Boat-lift systems and methods

A method of moving a smaller boat relative to a larger boat having a swim step, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a structural support defining a support portion;
• rigidly connecting the structural support relative to a transom of the larger boat such that the support portion is arranged below a surface of the swim step and forward of an aft edge of the swim step;
• providing a lift structure defining a pivot portion, an actuator portion, an extension portion, and first and second boat-engaging portions extending from the extension portion;
• connecting the support portion and the pivot portion to allow rotation of the lift structure between first and second lift positions relative to the structural support about a pivot axis defined by the support portion of the structural support, wherein
• when the lift structure is in the first lift position, the first boat-engaging portion extends over the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portion extends rearwardly beyond the aft edge of the swim step, and
• when the lift structure is in the second lift position, the first boat-engaging portion is spaced rearwardly of the aft edge of the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portion extends below the first boat-engaging portion;
• securing an actuator assembly at a first end relative to the structural support and at a second end to the actuator portion of the lift;
• operating the actuator assembly to rotate the lift structure about the pivot axis to place the lift structure in the second lift position;
• arranging the smaller boat adjacent to the lift structure;
• operating the actuator assembly to cause the lift structure to rotate from the second lift position to the first lift position about the pivot axis to place the lift structure such that the lift structure moves the smaller boat from the docking position to a first storage position relative to the larger boat.

A boat-lift system adapted to move a smaller boat relative to a larger boat comprising a swim step, where the swim step defines an aft edge and a swim step surface and extends from a transom of the larger boat, the boat-lift system comprising:

• first and second structural supports each defining a support portion, wherein the structural supports are adapted to be rigidly connected to the transom of the larger boat such that the support portion is arranged below the swim step surface and forward of the aft edge of the swim step;
• first and second lift structures each defining
• a pivot portion,
• an actuator portion, wherein the actuator portion of the lift structure is spaced along a displacement axis extending through the pivot portion,
• an extension portion comprising
• a first segment extending along a first extension axis, where the first extension axis extends through the lift pivot portion and is angled relative to the displacement axis, and
• a second segment extending along a second extension axis, where the second extension axis extends is angle with respect to the first extension axis and is spaced from the pivot portion, and
• first and second boat-engaging portions extending from the extension portion;
• first and second pivot systems for connecting the support portions of the structural supports with the pivot portions of the lift structures to allow rotation of the lift structures about a pivot axis defined by the support portions of the structural supports between first and second lift positions relative to the structural supports;
• and
• at least one actuator assembly secured at a first end relative to one of the structural supports and at a second end to the actuator portion of at least one of the lift structures, wherein actuation of the actuator assembly causes the lift structures to rotate about the pivot axis between the first and second lift positions, wherein
• when the lift structures are in the first lift position, the first boat-engaging portions extend over the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portions extend rearwardly beyond the aft edge of the swim step,
• when the lift structures are in the second lift position, the first boat-engaging portions are spaced rearwardly of the aft edge of the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portions extend below the first boat-engaging portions, and
• when the smaller boat is in a docking position adjacent to the lift structures, operation of the actuator assemblies causes the lift structures to move the smaller boat from the docking position to a first storage position relative to the larger boat.

A boat-lift system adapted to move a smaller boat relative to a larger boat comprising a swim step, where the swim step defines an aft edge and a swim step surface and extends from a transom of the larger boat, the boat-lift system comprising:

• a structural support defining a first pivot portion, wherein the structural support is adapted to be rigidly connected to the transom of the larger boat such that the first pivot portion is arranged below the swim step surface and forward of the aft edge of the swim step;
• a lift structure defining a second pivot portion, an actuator portion, an extension portion, and first and second boat-engaging portions extending from the extension portion, where
• the extension portion of the lift structure comprises first and second extension portions that are angled with respect to each other, and
• the first extension portion spaces the second extension portion from the pivot portion such that the second extension portion is rearward of the aft edge of the swim step when the lift structure is in the first lift position;
• a pivot system for connecting the first and second pivot portions to allow rotation of the lift structure between first and second lift positions relative to the structural support;
• and
• an actuator assembly secured at a first end relative to the structural support and at a second end to the actuator portion of the lift structure, wherein actuation of the actuator assembly in a first mode causes the lift structure to move from the second lift position to the first lift position;
• wherein
• when the lift structure is in the first lift position, the first boat-engaging portion extends over the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portion extends rearwardly beyond the aft edge of the swim step;
• when the lift structure is in the second lift position, the first boat-engaging portion is spaced rearwardly of the aft edge of the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portion extends below the first boat-engaging portion;
• when the smaller boat is in a docking position adjacent to the lift structure and the actuator assembly is operated in the first mode, the lift structure moves the smaller boat from the docking position to a first storage position relative to the larger boat;
• and
• the first extension axis is substantially horizontal and the second extension axis is substantially vertical when the lift structure is in the first lift position.

