Portfolio

Lift 125 - In Progress

Model: 4-Person, 2- Station, 2-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 20’ at 30° and 80’ at 45°
Area: Lake Rosseau, Muskoka
Year: 2024

Lift 119

Model: 4-Person, 2- Station, 2-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 105’ at 12° and 25’ at 16°
Area: Gilmore, ON
Year: 2024

Lift 113

Model: 4-Person, 3-Station, 2-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 21'1" @ 15.3°, 9’8" curve, 65 @ 43°
Area: Notre-Dame-du-Laus, PQ
Year: 2023

Lift 99

Model: 4-Person, 3-Station, 2-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 85’ at 20° and 35’ at 40°
Area: Port Carling, ON
Year: 2020

Lift 96

Model: 4-Person, 3-Station, 1-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 85’ at 18°
Area: Dorset, ON
Year: 2020

Lift 91

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 72' at 36°
Area: Lake Rosseau, Muskoka
Year: 2019

Lift 87

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 73’6” at 40.5°
Area: Georgian Bay, Parry Sound
Year: 2019

Lift 84

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 100' long at 20°
Area: Lake Joseph, Muskoka
Year: 2018

Lift 81

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 80’ @ 65°
Area: Otter Lake, Parry Sound
Year: 2018

Lift 78

Model: 2-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 500lbs Capacity
Track: 80’ @ 30°
Area: Lake of Bays
Year: 2017

Lift 75

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 190’ @ 32°
Area: Lac Memphremagog, PQ
Year: 2017

Lift 124 - In Progress

Model: 4-Person, 2- Station, 1-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 173’ at 30°
Area: Lake Joseph, Muskoka
Year: 2024

Lift 118

Model: 4-Person, 2- Station, 1-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 90’ at 30°
Area: Baysville, ON
Year: 2023

Lift 100

Model: 4-Person, 2- Station, 1-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 98’ at 25°
Area: Gravenhurst, ON
Year: 2021

Lift 98

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 3-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 24’ at 19°, 33’ at 29°, and 22’ at 49°
Area: Lake Muskoka, Muskoka
Year: 2020

Lift 94

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 114’ at 21°
Area: Eagle Lake, Central Frontenac, ON
Year: 2020

Lift 89

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 1000lbs Capacity
Track: 118' long at 27°, rises about 6 stories
Area: Lake Joseph, Muskoka
Year: 2019

Lift 86

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 3-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 220’ at 27°, 63’ at 32°, and 60’at 36°
Area: Drag Lake, Haliburton
Year: 2018-2019

Lift 83

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 56' long at 37°
Area: Lake Erie
Year: 2018

Lift 80

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 62’ @ 56°
Area: Lac Massawippi, PQ
Year: 2018

Lift 77

Model: 4-Person, 3-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 90’ @ 30°
Area: Lake Muskoka
Year: 2017

Lift 74

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 2-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 155’ @ 40° and 113' @ 37°
Area: Lake of Bays
Year: 2017

Lift 123

Model: 4-Person, 3- Station, 1-Pitch 750lbs Capacity
Track: 130’ at 25°
Area: Leeds and the Thousand Islands, ON
Year: 2024

Lift 115

Model: 4-Person, 2- Station, 3-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 29’ at 25.5°, 43’ at 32.6°, and 18’ at 37.7°
Area: Minden, ON
Year: 2023

Lift 101

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 90’ at 31°
Area: Minden Hills, ON
Year: 2021

Lift 97

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 117’ at 37°
Area: Minden, ON
Year: 2020

Lift 92

Model: 4-Person, 4-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 80’ of regular track and 45’ of light track
Area: Lake Rosseau, Muskoka
Year: 2019

Lift 88

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 2-Pitch, 1000lbs Capacity
Track: 100’ @ 25° and 25' @ 39°
Area: Lake Muskoka, Muskoka
Year: 2019

Lift 85

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 47' long at 43°
Area: Crystal Lake, Kawartha Lakes
Year: 2018

Lift 82

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 100' long at 22°
Area: Pigeon Lake, Kawartha Lakes
Year: 2018

Lift 79

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 2-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 45’ @ 20° and 115' @ 38°
Area: Gull Lake, Minden
Year: 2017

Lift 76

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 1-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 86’ @ 35°
Area: Lake Muskoka
Year: 2017

Lift 67

Model: 4-Person, 2-Station, 2-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 70’ @ 21° and 126.5' @ 31°
Area: Lake of Bays
Year: 2015-2016

Lift 123

This single-pitch lift was designed to provide the owners with easy access to their entire property, addressing growing mobility concerns as they aged. We created a 3-Station lift, offering seamless travel from the house to the garden and down to the waterfront.

