Boat lift finance
Funding for travel lifts, mobile boat hoists and slipway handling gear used by marinas, boatyards, sailing clubs and dry stack operators.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a boat lift?
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.
Used kit: Yes — used and imported lifts fund regularly where the examination record, hours and structural inspection are documented.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a boat lift cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and will receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat 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.
Makes and models we fund
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
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.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
How it is treated for tax
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Boat lift finance questions
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.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.