A boat forklift, also known as a marina forklift, is a specialized high-capacity machine designed to lift, move, and store boats in and out of the water. Unlike standard warehouse forklifts, these heavy-duty workhorses are built with features like negative-lift masts to submerge forks below ground level for easy boat retrieval.
Key Manufacturers & Models
The boat forklift market is dominated by specialized manufacturers:
Toyota: Its High-Capacity Marina Forklift line, including models like the THD3000-24, offers a capacity range of 15,000 to 55,000 lbs.
Wiggins Lift Co.: Known for the "Marina Bull" series, featuring custom models from 9,280 lbs to 42,000 lbs capacity.
Marine Travelift: A key player specializing in boat handling equipment.
Other Major Brands: Taylor Machine Works, Ascom S.p.A, SANY Group, and SOCMA.
How Much Does a Boat Forklift Cost?
These are significant investments. A new, heavy-duty 20-ton (40,000 lb) model typically costs around $198,000. For example, MDL Marinas recently invested over £350,000 in a new dry-stack forklift.
How Much Does a Boat Forklift Weigh?
Boat forklifts are extremely heavy to provide the counterbalance needed for lifting large boats. A typical 20-ton capacity model can weigh between 41,000 kg and 47,000 kg (approx. 90,000 to 103,600 lbs).