View from the bottom station. The station landings were added later by the client’s contractor, carefully built to complement the design of the lift.

The lower station was positioned just before the waterline, allowing for unobstructed movement below.

Once the natural vegetation grows back, the lift will blend seamlessly into the surroundings and become virtually invisible from the waterfront.

The clients have installed an aluminum canopy to enable use of the lift, regardless of weather conditions. They also plan to add additional enclosure options in the future to further enhance the lift's functionality.

Lift 119

This is the first lift we've built with regular track above the curve, transitioning to shallow track below the curve. This design was specifically chosen to provide easy access to the dock without the need for additional stairs or walkways.

The client requested a design that would blend seamlessly into the surroundings. To achieve this, we opted for a picket car design and replaced the access gate with a black one, matching both the car and the track. This thoughtful design allows the eye to move effortlessly over the lift, highlighting the beautiful waterfront beyond.

The track was lowered as much as possible and extended down the hillside to meet the client’s needs.

The upper station was built on an existing deck, which the client’s contractor extended to accommodate the new lift. Now, the cottage and waterfront can be enjoyed without the need to navigate any stairs.

Lift 118

This client wanted to make access to their lakefront easier, as the trek down the hillside was becoming too challenging. With their new lift, they can now enjoy mornings by the lake with their grandchildren without the need to climb the 60 steps.

We used our Gantry Crane to lift the first 20’, 385-pound section of track 10’ off the ground. To ensure precise placement, we designed and built custom jigs that allowed us to position the track with high accuracy across three spatial and three angular dimensions. Once the track was properly aligned, we constructed support legs to securely hold it in place. Additionally, the lift is equipped with an interlocked safety gate at the top station, preventing access to the track when the lift is out of the station.

Given that the upper station is located on the second story of the cottage, we relocated the motor house and wiring panel down the hillside for easier access. This also helps minimize the visual impact when viewed from the upper station deck.

The lower station is positioned beside an existing gazebo. To ensure the lift landed as close to the ground and structure as possible, we switched to a shallow track for the final 20’.

Lift 115

Originally designed as a 2-pitch lift, it became clear during the build that a 3-pitch design was necessary to better hug the hillside and ensure a smooth, safe ride without interfering with the existing building.

The lift had minimal clearance at the bottom station, which made it extremely challenging to land the car. To resolve this, the client had to trim the edge of their roof to create enough space for the car as it moved downhill.

The upper station platform was added after the lift's initial construction to provide direct access to the cottage from the driveway.

This photo highlights the minimal clearances at the bottom station. The lift is equipped with a ‘PARK’ button, which moves the car up the track when not in use. When the car is not at the lower station, the track remains clear of walkways. Perfectly designed for this small space.

Lift 113

Model: 4-Person, 3-Station, 2-Pitch, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 21'1" @ 15.3°, 9’8" curve, 65 @ 43°
Area: Notre-Dame-du-Laus, PQ
Year: 2023

This is our second lift in the Notre-Dame-du-Laus area - we built Lift 16 in 2008.

This lift needed to span a tractor roadway used for landscaping and had to be high enough to allow the tractor with a full bucket underneath.

We started with a string-line to define the track to ensure the lift met all design criteria.

View looking down the finished track line.

View looking up the final track line.

The upper station was designed to seamlessly incorporate into a space that already existed prior to the build.

Getting the tractor under the track was a must.

The build team, Ryan, Jason and Sarah with the owners Sylvie and Tim.

Celebrating the completion of the lift!

Lift 101

Model: 4-Person,1-Pitch, 2-Station, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 90’ at 31°
Area: Minden Hills, ON
Year: 2021

This couple were planning for their retirement and needed the lift to keep enjoying their cottage and waterfront.

They were quite worried about the aesthetics and wanted the lift to be invisible so we worked with them to come up with a low-visibility design for the car. The black pickets tend to disappear against the hillside and we only used wood on the floors and wooden seats, even the top rails are painted flat bar.

