Abstract: A lift apparatus has a load member, a lift cradle and a lifting arrangement. The load member has a rail or track portion which provides a path when raising and lowering the lift cradle. The load member also has a mounting portion for mounting the load member to an adjacent structure such as a dock, a pier or a wall. The mounting portion has a web, which stands off mounting hardware, such as a mounting plate, from the rail portion. The lift cradle has bearings for sliding along the rail portion. The bearings have a gap, which allow the bearings to slide along the rail portion without interference from the web. When the bearings are free of the web, the lift cradle can rotate, to deposit the load onto a dock. The lifting arrangement is rotatively coupled to the upper end of the load member, so as to rotate with the lift cradle. A lift system utilizes the lift apparatus and a wheeled cart. The load is located on the cart, which couples to the lift cradle.

Abstract: A lift apparatus has a load member, a lift cradle and a lifting arrangement. The load member has a rail or track portion which provides a path when raising and lowering the lift cradle. The load member also has a mounting portion for mounting the load member to an adjacent structure such as a dock, a pier or a wall. The mounting portion has a web, which stands off mounting hardware, such as a mounting plate, from the rail portion. The lift cradle has bearings for sliding along the rail portion. The bearings have a gap, which allow the bearings to slide along the rail portion without interference from the web. When the bearings are free of the web, the lift cradle can rotate, to deposit the load onto a dock. The lifting arrangement is rotatively coupled to the upper end of the load member, so as to rotate with the lift cradle.