Model: 4-Person, 750-pound Capacity 90’ long, 3-Pitch Island Lift
Track: 24’ at 19°, 33’ at 29°, and 22’ at 49°
Area: Lake Muskoka, ON
Year: 2020
This island cottage already had a lift that was, in some ways brilliantly designed, but the hoist cable was frayed, it had no emergency brakes and it had become generally old, decrepit and dangerous. They could only use it for cargo and it was time to replace it
The old track was circular and really quite clever. It was a bit sad to take it apart, but our track is an integral part of our emergency braking system there was no way to make this lift safe for people to ride.
The temporary upper station of the new lift. The lift was designed so that, in the future, a level walkway can be built that connects the front porch to a higher upper station shown below. The clearances were really tight so we had to use shallow track for the top pitch and then transition to regular track for the rest of the lift. We’ve never done this before, but it was just another straightforward modification to a proven design.
When the upper station walkway is built the lift will stop at this level.
Detail of the finished temporary upper station. To move the station we only need to relocate the junction box, button box, and proximity switches.
The brake-motor-reducer and winch drum are tucked in as tightly, as cleanly, and as unobtrusively as we could manage. The wooden and metal covers also keep the elements off the machinery and protects curious fingers from harm.
The old lift car floor was about 4’ off the ground and needed a platform and stairs, but this is about 9” and makes loading and unloading people and gear easy. The button box has a PARK button that moves the car 10’ up the track and stops it there.
The lift looks awesome from the water. From a distance it’s hard to see, which is also awesome. The 3-pitch track keeps it close to the ground. This is our second 3-pitch lift but the design is really no different from our 2-pitch lifts, we just need to build it with a second curved section of track.
Take a virtual ride on Lift 98.