So I have a 16ft jet boat and have a nice boat lift for it. Problem is, after a couple years of manually turning the wheel up and down each time the boat is taken out on the water and then stored, it is getting really old.
I would love to have a motor to run lift up and down. Unfortunately I don't have the $600 for a new motor system. I suppose I could find a used one for maybe $300 to $400, but that's still really expensive.
My idea is to jerry-rig a garage door opener to serve as the motor. The new Genie's (and I'm sure others) now rely on a DC motor to do the action which are smaller and quieter than the old AC motors. They also now have manual up and down buttons, a long with the ability to set a start and then stop position for automatic function.
Most of the manufacturers even want upwards of $40 to $50 for just the rubber wheel which makes contact with the large boat lift wheel and turns it! That seems crazy... couldn't one just buy a good rubber utility wheel (like for a wheelbarrow), deflate it a little bit, and use that? Or you could even put a sprocket on the lift wheel and use the garage door opener chain (provided the motor has enough torque to turn the smaller gear ratio).
I'm thinking around $200 tops for all the parts to be able to do this... and you might even be able to use it remotely from the house with the remote for a vehicle!!!
What does everyone think? Has anybody already done something similar and posted steps online?
Thanks!
I would love to have a motor to run lift up and down. Unfortunately I don't have the $600 for a new motor system. I suppose I could find a used one for maybe $300 to $400, but that's still really expensive.
My idea is to jerry-rig a garage door opener to serve as the motor. The new Genie's (and I'm sure others) now rely on a DC motor to do the action which are smaller and quieter than the old AC motors. They also now have manual up and down buttons, a long with the ability to set a start and then stop position for automatic function.
Most of the manufacturers even want upwards of $40 to $50 for just the rubber wheel which makes contact with the large boat lift wheel and turns it! That seems crazy... couldn't one just buy a good rubber utility wheel (like for a wheelbarrow), deflate it a little bit, and use that? Or you could even put a sprocket on the lift wheel and use the garage door opener chain (provided the motor has enough torque to turn the smaller gear ratio).
I'm thinking around $200 tops for all the parts to be able to do this... and you might even be able to use it remotely from the house with the remote for a vehicle!!!
What does everyone think? Has anybody already done something similar and posted steps online?
Thanks!
