DIY Jon Boat Lifts

Jon boats are small boats with flat bottoms used for fishing. If you use your boat in water that have raised docks you'll have to use a stationary pre-built boat life or you'll have to purchase your own. These boat lifts vary in price and some can be extremely costly. If you're looking for a challenging project, you can create your own boat life or hoist using hardware material and a few tools.

Things You'll Need

  • Workbench
  • Protective heat mask
  • Heat repellent gloves
  • Ruler
  • Marker
  • 2 Steel I-beams 12 feet by 6-inches
  • 2 Steel I-beams, 7 feet by 6 inches
  • Cutting torch
  • Welding torch
  • Drill press
  • 1/2 inch steel drilling bit
  • 1/2 thick metal sheet
  • Steel eyebolts
  • 4 2 by 8 feet planks
  • 2-inch pulley blocks
  • 1,000 lb. test nylon line
  • 3/16 inch stainless steel cable
  • Winch
  • Winch thimble
  • Concrete cinder block
  • Shims
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit out your workbench and put on your safety heat resistant gloves and heat mask. Locate the I-beams and place them on your workbench side by side.

    • 2

      Plug in your cutting torch. Use a metal ruler and a black marker to mark off a 45 degree angle and cut one of the I-beams to this angle.

    • 3

      Plug in your welding torch. Weld together a 7 foot I-beam to a 12 foot I-beam at the 45 degree angle that you previously cut. Do the same for another 7 foot and 12 foot I-beam. When they are completed, both should be L-shaped.

    • 4

      Plug in your electric drill and attach the ½ inch steel drilling bit. Drill a hole in the corner of both L shaped davits.

    • 5

      Move the davits and place your ½ in thick metal sheet onto your workbench, making sure to align it to with the cutting torch.

    • 6

      Cut out two plates 6 inches in width and 4 inches in length. Remove the unused portion of the steel sheet and grab two of the 12 foot I-beams.

    • 7

      Put the plates under these I-beams and use your welding torch to weld them together.

    • 8

      Weld a steel eyebolt to the end of each 7 foot beam, directly in the center.

    • 9

      Measure the length of your boat on the dock and make a mark at the starting and ending point of the boat’s measurement. The davits will be placed on these markings.

    • 10

      Bolt the davits to the markings, then attach a 2 by 8 plank lift to each davit making sure they are longer on one side than the other.

    • 11

      Locate the pulley blocks, which contain hooks and attach them to the eyebolts. Screw four eyebolts into the vertical beams on the lifting planks.

    • 12

      Measure your Jon boat and multiply the length by two. Cut this much nylon lifting line and attach it to the planks. One length should extend from the steel cable and run from the winch to the thimble.

    • 13

      Secure the winch in place using a cinder block.

    • 14

      Secure an eyebolt to the transom frame and stem of your Jon boat. Then connect the plank lines to the boat’s eyebolts. You will use this method to lift the boat from the water using the winch. Use the winch to bring the boat in towards the dock.