Boat Lifting Crane, also known as Boat Hoist, Marine Travel Lift, or Yacht Lifter, is a specialized piece of equipment designed for lifting, moving, and launching boats. It is widely used in yacht marinas, shipyards, ship repair bases, and maritime service centers. Typically featuring a gantry structure, hydraulic transmission, and an adjustable sling system, it provides flexible support tailored to the hull shape, enabling safe and stable handling of various types of boats.
Port Boat Handling Cranes offer lifting capacities ranging from 10 to 1200 tons, spans from 6 to 20 meters, customizable lifting heights, and a choice of wheeled or rail-mounted travel systems. Characterized by high load-bearing capacity, stable operation, compact turning radius, and broad vessel compatibility, they support the entire lifecycle of vessels—including launching/retrieval, dry dock maintenance, hull refurbishment, servicing, and transfer operations.
We offer multiple Boat Lifting Crane variants, including standard, wide-span, heavy-duty, energy-efficient models, and fully customizable solutions tailored to vessel length, beam, weight, and dock layout. Contact our team for bespoke designs and technical support. Please view this article for details: Types of Boat Lifting Gantry Crane
Boat Lifting Cranes are typically categorized into the following types based on structural form, travel method, tonnage range, and applicable scenarios:
Standard Boat Lifting Crane features a U-shaped adjustable span structure, primarily used for lifting, launching, and land storage of yachts, fishing boats, and small vessels. This model incorporates hydraulic drive, four-wheel steering, and an independent suspension sling system, enabling flexible operation in narrow shipyard or dock passages.
Parameter Range: Lifting capacity typically ranges from 10–300 tons, with sling spacing and span adjustable according to hull width.
Features: Compact structure, low maintenance costs, suitable for daily operations in most shipyards.
Contact us for Standard Crane solutions
Heavy-duty models are specifically designed for large vessels, workboats, military craft, and dry dock operations. Featuring high-strength steel construction, dual-circuit hydraulic systems, reinforced sling beams, and multi-axle drive systems, they ensure stability under heavy loads.
Parameter Range: Customizable for ultra-high capacities from 300 tons to 1200+ tons. Height, span, and wheel count are all scalable.
Features: Ideal for ship repair bases, large shipyards, and heavy-duty vessel lifting and transportation.
Request a quote and technical proposal for the heavy-duty model.
This model features a corrosion-resistant structure, elevated chassis, seawater-grade protective coating, and salt-tolerant hydraulic system, enabling direct land-to-shallow-water operation for vessel lifting. Eliminating the need for traditional dock ramps, it is ideal for island shipyards, coastal maintenance bases, and similar environments.
Parameter Range: Common load capacities 30–800 tons, with multi-wheel drive for enhanced traction on wet surfaces.
Features: Operates in varying water depths, ideal for coastal areas with significant tidal ranges.
Contact our engineers for amphibious solutions.
Custom-engineered for extra-large vessels (e.g., small cargo ships, maritime enforcement vessels, engineering support ships), featuring multi-set synchronized slings, extended track gauge, programmable hydraulic systems, and heavy-duty reinforced chassis. These ship hoists are typically bespoke project-specific solutions.
Capacity Range: 1200–3000+ tons, with unique structural dimensions tailored to vessel specifications.
Features: Ideal for large ship repair/construction bases, military installations, and specialized vessel maintenance centers.
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The Marine Travel Lift Crane consists of core components including the main frame structure, lifting sling system, hydraulic drive system, tire and steering system, power unit, and control system. Below are the characteristics of each component:

