Boat lift installation and repair
Get your boat out of the water with a lift built for salt water.
Free Fast Quote
Please fill out this form to request a free quote on your upcoming project and we will respond to you right away!
We install new boat lifts and jet ski lifts, repair motors, cables and gearboxes, and service lifts so they keep working through the season.
- Free, no-obligation quote
- Fast response from our team
- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
A 10,000 lb four-post boat lift installed in South Florida typically costs $7,000 to $14,000, and a jet ski lift $3,000 to $10,000, according to ThePricer's 2026 guide. In Miami-Dade, installing a lift on a new or existing dock, seawall or bulkhead is a short-form DERM permit approved by staff without a public hearing (Miami-Dade DERM, 2025).
Last updated
Who we help
Boat owners who want the hull out of salt water, owners with a lift that has stopped working, and owners moving up to a bigger boat.
- A new lift on an existing dock or seawall
- A lift that hums but will not lift
- Frayed cables or a noisy gearbox
- A jet ski or tender lift beside the main boat
Typical project sizes
Most residential lifts are four-post or elevator lifts in the 10,000 lb class, plus PWC lifts. New pilings can turn a $10,000 lift project into $15,000 or more (ThePricer, 2026).
Lift permits in South Florida
In Miami-Dade a boat lift on a new or existing dock, seawall or bulkhead is a short-form DERM permit, and a single-family lift may not protrude more than 25% of the waterway width. Palm Beach County treats lifts as Type 8 marine structures and asks for signed and sealed lift drawings with pile details. Under SPGP VI, lifts could go in existing boat slips without a seagrass survey, and two uncovered lifts were allowed.[2][3][4]
How long should a boat lift last?
Manufacturers we checked do not publish a fixed lifespan. What they do publish is upkeep: rinse after each use, inspect at least once a season, have it serviced at least once a year (more often in salt water), replace worn cables at once and change sacrificial zinc anodes regularly.[5]
| Item | Figure | Source and scope |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 lb four-post lift, installed | $7,000 to $14,000 | ThePricer, South Florida, 2026 |
| PWC or jet ski lift, installed | $3,000 to $10,000 | ThePricer, South Florida, 2026 |
| 10,000 lb elevator lift, equipment only | About $12,480 | ThePricer, 2026 |
| Installation labour | $500 to $3,000 or more | ThePricer, 2026 |
Boat lifts services
Boat lift installation
New four-post, elevator and floating boat lifts, including relocations.
Boat lift repair
Lifts that will not raise, stall, tilt or make noise.
Boat lift motors and cables
Motor, gearbox, cable, pulley and switch replacement.
PWC and jet ski lifts
Floating and fixed lifts for jet skis and small tenders.
Boat lift service and maintenance
Yearly servicing: cables, lubrication, anodes, switches and bunks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical cost to install a boat lift?
ThePricer's 2026 guide puts a 10,000 lb four-post lift at $7,000 to $14,000 installed in South Florida, with installation labour alone at $500 to $3,000 or more.
How long should a boat lift last?
No manufacturer we checked gives a fixed number of years. Lifts that are rinsed, inspected each season and serviced every year last longest, especially in salt water.
Do I need a permit for a boat lift in Miami-Dade?
Yes. A lift on a dock, seawall or bulkhead is a DERM short-form permit, and your city also issues a building permit.
Sources
- How Much Does a Boat Lift Cost? (updated 11 Aug 2026), ThePricer.org (secondary cost guide; cited in the FCC master plan). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Class I Permit Application for Coastal Construction and Mangrove Trimming within Miami-Dade County (Revised May 2025), Miami-Dade County RER, Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), Coastal Resources Section. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- TYPE 8 Marine Structures (Dock, Seawall, Boatlift, Boathouse) Application Submittal Checklist, Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning and Building. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Department of the Army State Programmatic General Permit VI (SPGP VI), SAJ-2015-2575, State of Florida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (document hosted by Florida DEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Top Boat Lift Maintenance Tips (31 Jul 2025), ShoreMaster (boat lift manufacturer). Accessed October 27, 2026.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your project and we will get back to you fast.