- 1). Enter the boat slip at idle speed. Center the hull of the boat directly over the submerged lift. Turn off the boat's motor and, if it is an outboard, raise the engine to prevent the superstructure of the lift from catching on it as it rises.
- 2). Exit the boat and loosely tie off to one or two supports in the slip to keep the boat from drifting as you engage the lift's blower motor to fill the tanks with air.
- 3). Engage the lift's blower motor by flipping the switch labeled "Lift" or "Dry Dock" on the machine's control panel. Steady the boat over the center of the lift as it is rising by holding it in place. This ensures the boat will be properly seated on the lift rails.
- 4). Lock the lift in place by placing the controls in the "Dry Dock" position after the boat is completely out of the water and the lift has reached maximum height. Most lifts have the dry dock sequencing printed on the control panel or inside the cover of the control panel.
- 5). Tie all four corners of the boat to the supports in the slip. If the lift controls fail, an improperly secured boat will drift out into open waters.
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