A boat-lift system adapted to move a smaller boat relative to a larger boat comprising a swim step, where the swim step defines an aft edge and a swim step surface and extends from a transom of the larger boat, the boat-lift system comprising:

• a structural support defining a first pivot portion, wherein the structural support is adapted to be rigidly connected to the transom of the larger boat such that the first pivot portion is arranged below the swim step surface and forward of the aft edge of the swim step, where
• the extension portion of the lift structure comprises first and second extension portions that are angled with respect to each other, and
• the first extension portion spaces the second extension portion from the pivot portion such that the second extension portion is rearward of the aft edge of the swim step when the lift structure is in the first lift position;
• a lift structure defining a second pivot portion, an actuator portion, an extension portion, and first and second boat-engaging portions extending from the extension portion;
• a pivot system for connecting the first and second pivot portions to allow rotation of the lift structure between first and second lift positions relative to the structural support;
• and
• an actuator assembly secured at a first end relative to the structural support and at a second end to the actuator portion of the lift structure, wherein actuation of the actuator assembly in a first mode causes the lift structure to move from the second lift position to the first lift position;
• wherein
• when the lift structure is in the first lift position, the first boat-engaging portion extends over the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portion extends rearwardly beyond the aft edge of the swim step;
• when the lift structure is in the second lift position, the first boat-engaging portion is spaced rearwardly of the aft edge of the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portion extends below the first boat-engaging portion;
• when the smaller boat is in a docking position adjacent to the lift structure and the actuator assembly is operated in the first mode, the lift structure moves the smaller boat from the docking position to a first storage position relative to the larger boat;
• and
• the first extension axis is substantially vertical and the second extension axis is substantially horizontal when the lift structure is in the second lift position.

A boat-lift system adapted to move a smaller boat relative to a larger boat comprising a swim step, where the swim step defines an aft edge and a swim step surface and extends from a transom of the larger boat, the boat-lift system comprising:

• first and second structural supports each defining a support portion, wherein the structural supports are adapted to be rigidly connected to the transom of the larger boat such that the support portion is arranged below the swim step surface and forward of the aft edge of the swim step;
• first and second lift structures each defining
• a pivot portion,
• an actuator portion, wherein the actuator portion of the lift structure is spaced along a displacement axis extending through the pivot portion,
• an extension portion comprising
• a first segment extending along a first extension axis, where the first extension axis extends through the lift pivot portion and is angled relative to the displacement axis, and
• a second segment extending along a second extension axis, where the second extension axis extends is angle with respect to the first extension axis and is spaced from the pivot portion, and
• first and second boat-engaging portions extending from the extension portion;
• first and second pivot systems for connecting the support portions of the structural supports with the pivot portions of the lift structures to allow rotation of the lift structures between first and second lift positions relative to the structural supports;
• and
• at least one actuator assembly secured at a first end relative to one of the structural supports and at a second end to the actuator portion of at least one of the lift structures, wherein actuation of the actuator assembly causes the lift structures to move between the first and second lift positions;
• wherein
• when the lift structures are in the first lift position, the first boat-engaging portions extend over the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portions extend rearwardly beyond the aft edge of the swim step;
• when the lift structures are in the second lift position, the first boat-engaging portions are spaced rearwardly of the aft edge of the swim step surface and the second boat-engaging portions extend below the first boat-engaging portions;
• when the smaller boat is in a docking position adjacent to the lift structures, operation of the actuator assemblies causes the lift structures to move the smaller boat from the docking position to a first storage position relative to the larger boat;
• the first segment is substantially horizontal and the second segment is substantially vertical when the lift structure is in the first lift position;
• and
• the first segment is substantially vertical and the second segment is substantially horizontal when the lift structure is in the second lift position.