Boat lifts and PWC lifts
A lift keeps your hull out of the water between trips. On this lake, it also has to attach to a permitted dock and stay within your side setbacks.
Leaving a boat in the water all season means algae, staining and wear on the hull and drive. A lift raises it clear, and a PWC lift or drive-on port does the same for personal watercraft. Lifts go into new docks or get added to existing slips.
What does Ameren allow for lifts?
- Stand-alone lifts aren't allowed. A lift has to be part of a permitted dock.
- Lifts can't be anchored to the lake bed.
- A lift set perpendicular to shore has to be at least 5 feet inside the extended side property line.
- Lifts and accessories set parallel to shore need a larger setback: one and a half times their length if they're 15 feet or longer, or one times their length if shorter.
Adding a lift to an existing dock can count as a modification, which needs Ameren's approval before the work.
How do you size a lift?
Lifts are rated by weight. Add the boat, engine, fuel, batteries, gear and any water in the bilge, then leave room to spare. The builder also checks slip width, how the lift mounts to the frame, and whether the dock has enough flotation to carry the added load.
Signs a lift needs service
- Frayed, kinked or rusty cables
- A motor that hums but won't raise the boat, or trips the breaker
- The boat sits unevenly or the bunks are cracked
- Hydraulic fluid leaks or slow lifting
- The dock lists to one side when the boat is up
Power and safety
Powered lifts need properly grounded and protected circuits. Lake-area fire districts require electrical permits for docks with power, so changes to lift wiring should go through a qualified electrician. Ameren warns never to reset a GFCI or breaker while anyone is in the water near the dock.
The builder sets the price after seeing your shoreline, water depth and existing dock. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I put a lift on my existing dock?
Often, if the slip is wide enough and the dock has the flotation and frame to carry it. Check with Ameren whether your change needs approval.
Can I install a free-standing lift off my shoreline?
No. Ameren doesn't allow stand-alone lifts or lifts anchored to the lake bed. The lift has to be part of a permitted dock.
Related services
- New floating docks
- Dock repair, flotation and re-decking
- Dock moves, cables and anchoring
- Seawalls and shoreline riprap
More background: Lake of the Ozarks dock permit guide.
Dock sitting low, lift acting up, or ready for a new slip?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Lake of the Ozarks will call you back to talk through your shoreline.