Cable replacement, bunk repair, motor service, and cradle re-alignment for Torch Lake's pontoon, wakeboard, and runabout lifts. Sandy bottom alignment experience. Antrim County service. Licensed, insured.
Torch Lake is one of Michigan's most visited and celebrated summer destinations — the sandbar, the turquoise water, and the party-lake atmosphere mean that Torch Lake lifts see more daily cycles than most Michigan lake properties. A cottage on Torch Lake might use its lift five or six times on a busy summer day. That kind of use puts cumulative wear on cables, pulleys, and motor components faster than a lift that's raised and lowered twice per week on a quiet fishing lake.
Torch Lake's sandy bottom also creates a specific maintenance issue — lift cradles and frame supports can sink unevenly into the sand over multiple seasons. If your boat is sitting at an angle on the lift, or if you notice one side working harder than the other, re-leveling the cradle is usually the fix. This is something that sandy-bottom lake owners should check every few years, regardless of how the lift looks otherwise.
Torch Lake's boat mix skews heavily toward pontoons. A fully loaded 24-foot pontoon with a 150-hp engine can weigh 3,500–4,500 lbs — significantly more than the small runabout that many older lifts were originally built to handle. If you've upgraded from a runabout to a pontoon and haven't had your lift inspected since, have the capacity checked before another season passes.
Sandy bottom alignment, pontoon capacity service, and high-cycle wear repairs for Torch Lake properties.
Torch Lake's sand bottom causes cradle settling over time. We diagnose and correct uneven lift alignment — a common problem that doesn't get caught until the boat is sitting visibly tilted or one cable is doing all the work.
Torch Lake's pontoon-heavy boat mix means we work on wide-cradle pontoon lifts constantly. We know the bunk spacing, capacity requirements, and alignment quirks of pontoon lift setups specific to this lake's boat population.
Lifts on Torch Lake cycle frequently during the summer season. We catch cable fatigue, pulley wear, and bunk deterioration before they become failures — inspection before the season is the best way to get ahead of summer breakdowns.
We service lifts throughout Antrim County and the surrounding chain of lakes communities.
Torch Lake • Elk Lake • Clam Lake • Elk Rapids • Central Lake • Alden • Bellaire • Charlevoix (see also: Charlevoix service) • Traverse City (see also: Traverse City service)
Call (231) 227-8885"Torch Lake cottage — our pontoon was tilting noticeably on the lift. Great Lakes Dock Works came out and re-leveled the cradle (sandy bottom settling) and replaced the bunk pads while they were at it. Looked brand new after. Very knowledgeable crew."
"Lift motor died mid-season on the Fourth of July weekend. Called Great Lakes Dock Works — they had parts, came out fast, and got it running. Torch Lake in July is no time to be without a lift. Excellent emergency response."
Sandy lake bottoms shift and settle differently than hard-bottom lakes. Lift cradles and frame supports can sink unevenly into the sand over seasons, causing the cradle to go out of level. If your boat is sitting at an angle or one side is carrying more weight, re-leveling is usually the fix.
Pontoon boats are heavier — a 24-foot pontoon with engine can weigh 3,000–4,500 lbs. That weight is distributed differently, so bunk placement and cradle width matter more. Lifts installed for smaller runabouts may not be adequate for a pontoon.
High daily cycling puts cumulative wear on cables, pulleys, and motor components faster than low-use lifts. Torch Lake properties benefit from a pre-season inspection and post-season check each year to catch wear before it becomes a failure.
Age alone doesn't mean replace. If the frame is sound, cable replacement, new bunks, and a motor upgrade can give an older lift many more years of service. We'll assess the frame condition honestly and tell you whether repair makes economic sense.
Call or request an estimate — we'll respond within 1 business day.
Call (231) 227-8885 — Free EstimateTell us about your lift and we'll respond within 1 business day. Or call (231) 227-8885.