Their carpenter did a lovely job extending the existing platform, complete with new railings and a self-closing self-latching gate, to make the upper station platform. The motor house is colour matched to an existing shed that’s behind and to the left of the camera. The lift control panel sits on the far end of that shed, all wiring was buried to keep visual obstructions minimal.

The build team was careful to preserve as much of the garden as possible.

The lower station is simple and attractive. We kept the car as close to the hill as possible, which involved digging the track into the hill on the left side (looking down). The car floats over the path when in the lower station, so it’s easy to step on and off the car. We made the button post as short as possible to further minimize the visual impact of the lift. The PARK button moves the car 10’ up the hill and stops it automatically keep the car clear of the path.

In a effort to keep the intrusion of the lift into the upper garden, we set the track so that there was only about 2’ of “extra” track between the bumpers on the dolly and the “hard stops” on the track.

Lift 100

Model: 4-Person,1-pitch, 2-station, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 98’ at 25°
Area: Gravenhurst, ON
Year: 2021

This family envisioned their island cottage as their forever cottage, so they thoughtfully planned for the future. To ensure the stairs wouldn’t become a barrier as they aged, they knew they needed a lift, ensuring long-term accessibility and comfort.

The track is on this unused side yard and set so that the removable dock, when installed, would just fill the gap. The upper station is off the side of their full length front deck.

The removable dock section connecting the boathouse to the lift fit perfectly.

They can get themselves and their things from the dock all the way to the kitchen without climbing any stairs. The car is also big enough that they could use a use a dolly or wagon to roll things all the way to the cottage.

The lower button box is attached directly to the rock so can stay where it is in the winter.

The upper station is off the the side of their full length from deck and doesn’t interfere with their view of the water.

The track was set so the car would be centered on the section of the railing. We mounted the buttons directly into the railing post to further integrate the lift into their space and the existing railing was replaced with a self-closing self-latching door.

The motor house cover is tucked away around the corner in a little alcove and is hidden from view while on the deck. The lift control panel is under the deck, in an easily accessible location.

Lift 99

Model: 4-Person,2-Pitch Lift,3-Station 750lbs Capacity
Track: 85’ at 20° and 35’ at 40°
Area: Port Carling, ON
Year: 2020

This couple was building their retirement home and needed the lift to connect their cottage to their dock. Their General Contractor, Jason McLean, called us in and, with his crew and the owners, we designed this 2-pitch lift to connect their lakeside yard to the dock.

While building the lift, we added a 3rd station to connect via a path to a firepit and, eventually, to the upper floor of the boathouse. The programmable logic controller that runs the lift makes it easy to upgrade to more stations.

Building the Lift, we kept the top end as close to the ground as possible to keep the upper station as close to the cottage as possible. The height of this station was set by the height of the garage floor. Because the upper pitch was so shallow there was no room to put the lift control panel under the winch drum so it is mounted inside the garage. Two “Teck” cables connect the panel to the lift, one carrying 240V to the brake-motor and a second one carrying all the 24V signal wires used to control the car.

Jason’s crew built a lovely upper station access platform and motor house cover.

View looking up the hill from the middle station.

The curve. The “pipe” track on the outside of the regular track works with the “levelling” rigger on the car to keep the car floor level throughout the ride.

Another look at the lower section. The track changes angle by about 20°, requiring almost 7’ of curved track.

We set the track so that the car is tight against the hill when it’s in the lower station the lower station. This lift has a PARK button that moves the car about 10’ up the track and out of the way.

Jason and two of his crew heading down to work on the boathouse. We use industrial quality components so our lifts can be used by construction and maintenance crews. Lift 24 for example, has well over 3,500 round trips and Lift 29 was used to haul 56 metric tons of sand and gravel up a hill to build a septic system at an island cottage.

Lift 98

Model: 4-Person, 3-pitch, 2-station, 750lbs Capacity
Track: 24’ at 19°, 33’ at 29°, and 22’ at 49°
Area: Lake Muskoka, ON
Year: 2020

The island cottage featured a lift that, in many ways, had been cleverly designed. However, over time, it had become worn and unsafe. The hoist cable was frayed, there were no emergency brakes, and the entire system had deteriorated, rendering it both outdated and hazardous. At this point, it was only suitable for carrying cargo, and it was clear that replacing it had become a necessity.

