Frequently asked questions

If you have a retractable keel or centerboard, an Air-Dock lift can work for you. If you have a fixed keel boat, we currently do not have a lift option for you. See our sailboat lifts.

Yes. Special spreaders are used to widen the lift to accommodate the toons of the boat. This is also how some Cat Boats are lifted. See our Pontoon, Tri-Toon and Cat Boat lifts.

Yes. We include a heavy duty, protective, reinforced rubber mat to protect the air chambers from the tracking fins on most of these boats. Our lifts are also designed at the stern end to accommodate the shaft and prop. See our Inboard and V-Drive lifts.

Air-Dock can use a floating PVC frame kit for any docking scenario. See our installation overview for more details.

Each Air-Dock model has a range for length, beam and weight, and your new boat may fit on your current lift. If you know what boat you may want in the future, we can plan for that and adapt your current lift for your new boat while keeping it functional for your current boat.

Salt water does not harm or deteriorate the Air-Dock boat lift. Barnacles will grow on the bottom surface but do not affect its operation. They can be removed with a variety of scraping tools, and come off easiest when the lift is still in the water or immediately after removing it.

Whether you remove it depends on winter water conditions. A thin layer of ice will not affect the operation of the Air-Dock. If you expect a hard freeze (such that you can walk on the ice), we recommend removing the Air-Dock. If you want to leave the boat on it, we recommend using bubblers or ice-eaters to prevent the water from freezing around it. We also recommend keeping an eye on things and not leaving your boat unattended for long periods. See our maintenance guide.

You only need enough water depth to float your boat. If your boat sinks a bit into soft mud, the Air-Dock will sink down with it. When inflated, the air chambers’ draft is significantly less than the boat’s draft.

Small lifts can be inflated and deflated in 3-5 minutes. Larger lifts can require up to 7 minutes.

Currently we do not offer a model with a remote. Once you lower the boat and go out on the water, you don’t need to do anything with the Air-Dock until you have driven it back in.

Air-Dock can be powered by a boat’s 12-volt DC battery with the use of our optional battery inverter. The lift requires normal 110v AC household power.

Yes. As the chambers lift your boat, the water flows easily off, letting your boat dry within a few minutes of lifting. There is no pooling of water anywhere on the lift.

Yes! Most marinas have no problem with our lifts. As a non-permanent structure, it can be removed at any time and has no permanent structural attachments. We even speak with harbor masters for you to answer any questions they might have.

We expect Air-Dock lifts to last 12-18 years with proper maintenance, and we have customers who have used them for 20+ years. The material used in other applications, like industrial roofing, can last for over 30 years.

Leaks can happen but are usually rare and avoidable, and most are patchable. Each Air-Dock comes with a patch kit. Most leaks are caused by the air chambers rubbing on the dock or other structure. When quoting, we check whether your docking space is wide enough to accommodate the suggested lift and protect it from rubbing. In narrow spaces, some users attach boat fenders horizontally to the sides of the air chambers for extra protection. We also sell individual air chambers, so each one can be replaced without paying to replace the whole lift.

We have sold thousands of Air-Docks and we don’t know of an actual confirmed case of a fishhook putting a hole in one. Even the number of suspected occurrences is extremely small. They are easy to patch, and every Air-Dock comes with a patch kit.

Clean exposed areas, when necessary, with a soft bristle brush, water and soap. Periodically it can be uninstalled and cleaned with a power washer on a low setting. It can also be scraped while in the water, like other marine products. See our maintenance guide.

The cost varies based on the size and style of your boat, and the accessories you might need based on your overall docking configuration. Complete the questionnaire and we will provide a quote.

We usually ship new boat lift orders within 1-2 weeks, depending on current inventory levels and demand. We ship FedEx direct to your door.

All parts are USA sourced and the finished product is manufactured in Michigan.

Air-Dock Boat Lifts attends frequent boat shows across the US. Ask us when we may be in your area, or check out our blog posts. If you live in a populated area, we may also be able to reach out to other Air-Dock owners to see if they would be willing to demonstrate their lift for you.

The Air-Dock is a self-install kit, and we have thousands of customers who have installed it themselves. Our rule of thumb is that anyone who is even slightly handy can install it, though it does require a certain amount of time and effort. Installation times vary by application and installer. A small, simple application may take 3-4 hours, but a large Air-Dock with a frame kit may take a full day or more. We recommend two installers to help with assembly and launching. Please contact us if you have concerns. See the installation overview.