Boat lift power back up

  • lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219196

    Hi! I have a remote cottage and recently put in an electric boat lift. 1 Hp motor runs on 120v. It’s all great, until we had a 2 day power outage and I could not get the boat down off the lift and couldn’t leave.

    I don’t want to have to purchase a dedicated gas generator to have down at the dock for these rare occasions, but from a safety aspect, I am thinking I should have something.

    Would perhaps a 12 volt battery (or series of batteries) with an inverter be enough to start the lift motor. It only needs to run for about 3-4 minutes to get the boat down. I think it is just getting enough power to get the motor started that is the big draw on amps or watts (not sure the electrical terminology)

    rjthehunter
    Brainerd
    Posts: 1253
    #2219199

    My grandparents have one that basically mounts to the post that the crank mounts to, and pushes against the big crank. You can still do it manually if you want to with this setup. I don’t have any pics of it though…

    supercat
    Eau Claire, WI
    Posts: 1332
    #2219208

    Depending on your boat lift motor some have a chuck that mounts in a drill that allow you to operate the lift without electricity. Might want to give us some specs on your lift motor.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219212

    So the motor is mounted overhead, with no way for me to reach it. I need something that can plug into the box on the post that controls it.

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    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219214

    Thanks for the suggestion, it looks like that would attach to a hand wheel. Mine is mounted overhead and electric only, no manual.

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    1. IMG_2719-1.jpeg

    John Rasmussen
    Blaine
    Posts: 6324
    #2219217

    I have no experience with that style of lift or much experience with lifts at all, but shouldn’t there be a manual release of some sort to get it down in emergency situations?

    TheFamousGrouse
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 11581
    #2219221

    Somewhere on the motor there will be a data plate that tells how many watts the motor draws.

    The point is that an inverter would work, but you may need a REALLY big inverter depending on the current draw of the motor. Inverters have to be oversized because there is a surge demand when a motor starts, so if the motor draws 1000 watts, you can’t just get by with 1000 watt inverter, you need to oversize to account for the startup surge.

    So yes, your idea will work if you can get by with an inverter that makes the whole plan cost effective. Otherwise, it may be cheaper to just go the route of Harbor Freight’s excellent Predator generators and then you have a more versatile tool should the power fail again.

    One more thing to keep in mind, inverters have a MASSIVE DC current requirement, so when an inverter of 1000 watts or more is wired to a battery, the wire must generally be a very large gauge and the run between the battery and the inverter must be kept as short as possible. There are websites that will size the wire for you, but just so you know.

    mark-bruzek
    Two Harbors, MN
    Posts: 3863
    #2219243

    Could always chat with the neighbors, I bet several of them had a generator for you to borrow….

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219248

    You would think there should be a manual release, but in talking with the lift people, they say there is not.
    Thanks for your input!

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219250

    Thanks for all that info. It’s perhaps a more complex solition than I anticipated. I have back up batteries on my sump pump so just assumed it would be easily doable. Never assume!

    Eelpoutguy
    Farmington, Outing
    Posts: 10374
    #2219251

    I’d die for a boathouse like yours. Where ya at?

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219252

    Sadly (or luckily depending on how you look at things) I have only one neighbor close by, who is only here seasonally; while I am here almost year round, and they don’t have one. A few people further away I know who have generators,it’s probably much easier for them to just give me a boat ride out, than it is to haul a heavy generator over here. It just so happened when the power went out, none of them were around so figured I better find a backup solution.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219256

    Thank you. West Hawk Lake, Manitoba.
    My brother built it, he does nice work!

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    Huntindave
    Shell Rock Iowa
    Posts: 3088
    #2219258

    You would think there should be a manual release, but in talking with the lift people, they say there is not.
    Thanks for your input!

    What brand and model is your lift?

    Swimjiggin
    Burnsville/Willmar
    Posts: 177
    #2219259

    Very nice set up , I’d love to be on a queit lake. Although having neighbors isn’t bad. Our neighbors 2 doors down have a small solar panel hooked up to a battery that runs their boat lift. We run a 100′ cord but there’s would be way more than that. Thinking I’ll do the same at some point.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219265

    It’s made by a local dock & lifts company who does much of the work around Lake of the Woods, so not a ‘brand’ per se.

    Dave maze
    Isanti
    Posts: 976
    #2219267

    Such a nice dock and boat house! As far as your lift issue when the power is out… get a honda 2000 generator. They last forever. Just run it a couple times a year.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219278

    Thanks. I was looking at the Honda’s or Yamaha’s 2200 which would be ideal as far as size and weight, (I can semi manage getting up/down the 50 stair from cottage to dock, but I am not sure it’s powerful enough to start the motor.