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 above. 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 another straightforward modification to a proven design.

When the upper station walkway is built the lift will stop at this level. 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 offers a stunning view from the water, blending seamlessly into the landscape and remaining unobtrusive to the surroundings. The three-pitch track design keeps it low to the ground, enhancing its subtle presence. This is our second three-pitch lift, though its design is virtually identical to our two-pitch models, with the only difference being the addition of a second curved section of track.

Take a virtual ride on Lift 98.

Lift 97

The owners of this cottage had a 6-1/2 story climb from the lake to the cottage and decided it was time for a lift. We found a line that ran from the rear yard level to a clearing just above lake level and beside their fire pit. It did not disturb the existing pathway that zig-zagged down the hill so the walking option was still available.

The hill featured a high point approximately 40 feet from the upper station. As a result, we needed to use the gantry crane to position the first track piece. The team dedicated an entire day to excavating rock on the right side of the track to bring it down to the desired level. While we could have lowered it further by extending the bottom end, we opted to maintain the lower station's proximity to the hillside.

The team dedicated an entire day to removing rock in order to lower the top end. After all, if we're building a lift designed to last, it's essential that we do it right.

The height of the upper station required the addition of a walkway to connect the car to the lower level of the cottage. To the left of the lift lies an unused section of the yard, which will eventually be landscaped and planted. The walkway seamlessly ties into the old path that runs from the main deck of the cottage down to the stairs leading to the bottom.

View down the finished track.

View from the bottom.

The lower station is discreetly tucked away, located at the far end of the space near the lakeside fire pit, just a few steps from the dock. In this photo, the car is about a foot away from the bottom station.

Lift 96

The owner of this 110-year-old family cottage spent many summers there while growing up. In 1988, she sustained a spinal cord injury, which left her dependent on a wheelchair for mobility. Although the cottage was modified for accessibility, for the past 32 years, she has been unable to join family and friends at the dock and lake without being carried up and down the long stairway. The lift will now change that.

We started building a 2-Station lift running from the corner of the upper porch, parallel to the top sections of the existing staircase, and to the corner of the dock. As we were building it, however, it became clear to us and the owner that a middle station accessing the lawn level and fire pit made complete sense.

We set the track so their friend and carpenter, Guy Forward, could rebuild the corner of the dock and the lower flight of stairs to integrate the dock, stairs, and lift. He also modified the upper station to integrate it into a renovated front porch and built the middle station platform which is also a landing on the stairs and a path from the lift car to the fire pit. It’s always great to work with the owners and their contractors to completely integrate the lift into the cottage.

Their cottage is named Hollinwood, so the lift became the “Hollinwood Flyer” and the three stations are named Butterfly, Firefly, and Dragonfly.

An overview of the lift from the dock to the cottage. When the foliage on either side of the track that was flattened during construction recovers, the track will be camouflaged from the water. 

Butterfly.

Firefly, while the lift was still under construction. There is a fold-up seat at the back of the car for people to sit and room for a cooler tucked away underneath.

Dragonfly.

Lift 94

The lift was designed to use the second-floor deck as the upper station. Once we identified the ideal track line, we collaborated with the owner to trim the side of the deck, ensuring it would be parallel to the future track line.

With the deck edge ready we used our gantry crane to lift the first 20’ long, 400 lbs. section of track about 12’ off the ground so we could fix it in place. This section of track has to be correctly positioned in 3 spatial and 3 angular dimensions to center the car door on the front deck and to have it land at just the right place at the bottom.

The completed track is quite discreet, even though it's over 10 feet off the ground near the top. Painting it black helps it blend in while also preventing ice buildup on the track during the winter.

Looking up the track towards the cottage. The main living area is on the front deck level which makes the lift ideal from getting people and supplies the 4 stories separating the dock and cottage. Because the top end of the track was far off the ground and visible from an interior window we opted to locate the winch down the track. It’s easy to service and protected by a housing attached entirely to the track. The ground under the track was almost entirely unused space.

The owner did a lovely job finishing the upper station railing and gate.

Everybody was ready to ride as soon as all the safety systems were complete and tested.

Maggie’s first ride.

The new lower station is 5 steps up from the dock. If they decide later that the steps are too much we can move the lower limit switches and bring the car closer to the dock.

The lift is not very visible from the water, especially when it’s “parked” up the hill.

