Maintenance, Corrosion & Winter
Should You Take Your Boat Lift Canopy Off for Winter?
Quick answer
Yes, wherever it snows, and earlier than most owners do it: take the fabric off when the boat comes off the lift for the season, not at the first snowfall. ShoreMaster's canopy manual says the frame and cover "cannot support extra weight" and to remove the cover if you experience snowfall; a foot of wet snow weighs up to 21 lb per sq ft, about 5,000 lb on a 24 ft x 10 ft canopy. Remove it on a day above 45°F, and store it clean, dry and indoors.
On this page
- What five canopy and lift makers say
- Why "boat off" is the real trigger
- What snow and ice actually weigh on a canopy
- Why "leave it on" keeps getting repeated
- Warranty terms that depend on removal
- How to take it off and store it
- What happens to the frame
- Where this answer stops applying
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources and further reading
Take it off. In any place that gets snow, the canopy cover belongs in a dry room over winter, and the right day to remove it is the day the boat comes off the lift for the season, not the morning after the first storm. Every lift maker that writes about it agrees. ShoreMaster's hip roof canopy instructions say: "Canopy frames and covers cannot support extra weight. Remove the cover if you experience snowfall." Sunstream's canopy manual says to "remove your canopy cover in the wintertime, especially if your area experiences high winds, heavy snow, or severe winter storms."
The reason is arithmetic: FEMA's Snow Load Safety Guide puts a foot of fresh snow at 3 to 21 lb per sq ft. A common 24 ft x 10 ft canopy covers about 240 sq ft, so one wet snowfall can put roughly 5,000 lb on a few aluminum bows that the same manufacturer says not to stand on.
- When: when the boat leaves the lift for the season, and before any snow
- Why: 3 to 21 lb per sq ft per foot of fresh snow; ice about 4.75 lb per sq ft per inch
- Temperature: ShoreMaster says do not fold or handle the cover below 45°F
- Storage: washed, fully dry, indoors where it will not freeze
- Warranty: at least one canopy fabric warranty covers only covers that were "seasonally removed"
Safety: never climb onto a canopy frame, a lift, or dock ice to clear snow. ShoreMaster's manual says not to "stand on, hang from, or set heavy objects on canopy." Do not work under a boat that is raised on the lift, and do canopy work from the dock with the lift empty or lowered. Removing a cover is a two-person job.
What five canopy and lift makers say
No single document answers the whole question, which is why it keeps being asked. Side by side, the instructions point the same way, and two of them set a trigger earlier than snowfall.
| Maker and document | Winter or snow | Lift empty or unused | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShoreMaster, Hip Roof Canopy Instructions (1024508) | "Remove the cover if you experience snowfall" | Cover "must be removed when boat lift is not properly secure in water or if not being used regularly" | Clean, dry, "warm dry place to avoid cracks from freezing"; do not fold below 45°F |
| Sunstream, Canopy Owners Manual (690179 rev C) | Remove "in the wintertime, especially" with high winds, heavy snow or winter storms | Remove if the boat will be off the lift "for extended lengths of time" | Not addressed |
| Lakeshore Products, LSV1364 Canopy Frame Owner's Manual (2026) | "If possible remove the Canopy Cover before severe weather is in the area" | Not addressed | "During the off season store your canopy in a cool dry place" |
| FLOE International, Boat Lift FAQ | Not addressed | "Never leave the fabric on the lift if there is no boat in place, especially during a storm" | Clean and dry before off-season storage (FLOE canopy instructions) |
| ShoreMaster, "Fall Boat Lift Storage Tips" (2021) | Part of fall storage | Not addressed | Wash with soap and water, dry thoroughly, store bungees and springs with the cover |
Read the middle column again. ShoreMaster, Sunstream and FLOE all tie removal to the boat being gone, not to the weather. In snow country the boat usually comes off weeks before the first real snow, so the empty-lift rule is the one that actually sets the date.
