Our lifts
We looked at several possible track routes before finding one tucked away from the rest of the property and almost invisible from the water yet is optimally located at both ends. It opens up easy access to the boathouse as well as a previously hidden and beautiful rock wall that is the highlight of the ride.
This was a tricky lift to install. The top end was about 12 feet off the ground and had to be positioned so the car floor would be even with the cottage deck, which was about 10 feet away from the track and would only be extended after the installation. We also had very little left-to-right space to position the track.
From the owner: “Access to our cottage on Lake Huron is down a hill of almost 100 cedar steps. Everything that we bring to the cottage or take away has to be lugged up and down the hill. My husband I had always thought we would wait until our senior years to put in a lift but the fact was that it made more sense to do it now and use it for the next 30-plus years.
This lift runs from a parking area to the cottage with most of the track very close to the ground. The two-door car enters from the left side at the top and exits from right side at the bottom. We used wire mesh and embedded wooden “steps” under the track to minimize erosion and stabilize the slope. The lift seamlessly integrates into the landscaping and provides a great view of a terraced garden.
This dramatic lift, which rises about seven stories from dock to cottage, replaced a rickety set of stairs. The upper station is about 15 feet off the ground. The track was set so that the car arrives perfectly positioned between two railing posts. The upper gate is interlocked so it won’t open unless the car is in the station. The car won’t move unless the gate is closed.
