load that may travel across a fully lowered dock lift when traveling at full capacity. Large specialty vehicles or high-capacity fork trucks exceeding this threshold limit require extreme caution when traveling over them. Contact Charleston Dock Works now!
Cradle lifts are an increasingly popular choice among boat owners looking for extra security and vessel protection. Similar to trailer bunks, cradle lifts provide support and stability that prevent damage to your hull while evenly dispersing its weight, relieving any strain or stress placed upon its frame. Furthermore, Cradle Lifts come in various materials, such as wood or fabric, to cushion your vessel against impact and stressors that may occur while underway.
One of the primary advantages of cradle lifts is their versatility: They can be utilized in settings with differing water depths, making them more reliable than boat lift slings, which typically limit themselves to shallow water settings. Furthermore, customizing them to your boat’s specifications may be possible, while not always possible with slings.
Hurricane’s Cradle Lift Systems offer multiple features and capacities ranging from 4,500 lbs to 32,000 lbs, featuring aluminum grooved winders and aluminum pulleys as well as stainless steel pile mount brackets for easy dock access. Plus, their sleek design ensures minimal visual obstruction on docks, making cradle lifts an excellent solution for customers with large personal watercraft or smaller boats but still want easy access.
Piling Lifts
Dock lifts that rely on pilings as support can be installed in various water depths, with their diameter and length determined by weight capacity requirements and soil composition at each location. Steel or concrete pilings may be preferred; wood alternatives may also be appropriate.
These lifts are typically designed for easy removal and relocation. Constructed of high-quality galvanized materials that resist corrosion, many models also accommodate various boat sizes and styles.
Dock lift capacities are usually measured based on their maximum axle load capacity while travelling at slow speed, although this varies by manufacturer and model. To find your perfect dock lift it’s essential that you familiarize yourself with its specifications; speciality vehicles and high capacity fork trucks may exceed these limitations so it is wise to contact its manufacturer first when considering one as a purchase option.
Piling dock lifts are versatile solutions designed to facilitate loading and unloading trucks quickly and safely. Their designs make them more versatile than dock levelers, safer than ramps and less costly than recessed truck wells; in addition, they support all axle ratings ranging from low step vans up to high reefer semis.
Piling dock lifts are typically designed for use in coastal environments and often feature special components to withstand the high loads they are exposed to, including no-drill clamps, pile mount brackets and aluminum pile pads. No-drill clamps attach directly to the top beam channel flanges and tighten around carbon fiber pilings while pile mount brackets fit into T-shaped notches in their top beam girder.
Some piling dock lifts can be operated with a standard power unit while other models feature remote units for indoor mounting or oil emersion heaters for outdoor mounting. When used in either surface or pit installations, their height and travel can differ; when installed in pit installations their overall height will likely be greater than when mounted on deck or pier installations.
Manual Lifts
Manual lifts employ a lever system to both raise and lower their platform. As these types of lifts don’t rely on electricity or batteries for operation, manual models may be an ideal choice in environments with limited access to electricity or batteries. Furthermore, manual models tend to be lighter in weight and more easily disassembled for transport purposes.
Employers should make sure their employees follow appropriate lifting techniques when operating a dock lift, such as keeping loads close to their body, rotating shoulders and hips instead of twisting only their torso, using both hands for lifting, and working with partners as much as possible in order to evenly distribute weight and reduce risk of injury.
Patient lifts are useful tools for individuals needing assistance transferring from bed to chair or bed to commode, though their manual lever operation can make this task challenging for caregivers with neck or back pain, weakness or fearful patients who require frequent transfers. Furthermore, these levers often stop and start during transfers, creating further difficulty when handling someone who may become fearful or distressed during transport.
Power lifts provide an efficient alternative to manual lifts, as they do not require caregivers to manually operate a lever; rather, remote controls allow caregivers to lift or lower platforms remotely. Although more costly, power lifts may help relieve strain on caregivers while increasing safety by limiting physical exertion during transfers.
Installation
Dock lift installations may seem simple enough, but professional marine contractors should be used for optimal results. An improper installation could cause extensive damage to your boat and put yourself and others at risk of injury. If you decide to DIY it yourself, be sure to follow all manufacturer instructions precisely and if any difficulties arise contact them immediately for support.
Loading dock lifts can reach almost any type of truck bed imaginable, from pickups and courier vans to refrigerated reefers. By eliminating ramps, loading dock lifts have drastically reduced space requirements while speeding up and safety-enhancing the loading process. With numerous sizes and lifting capacities to choose from, there’s sure to be one perfect for your application.
Lifting processes can be accomplished manually or with an electric motor. Regular checks on both should ensure they remain in top shape; any signs of malfunction should be replaced promptly. It is also a good idea to test cables periodically to make sure there are no frayed sections present and ensure safe working condition.
Based on your specific needs, you may prefer either a bottom-standing lift or cradle dock lift. The former is best when water depth ranges between two feet and nine feet and your waterfront contains hard rock or coral surfaces which can bear the weight of such lifts; on the other hand, cradle dock lifts tend to be more stable, accommodating low or high tides in water environments.
Dock lifts come in both top-of-ground and recessed models. Top-of-ground models can be installed directly onto flat concrete slabs without pit work required, making them the less expensive option while avoiding drainage issues and interference with underground utilities. Recessed lifts typically allow vehicles weighing up to 10,000 lbs of axle load slow speed vehicles to pass over them when fully lowered.
Underwater Foundation or Platform Support
Damaged dock foundations or platform support systems can be hazardous. Any issues must be quickly and regularly addressed for the safety of those using them. In extreme cases, replacement may be required.
Boat docks are exposed to waves, water currents, and other forces which may cause foundation shifts and instability; as a result, regular inspections should include inspecting both above- and underwater components to detect any issues that arise.
Wood that has been damaged by rot must be completely replaced if a dock’s wood has become compromised. Though minor areas of decay might be repairable, overall deterioration is an indicator that it’s time for replacement of the entire dock.
Metal components in the platform or supports of docks are vulnerable to rusting as salt water seeps through, eating away at them. Regular maintenance should be conducted, depending on how severe the rust damage is; its severity will determine whether repairs can be undertaken or whether replacing is required as soon as it threatens safety and must occur.
Docks with metal structures can be built using various construction techniques, including driven piles. These thin columns are driven into the seabed using hydraulic or vibratory drivers and may be composed of steel, concrete, or wood material – an effective option in locations where other foundation solutions might not suffice.
Driven piles can also be utilized on temporary structures like jack-up rigs. As an affordable solution for offshore drilling and construction projects, driven piles provide a cost-effective solution.
Any dock installed must have its foundation or platform assessed immediately in case it becomes damaged, with any signs of cracking or other damages immediately evaluated in order to make necessary repairs before further issues develop.