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Name:	dogdoc97 -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	10/31/2011 12:22:58 AM

So I left it last year after being winterized and I missed the flood; some tell me it can only go XXX amount of feet high or APCO is in trouble; what is that number? I was told by some if I measure from full pool up say 7 or 8 feet and can get the boat that high in the lift I should be ok, what say the rest of you? PS Its not a matter of saving money but I had my boat marked up bad last year and the lift damaged too and I do not want to go thru that again after it came back from storage(it was left for me that way)...thnx! dog

Name:	Packrat -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	10/31/2011 7:27:13 AM

I think the magic number is 473.5 feet.467 is considered flood stage. You can get alerts sent to your computer,just enter the level plus or minus

Name:	twc -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	10/31/2011 10:23:56 PM

Just my opinion: If I had a lift, I would. Provided I felt confident I could get there in a timely manner in the event of heavy winter rains. The way I look at it is this. IF we get heavy rains, it takes about 36 hours for the level to start getting to flood stage. And yes, from what I've seen, 467 is considered flood. However, 475 is considered the 100 year flood level. I've been there 6 years and I've seen 472. But if we're at winter pool (460) and your lift is good to 467' that's 7 feet the water has to come up and that's not gonna happen in a matter of just a few hours. I leave mine on the neighbors floating pier and I've never had a problem yet. But I would love to have a lift and I would take my chances with it. You could also ask a neighbor to move it if you have some full timers around. Good luck, <>< TC

Name:	Cobra122 -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	11/1/2011 2:39:23 PM

I've been on the lake since 2005 and do have a lift which will take the pontoon up to a level of about 468 feet. On two occasions, once in 2009 and once in 2011, the water has gotten high enoough that I had to float the boat out and tie it off. I agree that it's ok to leave it on the lift most of the time but be prepared on fairly short notice (24 hours plus or minus) after a big rain to either move the boat yourself or have someone do it for you. It usually takes about 7 inches of rain over a couple of days to cause concern. Also, Alabama Power usually does a decent job in predicting how high the water will rise. But the best solution is this...if in doubt, take the boat out.

Name:	twc -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	11/1/2011 8:07:57 PM

I talked to a coworker today that has a place down near Coosa Island and he leaves his year round. And he said the same thing, he's had to move it twice.

Name:	dogdoc97 -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	11/2/2011 12:58:26 AM

thnx TC, I do have some good neighbors but I hate to ask them in a severe storm to get out and move it, just have to think about it more I guess, dogdoc

Name:	dogdoc97 -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	11/2/2011 1:01:41 AM

I am coming down tomorrw,(today) up too late and see if me and a friend on teh lake can measure from full pool up 7-8 feet and see how high I can get that boat; it may just not be worth the worry, and I should take it out! thnx for the input folks, dogdoc

Name:	KGIOR -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	11/2/2011 12:14:19 PM

You need to keep the configuration of the dock in mind. When it floods high enough that we become worried about the boat our dock walkway is under water requiring you to wade through it to get to the boat on the lift. In addition to that our dock used to have a plastic outdoor sud-panel that powered the lift and had an outlet on it. If you had to lower the boat in a flood you would be standing in very cold knee deep water with a live power panel under water a few feet from your feet. We have since removed that but my point is you may have to make a choice to move it when a warning comes rather than waiting until the last hour.

Name:	midagefeller -	Reply
Subject:	Think its safe to leave my boat on lift in winter?
Date:	11/10/2011 7:16:34 PM

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