When the time comes to purchase a boat lift, you have to make many decisions. One of the primary decisions to make is whether you opt for a welded or bolted boat lift. There are people with strong views about this in the industry, so this article is going to give you the facts so you can come to your own conclusion.

Many people are very vocal about which method is the best way of constructing boat lifts. The difference between bolting and welding will affect the price and the lifespan of the structure. Right now, it seems that American companies prefer to produce welded lifts, while Europeans like the bolted option.

Of course, each method of construction has its own advantages and disadvantages, that compromise of price, material, durability, maintenance and safety. One of the keys to choosing the right structure is knowing which one meets your needs and budget.

At the moment, the bolted method of fastening is cheaper, and these costs can be passed on to the customers. However, even with this fact known, there was still a slow uptake from many people in the boating industry. There are customers who just prefer to save money, and choose the bolted option as long as it meets their needs.

Cost is the major factor for most people. However, there are people who claim the savings are not as great as others state, as more maintenance is needed in the long term for bolted boat lifts. While this is the case, the ease of replacing bolts makes the repair process very simple and much more straightforward than welding.

The manufacturing costs are also higher for welded boat lifts. This is because galvanized steel cannot be easily welded as the zinc coating produces toxic fumes when heated. Besides this, the welding process alters and negatively affects the integrity of the galvanaized coating. On top of this, the weld bead will rust if it is not hot dipped again after the welding has taken place.

As you can see from this, there are many more stages in the welding process which inflate the price of the boat lift. This also affects the costs involved when repairs need to be made. For example, you will need to repeat the hot dip process when welding new beads, or it will simply rust. This makes the process more involved and it takes longer to repair a welded boat lift.

Those in favor of welded boat lifts point out that they are far safer. This is because people believe that bolts can become loose if they are not correctly tightened during the assembly process. This is a major concern for people with expensive boats and one key advantage to welded boat lifts.

Welded boat lifts also have the advantage of being water tight. This is something that bolting cannot achieve and another reason for their increased safety. With this being the case, bolted boat lifts have also proven to be very safe provided they are erected properly. The choice comes down to price and your personal preference.

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Whichever boat lift you decide upon should be a well-thought-out decision that meets your specific needs. It is extremely important to sell yourself the lift, not let a salesperson pressure you into a "less-than-optimal" solution. Boat lift systems are a substantial investment and a decision that you will live with for years. Once you are fully aware of all your options, the decision of exactly which boat lift is right for you will become self-evident.