Lift 92

We first spoke with the owner of this property back in 2008, and in 2019, we finally got the opportunity to build it. We followed the same track line we had laid out back then, and stayed with the original plan to construct a 4-station lift connecting the dock to the lower floor, upper floor, and driveway.

Upper Station, level with the driveway.

The main floor station. The owner opted to have a few steps rather than building a longer platform.

The lower floor station, again with a few steps.

A single pitch track is determined by the top and bottom station locations and the intermediate stations must lie along the line between them.

The dock station. The floor of the car is about 8” off the dock here.

Looking 125’ up the track.

There are 4 station buttons and a STOP button on the button posts at each station.

We had an interesting control problem; the 4-channel remote used to control the lift from the car can have a button assigned to each station but then there’s no dedicated STOP button. And a STOP button is essential for safety. We solved this problem by programming the PLC to treat all the Station Buttons as Station Buttons when the lift is stationary but as STOP buttons when the lift is moving. Problem solved!

In order to keep the track low to the hill and as far off the dock as possible, we transitioned from regular to light track 45’ from the bottom. The light track needs legs every 10’ instead of every 20’.

Lift 91

The owners of this property were readying their cottage for their retirement and needed the lift to get to their boathouse and back. We needed to come off the front of a balcony which required that the car be entered at both the top and bottom in the direction of the track, which in turn meant that we needed to mount a 2-door car sideways on top of the dolly. New territory for us.

The lift needed to run from this balcony.

To their boathouse.

We used our Gantry Crane to lift the first 20’ long, 385 lbs section of track 10’ off the ground, and used special jigs we designed and built, to locate the track to a high precision in 3 independent spatial and 3 independent angular dimensions. Then we built the support legs to hold it in place. The track extends 5’ beyond the upper set of legs - this was the closest we could get our first set of legs to the top. Everything about this lift was difficult and everything went according to plan.

The car door had to open onto the deck, so we put the car sideways to the track, something we’d seen but never done before, and on top of the dolly. Setting the track was difficult, we had to get it as close to perpendicular to the leading edge of the deck as possible and set it so that the car floor would be level with and an inch away from the deck as it comes to rest in the station. The fit was so tight we had to customize the dolly to attach it to the hoisting cable.

Looking through the railings and down the track. When the car is not in the top station the only parts of the lift that are visible to people sitting on the balcony are the gate and the buttons set into an extra tall gate post. The gate is interlocked with the lift, it will only open when the car is stopped in the upper station and the car will only leave the station if the gated is closed and locked.

When we set the track, we made sure that, with the car gates wide-open, the car would run exactly midway between the two trees near the waters edge.

All the machinery and the electrical panel that runs the lift is located inside in the cedar housing.. The PARK button moves the car from either station to this point. The beautifully tended rock garden is barely affected by the lift.

We needed to mount the car on top of the dolly so that people could get on and off along the line of the track in the upper station, which meant the car floor could not end level with the dock in the bottom station. We built 2 steps and a platform to access the car in the lower station. The owner built a cover which we had partially removed for this photo.

Lift 89

The owners of this beautiful island cottage decided to put the lift in as they have it listed for sale. By adding an ease of access for people, day to day supplies, and even for occasional large items, the lift not only transforms the island cottage experience, it vastly expands the number of of potential purchasers by completely eliminating the difficulties of living 6 stories above the water.

We set the track so the existing dock could serve as the lower station with structural changes, other than adding a button box to run the lift..

Instead of a trek up the stairs, often loaded down with all the luggage and supplies needed to live, everyone get a quiet ride to the top and a great opportunity to take in the view.

At points in the run the car is up over 10’ off the ground. Because it’s smooth and steady, you don’t notice the height riding. The multiple braces we add to the track and the supporting structure make for a ride that both is and feels safe.

The upper station has a small access platform and an interlocked gate. The gate only opens if the car is stationary in the station. The car can only leave the station if the gate is closed and latched. There is an override so you can bring the car to the bottom and ride to the top if the gate didn’t close properly.

Another view of the very pretty specially built upper station platform. The cottage is behind the camera and a short boardwalk connects it all together.

Lift 88

We first looked at this hillside in 2012, after considering multiple routes between the possible stations over the years, we designed this 2-pitch lift that runs from the edge of a main deck to the side of the dock.

