Boost Your Boat: Pontoon Boat Sea Legs for Lift and Stability
Hydraulic boat lifts, usually called simply “sea legs,” are used to lift a boat (typically a pontoon boat) up and out of the water. Permanently attached to the boat bottom (or rather, the pontoon tubes), they’re powered by a battery that lifts them up and out of the water (up to six feet high). All you have to do is push a button and hop off the boat – no need for boat fenders, installing a boat lift or tying up at a gas dock or private boat slip rental for quick stops.
Hydraulic lifts are made of lightweight aluminum alloy tubing. They’re installed at an angle and have a pad (about 48 x 18) at the bottom for support. Most boats need four – one on each side at the front and one on each side at the back – of these lifting mechanisms. Longer boats may need more for stability. You can also use sea legs on pontoon boats with three tubes (a tritoon). They’re retracted while the boat is in operation or on a trailer.
Photo: Sea-Legs (Facebook)
Lifts come in electric and hydraulic versions and fit most boats 18 to 30 feet in length. They’re used on pontoon boats with an 8.5-foot-wide deck and 25-inch pontoons. Sea legs are really capable of being installed on a boat with a typical hull like a cruiser, trawler, fishing boat or sailboat.
Photo: Sea-Legs (Facebook)
These handy pieces of boat equipment are also known as pontoon legs (“Sea-Legs” is a brand name). Some of the main manufacturers of sea legs are Hewitt, Ultra Legs and Sea-Legs.
Benefits of Sea Legs
- Park your boat to get to dock and dine restaurants, stores, marinas, gas docks and more
- Prevents drifting and banging against a private boat dock rental
- No need for an anchor while out in the water
- Prevents algae growth on boat bottom
- Convenient push-button activation and height adjustment
- Can be used anywhere (even in muddy and murky bottoms)
- Good for use in local lakes and rivers as well as a private boat dock rental
- Provide stability in wind and rough water
Disadvantages of Sea Legs
- Expensive
- Can affect the boat’s performance as they add weight (about 300 lbs. or so)
- Only fits boats between 18 and 30 feet in length
- Only work in water depths of less than six feet
- Can’t be used as well in water with a rocky bottom (but it is possible)
Hopefully this has answered any questions you might have about sea legs. If your boat is docked at a private boat slip rental, and you have worries about rough water knocking it into the dock, a set of sea legs may be just what you need.