Portal Frame (Gantry Structure): Main support structure providing stability, rigidity, and load-bearing strength.
Slewing Mechanism: Enables 360° rotation for flexible and wide-area cargo handling.
Boom System (Luffing Boom): Adjustable outreach for grab, hook, or spreader work with smooth luffing motion.
Trolley & Hoisting Mechanism: Handles lifting and horizontal travel with fast and accurate positioning.
Crane Traveling Mechanism: Moves the crane along quay rails for extended loading/unloading coverage.
Electrical Control System: PLC-based system with frequency control, safety protection, and monitoring.
Operator Cabin: Ergonomic cabin offering wide visibility and comfortable, precise control.
Grab/Hook/Container Spreade: Interchangeable tools for bulk cargo, general cargo, or container handling.
The Boat Lifting Crane spans the hull via a U-shaped frame, utilizing multiple sets of synchronized hydraulic cylinders to drive flexible slings that uniformly lift the vessel from its keel. During the lifting process, an intelligent control system continuously monitors load distribution and automatically adjusts cylinder synchronization, ensuring balanced stress distribution and smooth vertical movement. Subsequently, the drive wheel assembly employs multi-mode steering (forward/reverse drive, crab steering, on-the-spot turning, etc.) to safely transport the vessel to its designated location.
This entire operation relies on the coordinated functions of hydraulic lifting, flexible load-bearing, intelligent synchronized control, and multi-wheel drive maneuvering. It enables efficient launching, launching, and mobile operations for large-tonnage vessels in shipyards, docks, or repair areas.
Weihua offers Boat Lifting Cranes in a variety of tonnages and dimensions, with comprehensive customization available based on vessel type, site conditions, and operational requirements. The following are common parameter configurations for your reference.
| Capacity | 50ton | 100ton | 150ton | 200ton | 300ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade ability | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Lifting speed(Full load) | 0~1m/min | 0~1m/min | 0~1m/min | 0~1m/min | 0~1m/min |
| Lifting speed(No load) | 0~3m/min | 0~3m/min | 0~3m/min | 0~3m/min | 0~3m/min |
| Travelling speed | 0~30m/min | 0~30m/min | 0~30m/min | 0~30m/min | 0~25m/min |
| Duty Class | A3 | ||||
| Working temperature | -20~45℃ | ||||
| Power source | Diesel generator | ||||
Specifically designed for launching, maintenance, and transfer of vessels, it delivers stable load-bearing, precise control, and efficient lifting capabilities adaptable to multiple hull types.
Boat Lifting Cranes are widely used in shipyards, docks, and marina centers to efficiently and safely perform launching, hauling out, maintenance, storage, and transfer operations for vessels. They are particularly suited for flexible lifting of boats of varying tonnages and types.






In April 2020, we delivered one BH 50 marine travel lift to BakriCono Shipyard in Thailand. The equipment is mainly used for yacht lifting, launching, and movement within the shipyard. With a 50-ton lifting capacity, it fully meets the customer’s daily needs for boat transfer and maintenance handling.
After the equipment was put into use, the shipyard’s vessel handling process became more efficient and easier to manage, especially for frequent movement between the dock and maintenance area.
If you are planning a similar shipyard project or need a customized boat lifting solution, feel free to contact us for technical support and a quick quotation.


Weihua offers a full range of Custom Boat Lifting Cranes, tailored to your vessel dimensions, dock environment, and workflow requirements. Whether for yacht marinas, ship repair yards, or shipbuilding enterprises, we provide complete solutions—from structural design and power systems to lifting path planning. Contact our engineering team to develop a customized boat lift configuration.

Weihua is a leading Boat Lifting Cranes Manufacturer & Supplier with 37 years of engineering expertise and comprehensive production capabilities, offering one-stop solutions from design and manufacturing to installation and commissioning. Our product range encompasses Boat Lifting Cranes of various tonnages, spans, and drive configurations, widely deployed in ports, shipyards, marinas, and offshore engineering projects. Leveraging advanced production technology, stringent quality management systems, and a global customer service network, we deliver efficient, safe, and reliable ship handling solutions.
Contact our expert team today for customized technical support and tailored solution design.


Weihua, founded in 1988, has evolved into a global leader in China's intelligent manufacturing field. We specialize in smart crane R&D and production while offering AGV solutions. Our professional engineering, delivery, and after-sales teams provide one-stop technical support, customized solutions, on-site installation guidance, and rapid-response global services to ensure every project operates safely and efficiently.
A: Yes, they are suitable for yachts, fishing boats, ferries, workboats, and custom vessels with proper sling configuration.
A: Boat Lifting Cranes come with overload protection, emergency stop, load monitoring, anti-tilt mechanisms, and secure sling attachments.
A: Yes, adjustable slings and multi-point lifting systems allow safe handling of wide, long, or custom-shaped vessels.
A: Depending on the type, installation may require prepared foundations, rails, or floating platforms, along with proper alignment and hydraulic/electrical connections.
A: Our cranes feature intuitive controls and optional remote operation, allowing operators to lift and move vessels safely with minimal training.
Contact us now via email: [email protected], or fill in the form below.
The gantry crane is a lifting equipment widely used across various industries, construction sites, ports, warehouses, and other fields. Its unique structure and powerful load-bearing capacity make it ideal for modern heavy-duty material handling. The “gantry” structure design allows the crane to move freely within a space, covering a large working area. So, what makes gantry cranes special? What are their types, parameters, control methods, applications, and working principles? How do they differ from bridge cranes? Let’s explore together. Types of Gantry Cranes Based on design, application, and operating environment, gantry cranes are typically categorized into the following types: Single-Girder Gantry Crane Single-girder gantry cranes are widely used across industrial sectors, warehouses, ports, and workshops. Featuring a single-girder support lifting mechanism, they traverse via side columns and bottom rails. With their simple structure, user-friendly operation, and moderate lifting capacity, they are ideal for handling light to medium loads. Capable of spanning large distances freely, single-girder gantry cranes are suitable for heavy material handling and lifting operations. Double Girder Gantry Crane Compared to single-girder gantry cranes, double-girder gantry cranes offer greater…
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