    If the motor is 120v x 15amps = 1800 watts to run it, but, I keep being told to actually start the motor it could take double that. So probably need a 3600-4000 watt generator – which get pricey, and heavy. It would end up only being used at dock level, as I would have no way to carry it up/down stairs.

    It then seems pricey to sit at the dock for one or twice every couple of years experience, and have to keep it maintained. So, that got me on the track of maybe battery powered or solar solutions.

    Or I can just keep crossing my fingers that when the power goes out, I don’t have a fall/ have an illness, or there isn’t a forest fire I need to escape from. I can be inconvenienced by outages, its the safety factor driving this.

    Dave maze
    Isanti
    Posts: 976
    #2219282

    You should look at the Amp draw of the motor. A 1 hp should be considerably less than 15 amps. I’ll fire up my 2500 watt inverter generator and see if it turns my big air compressor tomorrow. It’s a 3hp 120v 19amp.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219286

    That would be an awesome test. Thank you!

    Art Green
    Brookfield,WI
    Posts: 733
    #2219293

    I would see if the motor can be replaced by a 12V DC motor and runn it off of batteries with a solar charger.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219294

    That’s a good idea. I’ll look into that.
    Thanks!

    stevenoak
    Posts: 1719
    #2219298

    As for 50 stairs. In an hour an electrician should be able to change the wiring at the point the electric is fed to your dock. The house, garage or electric box to let you feed the lift with a generator from up the hill. My dad’s portable was set up in a way it fed the whole house. It’s a 11k and will run the air and all. That would cost a little more. If you have health concerns. That may not be a bad option, to also have some electric in your house. Way cheaper than a dedicated backup generator.
    Across the canal from the house, we rent in Florida. There are lifts on an undeveloped area for homes in the subdivision not on the water. They have batteries and solar panels. Although most of the boats are smaller skiffs. If you are lifting a pontoon, you may need to wire 6 Teslas together.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219300

    Thanks for that suggestion. I will check with the electrician if a portable generator up at the cottage can be fed into the panel at the shore which feeds the lift. A whole home generator, like a generac would be nice. Friends have one, but there wasn’t much change from $20K once all the installation of propane tank, electrics etc was done.

    stevenoak
    Posts: 1719
    #2219311

    My dad was an electrician. Not sure his was 100% up to code. Basically, a cut out switch to block power from the pole when it came back on. Then a plug to the panel. He had a sweet set up. He had a 2-car carport off the garage and the panel was right inside the man door. He could roll the generator out the door and plug in a short cord.

    Huntindave
    Shell Rock Iowa
    Posts: 3088
    #2219400

    I can be inconvenienced by outages, its the safety factor driving this.

    The reason I asked for a brand and model earlier was to be able to look at a parts diagram. Even though your lift was not originally designed with a “manual power” option, there must surely be a way to modify it. Modify it in a professional manner that looks and works well.

    Obviously a generator is also a viable option.

    supercat
    Eau Claire, WI
    Posts: 1332
    #2219439

    Thanks. I was looking at the Honda’s or Yamaha’s 2200 which would be ideal as far as size and weight, (I can semi manage getting up/down the 50 stair from cottage to dock, but I am not sure it’s powerful enough to start the motor.

    If the motor is 120v x 15amps = 1800 watts to run it, but, I keep being told to actually start the motor it could take double that. So probably need a 3600-4000 watt generator – which get pricey, and heavy. It would end up only being used at dock level, as I would have no way to carry it up/down stairs.

    I would not worry about a honda 2000 having a problem starting the motor. If the lift is up the motor will draw very little lowering the lift. If you are going to pick the boat up just make sure you operate the lift down first until no load is left that will allow the motor to be running full rpm before the load is applied.

    Dave maze
    Isanti
    Posts: 976
    #2219472

    Ok, I tested out my 2500 watt inverter generator against my air compressor. First off the generator is 2200watt running and 2500 starting. It will start the air compressor when there is 0 psi in it. Readout on the gen says 1450 watt load. Once the compressor was full the load was 1900 watts. I released air until the compressor would start and the gen kicks out on overload. I’m not sure if this helps with your boat lift though lol.

    lesterg57
    Posts: 29
    #2219534

    Well thanks for trying. A+ for effort!
    A friend just informed me they just bought a Yamaha 2200 generator and will bring it over for me to try on the lift. Real life test.
    Thanks again!

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