Abstract: In a front mounted lift for watercraft, the torque exerted by the lift on the dock is limited by a combination of a first buoyant force, being air trapped within the lift tanks, and a second buoyant force, being flotation devices connected to the rear of the lift. In a preferred embodiment, the primary buoyant force is achieved by the extension of an air supply and exhaust hose into each tank compartment to a level below the uppermost level of the tank chamber. When the water level in each tank compartment covers the hose opening, the air trapped in the tank provides a buoyant force to counter most of the submerged lift weight. The depth of the hose is selected so that the weight of the lift slightly exceeds the primary/buoyant force. This permits the lift to sink but significantly minimizes the torque exerted on the connection of the lift to the dock. The secondary buoyant force preferably consists of a pair of buoyant guides which prevent the rear of the lift from sinking to an undesirable depth.

Abstract: A lift for water vehicles comprising a pair of vertical pipes or tracks attached adjacent their upper ends to one side only of a dock structure which is positioned alongside a body of water, a tank assembly having a roller assembly thereon for engaging the sides of the pipes for rolling upwardly and downwardly thereon, the tank assembly having a tank mounted thereon and an upper opening for introducing air into the tank to displace water therefrom through a lower opening at the bottom of the tank so as to cause the tank to rise, the tank assembly having a pair of spaced padded blocks for supporting a water vehicle thereon, the roller assembly having roller thereon adapted to rise along the inboard sides of the pipes when the tank assembly moves vertically in response the introduction of air to and removal of air from the tank, whereby, when a water vehicle is supported on the padded blocks and the tank assembly is in its lowermost position, air can be introduced into the tank while water is forced outwardly f