Auxiliary lift attachment for a boat lift and method of using same

A boat lift comprising a vertical mast rotatable around a central support, the improvement comprising an auxiliary support apparatus for attachment to said vertical mast of said boat lift, said auxiliary support device comprising:

• a) a mast extension comprising a hollow, square cross section having an outside dimension and an inside dimension, and a mast coupling member adapted for reception and retention in both an upper, proximal end of said vertical mast of said boat lift and in a lower portion of said mast extension, thereby allowing coaxial alignment of said mast extension and said vertical mast;
• b) a horizontal arm having a proximal end permanently affixed to an upper, distal end of said mast extension, said horizontal arm being disposed substantially perpendicular to said mast extension;
• and
• c) means for removably attaching a cable disposed on said horizontal arm.

A method for removing a watercraft from the water and depositing said watercraft on an upper surface of a dock with no intervening structure therebeneath, the steps comprising:

• a) providing a boat lift having a hollow vertical mast rotatable about a fixed, central support, said vertical mast having a cradle assembly affixed at a lower, distal end thereof adapted to receive upon and support said watercraft, said vertical mast being selectively movable between a lower position wherein said watercraft is immersed at a floatable depth in water and an upper position wherein said watercraft is elevated above the surface of both said water and of a dock proximate said boat lift assembly;
• b) installing an auxiliary lift assembly comprising a mast extension, a horizontal arm, and means for securing a cable disposed on said horizontal arm to an upper, proximal end of said vertical mast;
• c) attaching at least one cable to said means for securing a cable and to a watercraft while said watercraft is afloat and said cradle assembly is disposed at at least a predetermined distance below a hull of said watercraft;
• d) vertically moving said vertical mast from a position whereat said cradle assembly is disposed at at least a predetermined distance below said hull of said watercraft to a position where said hull is above an upper surface of a dock adjacent said boat lift and said cradle assembly is at a level lower than a bottom of said dock;
• and
• e) pivoting said vertical mast and said auxiliary lift assembly so that said watercraft is positioned over said upper surface of said dock and said cradle assembly is disposed beneath said dock.