Boat lift

A method for lifting and lowering a boat to unload the boat onto a roof or a roof rack of a vehicle using a lift having:

• an upper frame having a longitudinal axis;
• a lower frame having a longitudinal axis;
• a linkage connecting the upper frame to the lower frame, wherein in a first position the linkage is extended and the lift is raised and in a second position the linkage is retracted and the lift is lowered;
• and
• at least one lift rack extending from or part of the upper frame, wherein the at least one lift rack is adapted to support a boat such that in the linkage first position the boat may be slid in a longitudinal direction between the lift rack and the roof or the roof rack of the vehicle;
• wherein the upper frame and the lower frame are each telescopically adjustable along each respective longitudinal axis between an extended utility length and a retracted storage length, the method comprising the steps of:
• 1) with the lift in a partially extended position and the frames in a longitudinally extended position, positioning the boat to rest on the at least one lift rack;
• 2) extending the lift to an extended position;
• 3) sliding the boat in a longitudinal direction from the at least one lift rack to the roof or roof rack of the vehicle.