To decide the final track line we try to look at all the conditions the completed lift will need to meet to be dynamically integrated into the cottage and cottage activities. This corner of a main cottage deck was both central and out of the way and it made the perfect place to locate the upper station. Our goal was to set the upper station as close to the back left corner as we could.

This overview, taken from an upper deck, shows how well the lift fits into the deck. Shorline Construction renewed the decking, Excel Enclosures provided the railings, and McMorran Electric provided the branch line to power the lift. When they were complete we integrated the lift control buttons and associated wiring into the gate posts. Because the top of the track was very close the ground, we had to mount the lift control panel in it’s own housing and off to the side.

Because this station platform is not high off the ground, the owner opted to not interlock the gate with the lift. On 2-pitch lifts we normally recommend interlocking both gates but here the second pitch is short and there’s a direct line of sight between the stations, so interlocks aren’t essential.

The dock was nearly perfectly lined up to become the lower station without any modifications so we set the track close enough for a comfortable step yet far enough away to not touch the dock. A wheelchair could easily navigate the gap if that were necessary. The 24 VDC lift control wires run up the middle of the button box post and we integrated the buttons into the post. This lift has 2 station buttons, a STOP button, and a PARK button that sends the car up the hill and automatically stops it after 20’, keeping it handy and out of harms way.

View looking up the track to the cottage. Although the steeper lower section is short, a 2-pitch lift was needed to keep the track legs entirely on the shore. It also keeps the station near the shoreline and minimizes the intrusion of the lift on the dock and the chances of damaging the lift with a boat.

It’s always great to not have to climb the stairs.

Lift 87

From the cottage, the lift is convenient yet unobtrusive. The hoist machinery and electrical panel are protected and hidden in the tongue and groove housing. You can see the upper access platform to the left of the lift.

Another view of the top station showing the finished access platform with railings and the protective roof that the lift owner designed and built to keep snow out of the car. The grey box on the side of the track is a “pony panel” that feeds power to both the lift and the dock level lights and outlets. The electrical cables running to the lower level are attached to track where they are protected and hard to see.

It’s all about being connected with the water for swimming, fishing, and sailing.

Sailor took to the lift like it was an old friend.

We designed the lower station to use this stone step as a platform, minimizing the impact of the lift on the local environment, especially when the car is “Parked”. A second benefit, keeping the track tight to the hill does not hinder walking on the lakeside path that’s in the foreground. We use the natural terrain whenever we can.

Sailor posing with his new lift. Now he can swim whenever he wants to..

Sailor also likes to bring his owners for a romp together on the snowy frozen lake.

Lift 86

We started this lift about 3 years ago, working with the owner, Rodco Construction, and the local municipality to get a minor variance.

Without the lift, getting to the water involved a scary 15 minute drive in a 4 x 4 vehicle on a steep, rough track. Now, you step on the lift from the corner of the main deck, and after an idyllic 4 minute ride over the terrain, never touching the ground on a lift that has minimal physical impact on the vegetation and wildlife, taking in a great view of the hillside and the lake, you get off near lake level.

This was our longest lift to date, and our first 3-pitch lift! We decided on 3-pitches to keep the track low to the ground and less visible from the water.

Some of the neighbours told us that they had gone out on the water specifically to look for the lift and they could not see it.

To set the track line the owner and I went for a boat ride and I took a compass reading of the line connecting the cottage to the dock they wanted to reach. Then I followed that compass line from the cottage down the hill, running this string line behind me and pulling a tape measure, to come out exactly at the dock.

We were really fortunate, the line turned out to a great track line and only a few small trees needed falling.

The top section of track was set with the finished access platform, shown below, and the landing 330’ away already designed.

Once after we had 80’ of track in we were able to mount the winch assembly and installation hoist.

Here we're using the Installation Hoist to bring a 20' section of track down the 1st pitch and over the 1st curve on its way to the 2nd curve for installation on the lower pitch. We minimize wear and tear on ourselves and the environment by using the lift we’ve already built to build the lift we’re still building.

Another view of the Installation Hoist carrying a 20’ section of track to the third pitch. Above the Hoist there are the 220’ of track leading to the cottage which is just visible in the background.

With last piece of track in we keep using the installation hoist to get ourselves and materials up and down the hill.

