Question for those who own a boat lift with screwjack leg leveling system

My current lift (older Pier Pleasure) does NOT have screw-jack legs and i’m tired of having to go under the water in the fall to pull the leg adjustment pins to get the wheel kit to touch the bottom. For those who own a lift with screw-jack legs, is it possible for the rear leg screw-jack adjustment access hole to be UNDER the water line? I guess if that does happen, you’re then forced to manually hand turn the cog with a socket wrench under water? Any other issues with screw-jack legs?

If stuck under muck, will the screw-jack feature lift the legs out of the muck?

I know you’re not supposed to “Raise” the lift with the boat currently on it, but what about slowly lowering it with the boat currently on it? I’ve had my boat stuck on the lift before because the water level lowered so much while I was away for a few weeks, the boat still wouldn’t float off the lift at it’s lowest lowered position…if this happens with a screw-jack leg lift, I could theoretically lower the legs until it floats off…

I can order a screw-jack kit for the back legs of the lift for $400, is it worth it?

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Some of your questions would be best served by a mfg or dealer. But I will answer what I can.

I have a Dock Rite lift with screw legs. The adjustments have always been a good bit above the water level. No need to get wet there.

The screw leg is not going to pull the leg out of any muck. Retracting the leg will just lower the lift… Mine sits on pretty firm sand or rocks so it has never sunk in at all though.

As far as lowering it with the boat on it. You might be able to do that. I imagine it would vary based on mfg. But you may not have a problem at all since it is easy to lower or raise the lift as the water changes so if you keep on top of it, you may not have any issues. But then again I have no idea how much the water level on your lake moves.

For me it has been worth the extra$

I appreciate the reply, the 1 time my boat got trapped on the lift I had not been to the lake in 3 weeks late in the summer when we had alot of heat with no rain…so maybe (hopefully) it never happens again…

Way worth the $.
Only issue I’ve had, DO NOT use an imapct driver per instructions. Only use a drill. I’ve had to replace the gears (20 ish dollars and a half hour of your time) if you use an impact and strip them out. Use lots of marine grease to lube up the screw legs.

I’ve never had the adjuster under the water, don’t even think thats possible as its pretty high up on the leg.

Muck. Mine is on sand, haven’t had to deal with muck. If it were me I’d place boards or something under the feet to try and prevent them sinking too far in the muck.

I wouldn’t make it a habit of lowering the lift with your boat on it. The gears are pretty small and easily stripped. Depends on what size boat/gas/gear/batteries you have on the lift. Then again emergency situation worse you can do is strip out the gears. I did make a “lift” to replace the gears while the lift is still in the water. You need to raise the lift tall enough to get the leg out of the lift, replace the gears, and put everything back to together.

Jami

appreciate the info, looks like i’ll buy a set….