A watercraft lift system including one or more laterally-adjustable or rotating components and related methods are disclosed. The watercraft lift system can include a cradle assembly and optionally at least one side guide, which can (but need not) be connected to the cradle assembly. The cradle assembly can include first and second cradle rails. One or both of the first cradle rail and the at least one side guide can be movable between a wider watercraft-receiving position and a narrower watercraft-received position. In an example, movement of the first cradle rail and/or the at least one side guide from the watercraft-receiving position to the watercraft-received position occurs automatically upon entry of a watercraft into the confines of the watercraft lift system. The watercraft lift system can further comprise an actuator to cause lateral or rotational movement, for example, of the first cradle rail and/or the at least one side guide. In an example, the actuator can be operably connected to the first cradle rail and/or the at least one side guide via one or more cables or extension plate members.

A cylinder mounting assembly for a hydraulic boat lift includes a plurality of H-frame components for pivotally connecting a pair of bunks to side beams of the lift. A trailing pair of hydraulic cylinder actuators pivotally interconnect the side beams to respective trailing H-frame components. The cylinders are selectively operated to pivot the trailing H-frame components closed such that a first longitudinal channel of each trailing H-frame component receives a respective actuator and an opposite, second longitudinal channel of the trailing H-frame component receivably interengages a respective side beam, which lowers the bunks of the lift sufficiently to facilitate driving a vessel onto and launching a vessel from the lift in shallow water conditions.

A cylinder mounting assembly for a hydraulic boat lift includes a plurality of H-frame components for pivotally connecting a pair of bunks to side beams of the lift. A trailing pair of hydraulic cylinder actuators pivotally interconnect the side beams to respective trailing H-frame components. The cylinders are selectively operated to pivot the trailing H-frame components closed such that a first longitudinal channel of each trailing H-frame component receives a respective actuator and an opposite, second longitudinal channel of the trailing H-frame component receivably interengages a respective side beam, which lowers the bunks of the lift sufficiently to facilitate driving a vessel onto and launching a vessel from the lift in shallow water conditions.

A self-leveling hydraulic motor driven boat lift includes proximal and distal support structures disposed on respective longitudinal sides of a lift platform. A pair of proximal and distal hydraulic motors are operably mounted to the proximal and distal support structures respectively. Each hydraulic motor is operably connected to a respective winder mechanism. A lift cable assembly is operably interconnected between the winder mechanism and a respective side of the lift platform. Each hydraulic motor is reversible and communicably connected to a respective hydraulic pump, which transmits hydraulic fluid between the pump and the connected motor for operating the motor and selectively driving the connected winder mechanism and cable assembly to selectively raise and lower the lift platform. A respective restrictor valve interconnects each hydraulic pump and that pump's corresponding hydraulic motor. An angle inclination sensor detects the lateral inclination of the lift platform and transmits a corresponding signal to a controller, which selectively directs at least one restrictor valve to adjust the flow rate of hydraulic fluid transmitted between at least one pump and its respective hydraulic motor such that the lift platform is laterally leveled.

A self-leveling hydraulic motor driven boat lift includes proximal and distal support structures disposed on respective longitudinal sides of a lift platform. A pair of proximal and distal hydraulic motors are operably mounted to the proximal and distal support structures respectively. Each hydraulic motor is operably connected to a respective winder mechanism. A lift cable assembly is operably interconnected between the winder mechanism and a respective side of the lift platform. Each hydraulic motor is reversible and communicably connected to a respective hydraulic pump, which transmits hydraulic fluid between the pump and the connected motor for operating the motor and selectively driving the connected winder mechanism and cable assembly to selectively raise and lower the lift platform. A respective restrictor valve interconnects each hydraulic pump and that pump's corresponding hydraulic motor. An angle inclination sensor detects the lateral inclination of the lift platform and transmits a corresponding signal to a controller, which selectively directs at least one restrictor valve to adjust the flow rate of hydraulic fluid transmitted between at least one pump and its respective hydraulic motor such that the lift platform is laterally leveled.

A watercraft lift with rearward and forward lateral beams, left and right side longitudinal side beams, a pair of left side lifting arms, a pair of right side lifting arms supporting at their upper ends left and right side watercraft supports, and left and right side actuators pivotally attached to the left and right side rearward lifting arms. In one embodiment the left side rearward lifting arm and the left side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal left side beam in a left side plane, and the right side rearward lifting arm and the right side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal right side beam in a right side plane.

A watercraft lift with rearward and forward lateral beams, left and right side longitudinal side beams, a pair of left side lifting arms, a pair of right side lifting arms supporting at their upper ends left and right side watercraft supports, and left and right side actuators pivotally attached to the left and right side rearward lifting arms. In one embodiment the left side rearward lifting arm and the left side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal left side beam in a left side plane, and the right side rearward lifting arm and the right side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal right side beam in a right side plane.

A watercraft lift with rearward and forward lateral beams, left and right side longitudinal side beams, a pair of left side lifting arms, a pair of right side lifting arms supporting at their upper ends left and right side watercraft supports, and left and right side actuators pivotally attached to the left and right side rearward lifting arms. In one embodiment the left side rearward lifting arm and the left side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal left side beam in a left side plane, and the right side rearward lifting arm and the right side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal right side beam in a right side plane.

A watercraft lift with rearward and forward lateral beams, left and right side longitudinal side beams, a pair of left side lifting arms, a pair of right side lifting arms supporting at their upper ends left and right side watercraft supports, and left and right side actuators pivotally attached to the left and right side rearward lifting arms. In one embodiment the left side rearward lifting arm and the left side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal left side beam in a left side plane, and the right side rearward lifting arm and the right side actuator rotate about their pivotal attachments to the longitudinal right side beam in a right side plane.

A trailering support device able to load a hull onto a trailer includes one or more controllers configured or programmed to acquire characteristic information indicating a relationship between a steering angle of the hull and a turning radius of the hull; acquire relative position information between the trailer and the hull; detect the steering angle of the hull; predict future movement of the hull based on the acquired characteristic information, the acquired relative position information, and the detected steering angle; generate a predicted trajectory; and provide notification of a positional relationship between the hull and the trailer and provide notification of the generated predicted trajectory.