Why "boat off" is the real trigger
An empty lift with fabric on top is a sail with no ballast. Sunstream's manual states the risk plainly: "High wind can actually move your boatlift if you have a canopy cover with no boat on the lift and the canopy is not attached to the dock," and "your boat must be on the lift during high winds or the canopy needs to be attached to the dock." ShoreMaster's instructions add that "severe or strong winds can pick up a boat, lift, and canopy," and say to secure the lift to the lake bottom or a stand dock with augers or anchors if it will not have a boat aboard during strong winds, or carries a boat under 1,400 lb.
The risk is highest on free-standing lifts, whose legs rest on pads on the lake bottom rather than being bolted to pilings. The wind force numbers for a canopy, roughly 980 lb on 240 sq ft at 40 mph, are worked through in boat lift canopies.
So the order of jobs at haul-out is: boat off, canopy fabric off, then the lift itself raised, lowered or pulled according to its manual. Where an empty cradle should sit in the meantime is covered in empty boat lift up or down.
What snow and ice actually weigh on a canopy
FEMA's Snow Load Safety Guide (P-957) gives the range: one foot of fresh snow weighs from 3 lb per sq ft for light, dry snow to 21 lb per sq ft for wet, heavy snow. One inch of ice weighs "a little less than 5 pounds per square foot," and a foot of ice about 57, which works out to about 4.75 lb per sq ft per inch. Standing water, for comparison, is 5.2 lb per sq ft per inch (62.4 lb per cubic foot divided by 12).
The table applies those figures to three canopy sizes, using length times width as the area the snow lands on. The first is a ShoreStation replacement cover listed as 20 ft x 88 in; the other two are round sizes for larger lifts.
| Load | 20 ft x 88 in (147 sq ft) | 24 ft x 10 ft (240 sq ft) | 30 ft x 10 ft (300 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ft light, dry snow (3 psf) | 440 lb | 720 lb | 900 lb |
| 1 ft wet, heavy snow (21 psf) | 3,080 lb | 5,040 lb | 6,300 lb |
| 1 in of ice (about 4.75 psf) | 700 lb | 1,140 lb | 1,425 lb |
| 2 in of meltwater pooled in a sag (10.4 psf) | 1,530 lb | 2,500 lb | 3,120 lb |
Two things make the real case worse than the table. First, snow does not land evenly on a canopy. Wind drifts it into the low side and the fabric sags between bows, so the load concentrates on the spans that are already weakest. Second, it does not leave. A canopy over open water in January may carry the first storm, a freeze-thaw crust, and the second storm on top. FEMA notes that ice "weighs significantly more than heavy, wet snow per inch depth," and a cover that thaws by day and freezes by night builds exactly that.
Worked example: where the snow load goes on a 24 ft canopy
A canopy frame on a 5,000 lb vertical lift spans 24 ft x 10 ft, with seven bows at 4 ft spacing. An overnight storm leaves 10 in of wet snow. At FEMA's upper figure of 21 lb per sq ft per foot, that is 21 x 10/12 = 17.5 psf, and 17.5 x 240 = 4,200 lb on the fabric.
Split evenly across seven bows, each carries 4,200 / 7 = 600 lb, spread over a 10 ft span, about 60 lb per foot of tube. For scale, ShoreMaster's manual tells owners not to set heavy objects on the canopy at all; a single 200 lb person standing on one bow is a load the maker rules out, and this storm puts three times that on every bow at once.
The 4,200 lb does not vanish at the bows either. The frame's uprights carry it down into whatever they mount on, and on many lifts that is the lift's own legs or corner posts. If the canopy rides on the lift, a lift with no boat aboard is now carrying most of a boat's weight up high, where it bends uprights rather than loading the cradle the lift was rated for.
If the boat stays on the lift under a covered canopy, both loads add. The winterizing guide works that case: a 4,300 lb boat on a 5,000 lb lift goes to 133% of rated capacity with 10 in of wet snow on the cover, far past the 15 to 25% margin the capacity sizing rule leaves. The drain plug guide adds the meltwater that ends up inside an uncovered boat.
