# US 11,027,801 B2 · Boat lift > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,801 B2 - Document ID: US11027801B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/793,424 - Filed: 2020-02-18 - Published: 2020-06-11 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-20 - Applicants: Sea Power Boat Lifts, LLC - Inventors: Sean A. Barnes; Michael W. Kirby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027801B2 ## CPC - B63C 1/06: Arrangements of pumping or filling equipment for raising or lowering docks - B63C 1/02: Floating docks ({externally attached cofferdams and the like B63B17/0018; } ship transporters with adjustable draught B63B35/42) - B63C 3/06: by vertical movement of vessel, i.e. by crane - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) ## Abstract A boat lift has one or more pumps that evacuate water from a first flotation tank construct and a second flotation tank construct to create flotation of the boat lift. Modular boat lifts may be constructed according to the invention that have substantial size but are transportable by truck for construction on site. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A boat lift, comprising: a boat lift construct constructed and arranged to receive a boat hull on an upper surface thereof, the boat lift construct comprising; a first flotation tank construct, a second flotation tank construct, a transverse tank set crosswise between the first flotation tank construct and the second flotation tank construct, and a pump positioned within the transverse tank, wherein the first flotation tank construct and the second flotation tank construct are in hydraulic communication through the transverse tank, and wherein the pump is constructed and arranged to remove water from the first flotation tank construct and the second flotation tank construct, wherein the boat lift construct comprising the first flotation tank construct, the second flotation tank construct and the transverse tank is configured to lower the boat hull by submerging the boat lift tank construct by flooding the boat lift construct and to raise the boat hull by lifting the boat lift construct by the pump pumping water from the boat lift construct. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A boat lift as described in claim 1, wherein the first flotation tank construct comprises a vertical void extending through a side of the first flotation tank construct, and wherein the void is exterior to a water seal of the first flotation tank construct, the vertical void constructed and arranged to receive a pile therein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A boat lift as described in claim 1, the first flotation tank construct comprising a first longitudinal tank and a second longitudinal tank, the first longitudinal tank comprising a vertical void extending through a side of the first longitudinal tank, and the second longitudinal tank comprising a vertical void extending through a side of the second longitudinal tank, wherein the vertical void of the first longitudinal tank is exterior to a water seal of the first longitudinal tank, and wherein the vertical void of the second longitudinal tank is exterior to a water seal of the second longitudinal tank, and the vertical voids are constructed and arranged to receive a pile therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A boat lift as described in claim 3, further comprising a valve that communicates with the boat lift construct, wherein the pump removes water from the first flotation tank construct and the second flotation tank construct and the pump provides flotation of the tank construct when the valve is positioned to prevent a flow of water into the tank construct. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A boat lift as described in claim 3, further comprising a catwalk that is positioned along a length of the boat lift construct, wherein the catwalk comprises a tank constructed and arranged to receive water therein, the tank comprising a water inlet and a water outlet for regulating a water level in the tank and thereby regulating a flotation height of the catwalk. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A boat lift as described in claim 3, further comprising a catwalk that is positioned along a length of the boat lift construct, wherein the catwalk comprises a first tank constructed and arranged to receive water therein, and a second tank constructed and arranged to receive water therein, wherein the first tank and the second tank are joined by a connecting sleeve, and wherein the connecting sleeve comprises a vertical void therein that is constructed and arranged to receive a pile therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A boat lift as described in claim 6, further comprising a second catwalk that is positioned opposite the first catwalk and along a length of the boat lift construct, wherein the second catwalk comprises a first tank constructed and arranged to receive water therein, and a second tank constructed and arranged to receive water therein, wherein the first tank and the second tank of the second catwalk are joined by a connecting sleeve, and wherein the connecting sleeve comprises a vertical void therein that is constructed and arranged to receive a pile therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A boat lift as described in claim 7, further comprising a tank that is connected at one end to the first catwalk and is connected at an opposite end to the second catwalk, and wherein the tank comprises a hook on an end thereof that engages the first catwalk. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A boat lift as described in claim 7, wherein the vertical void comprises a sleeve positioned in the vertical void that forms a pile guide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A boat lift as described in claim 9, wherein the vertical void comprises a sleeve positioned in the vertical void that forms a pile guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A boat lift as described in claim 9, wherein the vertical void comprises a sleeve positioned in the vertical void that forms a pile guide and wherein the sleeve comprises polyethylene. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A boat lift as described in claim 7, wherein the vertical void comprises a sleeve positioned in the vertical void that forms a pile guide, and wherein the sleeve comprises polyethylene. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A boat lift as described in claim 1, further comprising a catwalk that is positioned along a length of the boat lift construct, wherein the catwalk comprises a tank constructed and arranged to receive and hold water therein, and wherein the tank comprises a water seal at an end of the tank, the tank comprising a void extending through the tank and exterior to the water seal, and wherein the vertical void is constructed and arranged to receive a pile therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A boat lift as described in claim 1, further comprising a catwalk that is positioned along a length of the boat lift construct, the catwalk comprising a boat lift connector on a side of the catwalk, the boat lift connector comprising a sleeve, wherein the first flotation tank construct comprises a vertical void extending through a side of the first flotation tank construct, and wherein a pile extends through the sleeve and the vertical void and connects the boat lift construct to the catwalk. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A boat lift as described in claim 1, further comprising a catwalk that is positioned along a length of the boat lift construct, the catwalk comprising a boat lift connector on a side of the catwalk, the boat lift connector comprising a sleeve, wherein the first flotation tank construct comprises a stanchion extending vertically above the first flotation tank construct, and wherein the stanchion slidably engages the sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A boat lift as described in claim 15, wherein the sleeve comprises polyethylene. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A boat lift as described in claim 16, wherein the sleeve comprises polyethylene. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) A boat lift as described in claim 3, further comprising a tank that is in hydraulic communication with the first flotation tank construct and the second flotation tank construct.