Boat lift finance
Funding for travel lifts, mobile boat hoists and slipway handling gear used by marinas, boatyards, sailing clubs and dry stack operators.
- FCA regulatedAppointed Representative, FRN 1031964
- 60+ lendersWhole-of-market panel, not one bank
- 5.0 from 19 Google reviews
- No credit checkEnquiring leaves no mark on your file
Yes. A boat lift is funded as commercial handling plant, assessed on the marina or boatyard business that will operate it rather than on marine lending criteria. Used lifts are fundable and the second-hand market is real, though it is international rather than local. The consideration buyers underestimate is the civils. A travel lift needs a dock with the right dimensions and load capacity, and the lift can be funded while the dock and slipway works generally cannot, because groundworks form part of the property rather than a movable asset.
Who finances this
Marina operators lifting out for antifoul and winter storage, boatyards handling repair and refit work, dry stack sites moving boats between racks and water, and sailing clubs replacing an ageing crane with a hoist. The trigger is often a lift that has failed a thorough examination, a change in the size of boats on site, or a decision to bring lifting in-house after years of paying a contractor to attend twice a year.
How lenders see it
Boat lifts go to lifting and materials handling funders rather than to a marine panel, and that is the right home for them because the machine behaves like heavy plant with a known international resale market. Funders will look at the marina or yard accounts, the utilisation the lift generates across a season, and the statutory examination position under lifting regulations. Where the lift is bought used or imported, the inspection and certification history carries real weight. The clear boundary is between the machine and the site: the hoist, slings and controls are fundable, while the lifting dock, quay strengthening and slipway concrete are property works and cannot be included in an equipment agreement.
Buying used
Yes, used and imported lifts fund regularly where the examination record, hours and structural inspection are documented.
Also in boat and marine finance
See everything we fund in boat and marine finance →
Machines we have funded
| Marine Travelift 35BFM | Mobile boat hoist for yard lifting |
|---|---|
| Marine Travelift 70BFMII | Heavy duty mobile boat hoist |
| Roodberg Boat Hoist | Self-propelled marina boat hoist |
| Roodberg Hydro Trailer | Hydraulic yard boat mover |
| Wise Handling sub-trailer | Submersible slipway boat trailer |
| Ascom Sublift SL 25 | Submersible boat lift for slipways |
| Palfinger PK 42002 quayside crane | Pedestal mounted lifting crane |
| Effer 655 marine crane | Fixed jib boat lifting crane |
| Granada boat handling trailer | Yard boat transport trailer |
| Liftex lifting slings and spreader | Certified slings and spreader gear |
Can the lifting dock be financed with the hoist?
No. The dock, quay strengthening and any concrete works are part of the property and fall outside equipment finance. The hoist itself, its controls and its lifting gear are the fundable asset, so plan the civils budget separately from the machine. A structural engineer will also need to confirm the dock can take the imposed loads.
Does a used travel lift need certification before funding?
It needs a valid thorough examination and the structural inspection record that goes with it. Funders treat lifting equipment seriously because the statutory position affects whether the machine can legally be used at all, which directly affects the security value. Ask for the examination reports covering several years, not simply the current one.
Can a sailing club fund a hoist on club accounts?
Often yes. Clubs and trusts are assessed on their accounts, reserves and membership income. A hoist that replaces a contractor visit twice a season has a clear cost case, and funders comfortable with member organisations will look at it on that basis. A committee resolution and up-to-date accounts speed the process considerably.
Are slings and spreader beams included?
They can be, and it is sensible to include them in the initial package since they are needed from day one. They are consumable items with their own inspection regime, so expect replacement during the life of the machine rather than at the end of it.
Is an imported lift harder to fund?
Slightly. The funder will want the specification, the inspection history and the commissioning arrangements confirmed, plus clarity on who is responsible for assembly on site. Once those are documented, imported machines from recognised manufacturers place perfectly well. Confirm parts availability and UK service support before choosing the machine.
Tell us what you need
About a minute of plain questions, and no documents to dig out.
Prime is established and profitable with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining, the asset carries part of the risk, so finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Illustrative only, not a quote, a flat rate is not an APR, so the APR on a given agreement will be higher. VAT and fees excluded.
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Your adviser
Conor HullMon to Fri, 9am–6pm
5.0 from 19 Google reviews
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