Why "leave it on" keeps getting repeated
Three things keep the opposite answer alive, and each has a grain of truth.
- Cover listings sound winter-proof. A retailer listing for a ShoreStation ShelterTX cover calls the fabric "highly resistant to extreme temperature changes" and rates it 5 of 5 for wind. That describes the fabric surviving cold and gusts while stretched on a frame with a boat under it. It says nothing about carrying snow, and ShoreMaster's own manual for its frames says the frame and cover cannot support extra weight.
- Southern owners leave covers on all year. On water that never freezes, the boat stays on the lift through winter and the snow column of the table never applies. The wind rule still does: fabric off when the boat is away for long, and before named storms (see hurricane preparation).
- Fabric off seems to expose the boat. In snow country the boat should not be on an outdoor lift over winter anyway, for the capacity reason above. A boat that must stay out belongs under a fitted boat cover or shrink wrap that sheds snow, not under a flat canopy that collects it.
Warranty terms that depend on removal
Leaving a cover on through winter can also leave the owner without a claim when it fails. The terms below were all published by the companies named.
| Company | Coverage | Weather and removal conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Shoretex Fabric Products (boat lift canopies) | Five years, condition and function | Covers only canopies "properly installed on and seasonally removed from the boat lift frame"; excludes "allowing water, snow & ice to pool in cover," frame distortion, and excessive wind |
| Lakeshore Products (LSP, LLC), 2026 terms | Two years on components, including canopy covers | "Wind damage is not covered"; excludes extreme weather and windstorms |
| ShoreMaster, canopy instructions | Per product warranty | Not following the manual's procedures "will invalidate the warranty" |
Shoretex's wording is the clearest: seasonal removal is a condition of coverage, not advice. How lift and accessory warranties are structured in general, and what to keep on file, is in boat lift warranties.
How to take it off and store it
- Pick the day. Calm, dry, and above 45°F. ShoreMaster's manual: "Do not fold or handle the cover if temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, cracking could occur." In practice that means doing it at haul-out rather than waiting for the first cold snap.
- Two people, from the dock. ShoreMaster's folding guide says removal "takes two people." Release the bungee cords and S-hooks evenly, alternating sides so the cover does not pull to one side, and never let go of a cord under tension. ShoreMaster warns that a snapping bungee can cause an eye injury.
- Wash it. Soap and water, per ShoreMaster's fall tips, on the ground rather than on the frame. Cleaning the rest of the lift is in boat lift cleaning.
- Dry it completely. Every maker that addresses storage says clean and dry before folding. A cover rolled damp mildews in its bag.
- Fold, then roll. ShoreMaster's method: fold about 1 1/2 ft at a time from each side, like a sleeping bag, then roll tightly from the fold, pressing the air out.
- Store it warm and dry. ShoreMaster says a "warm dry place to avoid cracks from freezing"; Lakeshore says "cool dry place." Both mean indoors and dry; ShoreMaster's added point is above freezing, so a heated garage or basement beats an unheated shed. Keep the bungees, springs and hooks in the same bag, as ShoreMaster's fall tips suggest.
What happens to the frame
The fabric is the part that catches snow and wind; the bows do much less of either once it is off. What happens to the frame follows the lift. If the lift comes out of the water for winter, the frame comes with it or is unbolted, and ShoreMaster's fall tips warn that a lift moved intact needs its canopy frame kept clear of trees and anything else it could strike. The removal sequence is in seasonal lift removal.
If the lift stays in on pilings, the bare frame usually stays with it. Ice is then the bigger threat to the structure below; whether a bubbler or de-icer suits the site is in de-icer vs bubbler. Before refitting the fabric in spring, check for bent bows and loose fasteners: ShoreMaster's manual calls for inspecting canopy bolts, nuts, cords and hooks every three months, and Sunstream's says an out-of-level lift can damage the canopy.
Where this answer stops applying
- Rigid roofs. Metal or shingled roofs on boathouses and permanent covered slips are buildings, designed (and often permitted) for a local snow load. Follow the designer's rating, not this page; see boathouse lifts.
