When deciding on the boat lift you are going to buy, there are a number of choices to make. While many of these are important, there is nothing more important that the choice of which construction metal the boat lift is made from, as this will determine the durability, strength and ability to withstand corrosion. When buying any steel or aluminum framed structure, you need to give careful through to the construction materials that are used and ensure you get the best for your money. The main choice for boat lifts comes down to either aluminum or galvanized steel.

The differences in aluminum and galvanized steel boat lifts are based on the different manufacturing techniques that are used in order to produce the boat lifts. This then determines both the quality and longevity of the finished product.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages which we are going to cover here. The final decision will also rest on your personal circumstances and location around the world (your climate, whether it be used in fresh or salt water and so on).

Let’s look at aluminum boat lifts first.

Aluminum boat lifts are a great choice as they protect your boat from any possible water damage. They are much less susceptible to corrosion than galvanized steel. This means they are much more durable and have a longer lifespan.

They are also quite easy to work with, should you need to make any changes. You also can find aluminum boat lifts that come completely bolted without any welding at all.

This factor might be something to consider if you are unsure about making any alterations or for repair reasons. There are also many people who buy the parts to aluminum boat lifts and construct them manually. If this is something you are interested in, then aluminum is easier to work with, especially when using bolted types of boat lifts.

Galvanized steel boat lifts are more susceptible to corrosion by the nature of the material they are made from and the process used. While this is the case, they are still much better than painted steel lifts.

However, the corrosion issue on galvanized steel boat lifts should not be a major issue if you remember to hose it down immediately after using it, before it has a chance to dry out. If you fail to flush and rinse the rig, then you will find corrosion starting to appear. However, over time, corrosion will occur whatever you do due to the nature of steel.

The biggest issue with steel is known as crevice corrosion, which is especially apparent where the welding has been performed. Galvanized boat lifts are first welded together and then the black areas are treated with a special paint as a way of preventing corrosion. This method lets manufacturers reduce their costs (making them cheaper to buy), but the lifespan of the metal is limited.

You can also opt for hot-dip galvanized boat lifts. Using this process, the completed structure is built from welded black steel and then “hot-dip” galvanized in order to give a consistent zinc coating over the entire frame. This certainly improves the quality and longevity of the steel, so this is an option if you still want to buy a galvanized steel boat lift.

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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.