S23 - can I run boat lift using generator until I get power to my dock?

[SABdaddy]

Pic for attn. bought a lot at Gaston with a boathouse/lift. Have had power run to boathouse yet. Can I use a generator to power the lift so I can keep boat at the lake?

[Scooter G]

The short answer is if it is electrical you can plug it into a generator, all day long.
I'll let someone else chime in with the technical 120/240v, amp draw, generator specs, cord size, GFI, lift rating details, you know, the little things.

Love the boat house, good score!

[MN Ryan]

That's a killer boathouse. Man, I would love that.

[srock]

Any electrician can review the power requirements and design and provide a cord-plug for the appropriate sized generator to run the lift. Are those real pavers on the deck?

[fsts2k]

I did for a year.. was a hydraulic lift vs cable but that shouldn't matter. I did not use a long extension cord due to potential amp pull.. otherwise, it worked fine for me.

[charlesml3]

You'll need about 5500 watts to drive the lift. I've come across this several times in my lift business here on Lake Gaston.

-Charles

[SANonTellico]

Congrats on your purchase…..good looking boathouse!

You can take the plastic cover off around your lift motor, there will be a label on the motor that shows the required power (volts/amps). Then you just need a generator that can provide that amount of power out of a single outlet.

Caution: The bunks on your lift look like they’re for a pontoon boat, you may need to replace them with bunks that are appropriate for a V-Hull boat.

[jpwhit]

Close friend did this when building his house / dock on Gaston last summer before the power feed was run to the dock. He used a 6000 watt 240v generator. Worked great until someone broke into the storage room on the dock and stole the generator. He's on the Lizard Creek cove at Gaston.

[charlesml3]

Caution: The bunks on your lift look like they’re for a pontoon boat, you may need to replace them with bunks that are appropriate for a V-Hull boat.

They most certainly are. They will need to be removed and replaced with v-hull brackets and bunk boards.

-Charles

[JayG80]

Cable clamps are not spaced properly. I would add one more above the lower clamp (aka wire rope clip) per link. https://www.fehr.com/img/product/des...llation%20.pdf

[charlesml3]

Cable clamps are not spaced properly. I would add one more above the lower clamp (aka wire rope clip) per link. https://www.fehr.com/img/product/des...llation%20.pdf

Meh. They could be a little closer together but it really doesn't matter. Two cable clamps per cable is also perfectly fine for this application.

-Charles

[srock]

Just remember, "never saddle a dead horse". The saddle needs to be on the live load cable.

[SABdaddy]

Any electrician can review the power requirements and design and provide a cord-plug for the appropriate sized generator to run the lift. Are those real pavers on the deck?

Yes they are real pavers. Thx for the message back

[SABdaddy]

Another question. Boat lift motor has 240v 3 prong on plug. My generator has a 240v 4 plug (female). Talk to me. Is there an extension cord converter that folks have used or seen?

[charlesml3]

Another question. Boat lift motor has 240v 3 prong on plug. My generator has a 240v 4 plug (female). Talk to me. Is there an extension cord converter that folks have used or seen?

I'll send you a DM. Call me tomorrow.