- Snow-free water. Where it does not snow and the boat stays on the lift, the cover can stay on in winter. The empty-lift and storm rules still apply.
- Your manual says something different. Follow the document written for your canopy. The tables above report what five makers published; they do not overrule your own.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take my boat lift canopy off for the winter?
Yes, anywhere it snows. ShoreMaster's canopy manual says the frame and cover cannot support extra weight and to remove the cover if you experience snowfall, and Sunstream's says to remove it in wintertime. A foot of wet snow weighs up to 21 lb per sq ft, about 5,000 lb on a 24 ft x 10 ft canopy. Take it off when the boat comes off the lift.
How much snow can a boat lift canopy hold?
No maker publishes a snow rating for a fabric lift canopy, and ShoreMaster's instructions say its frames and covers cannot support extra weight, not even a person standing on them. Treat the rating as zero. One foot of light, dry snow is about 3 lb per sq ft and wet snow up to 21, so even a light storm puts hundreds of pounds on the bows.
When should I take the canopy cover off?
When the boat leaves the lift for the season, on a calm, dry day above 45°F. ShoreMaster, Sunstream and FLOE all say to remove the fabric when the lift will be empty for a long time, because an empty canopied lift can be moved by wind. ShoreMaster also says not to fold or handle the cover below 45°F, because the vinyl can crack.
How do you store a boat lift canopy cover?
Wash it with mild soap and water, let it dry completely, fold it in about 1 1/2 ft sections from each side, then roll it tightly from the fold. Store it indoors in a dry place that stays above freezing; ShoreMaster says a warm dry place to avoid cracks from freezing. Keep its bungees and hooks in the same bag.
Does leaving the canopy on in winter void the warranty?
It can. Shoretex's canopy warranty covers only canopies that were seasonally removed from the lift frame, and excludes water, snow and ice pooling in the cover. Lakeshore does not cover wind damage, and ShoreMaster says not following its canopy procedures will invalidate the warranty. Check the terms for your own cover before winter.
Sources and further reading
- ShoreMaster, Hip Roof Canopy Instructions (1024508): safety, wind, removal and storage, 45°F handling limit (https://static.shoremaster.com/instructions/1024508_SMR.pdf)
- Sunstream, Canopy Owners Manual (690179 rev C): safety tips, winter removal, high wind kits (https://sunstreamboatlifts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Canopy-instruction-manual.pdf)
- Manufacturers of Lakeshore Products, LSV1364 Canopy Frame Owner's Manual (LS0141, 2026), wind warning, off-season storage and 2026 limited warranty (https://www.boatliftanddock.com/MediaStorage/Product/Documents/Document/605_20260609095410489.pdf)
- FLOE International, Boat Lift FAQ: canopy fabric with no boat on the lift (https://floeintl.com/boat-lifts-docks/boat-lift-faq/)
- Boat Covers Direct, FLOE boat lift canopy instructions: storage clean and dry (https://www.boatcoversdirect.com/floe-boat-lift-canopy-instructions)
- ShoreMaster, "Fall Boat Lift Storage Tips," October 21, 2021 (https://shoremaster.com/blog/articles/fall-boat-lift-storage-tips-shoremaster)
- ShoreMaster, "How to Fold a Boat Lift Canopy," August 22, 2019 (https://www.shoremaster.com/about-shoremaster/news-events/articles/how-to-fold-a-canopy-cover/)
- FEMA P-957, Snow Load Safety Guide, January 2013, section 2.2: range in snow weight and ice (https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema957_snowload_guide.pdf)
- Shoretex Fabric Products, Warranty Information: boat lift canopies (https://www.shoretexfabric.com/company-info/warranty-information/)
- Boat Lift and Dock, 20 x 88 Genuine ShoreStation Cover (CC20-88) listing: dimensions, fabric, warranty (https://www.boatliftanddock.com/product/3149/20-x-88-genuine-shorestation-cover-aluminum-frames-cc20-88)