The upper station sits off one corner of the existing deck and the new platform, railings, and self-closing self-latching gate are beautifully integrated into the existing structures. The intercept of the track with the deck was chosen to minimize the need to cut down trees and to center the new platform and rails on the existing railings. The station gate is interlocked with the lift for safety. Ronnie Hunt and his crew did a beautiful job building the new deck.

Looking down the track, the car misses trees on each side by less than 12”. Minimizing the need to remove trees is always one of our design goals.

It’s 168 vertical feet, 300 horizontal feet, and 240 scenic seconds to the cottage from here.

The lower button box post is welded directly to the track to minimize the impact of the lower station on the environment. We needed a new kind of interlocked gate because users can’t see the lower station from the upper station. To prevent someone at the top moving the lift when it’s being boarded at the bottom, we designed a self closing gate attached to the button box post. If the gate is open the car won’t move.

The PARK button moves the car about 20’ up the track and deactivates the lift, it’s out of harms way and safe from unauthorized use.

The lift has a tiny footprint.

Lift 85

The new owners of this property needed the lift to access their floating boathouse, the existing stairs and platform were too tricky and hard on their knees.

The floor of the car in the upper station is level with the rear deck, the weathered wood that can just be seen in the lower right corner of the photo.

Stu Charity Construction built the platform with railings and a self closing self latching gate that is interlocked with the lift. The lift is off to one side, not in front of the cottage, both hidden and handy.

The car in the upper station. The lift machinery, including the winch and panel, is all protected by the cedar panel housing at the top. The front panel lifts out for an easy annual testing and servicing, the others are held by machine screws to the angle iron frame.

Looking down the track to the floating dock before the lower station was built. We trimmed the gate so the car can travel up and down, even in it’s fully opened position, without harming the gate.

The lake level goes up and down by nearly 6’ so Stu had us set the car just above the nominal high water mark. Then his crew added a new lower access platform connecting the lift to the staircase and to the floating dock together, it’s brilliant.

Notice that the track’s visual and environmental footprint is way lower than stairs. It has the added bonus of enabling everyone to travel back and forth between the cottage and the water, no-one is left stuck in the cottage.

Lift 84

The owners of this lift live at their cottage year-round and found they were spending less and less time at the boathouse and on the water. The lift turns trips to the boathouse into moments to rest and to enjoy their view of Muskoka.

We spent a long time laying out this lift with the owner, discussing the pros and cons of the different possible route, before deciding on this one.

The owner spent his days watching the build team at work, and was delighted with how everything worked.

The owners built a simple access platform. The height of the upper station is level with the back porch so they can build a single level ramp from the back door to the lift later, if it’s needed. This is one of our few lifts with a 2-door car.

The boathouse is a few easy paces away. We used the natural stone step at the bottom end to act as the lower station platform. We attached the button box post to a bracket we fixed to the rock and the track.

Looking up the track to the cottage. It’s an 80 second ride to the top.

Lift 83

This is our second lift on Lake Erie and was installed because the owners were finding that they could no longer get to the beach to spend time with their grandchildren.

We protected the steep sandy embankments during the build by working off ladders laid on the hillside. This minimized the damage to the vegetation whose roots are essential to keep the hill stable. The track design actually helps stabilize the slope as the legs are attached to footplates that are pinned into the ground and they are connected together by the track. The total ground coverage is less than 10 square feet compared to a typical staircase that would cover something like 50x4=200 square feet.

The lift fits nicely into one corner of the back yard. Postech Niagra did a beautiful job of building the upper station access platform.

The lift fits beautifully into the existing terrain. We attached the lower button box post to the track and their electrician used the lift to mount a pony panel at the top and an outlet at the bottom. Even though the lift station buttons are protected by silicon “boots” we turned the post so the buttons were on the “leeward” side of the post. No lower station platform was required.

From the water, the track far less visible than staircases and, as the vegetation grows back under and around the lift, it will become less and less visible over time.

Lift 82

The owner of this cottage built this gorgeous staircase himself. Because it was getting harder and harder every year to climb up and down, they were spending less and less time at the water, so they really got the lift to spend time on their boat.

We set both station locations to minimize the visual and physical impact of the lift, especially with the top end station.

The hoisting machinery is housed under the motor cover at the top end of the track and makes very little noise, a concern for the owner prior to construction.

The lift control panel is hidden behind a utility shed and is connected to the lift by two buried Teck cables, one for the brake-motor and the other for the low voltage control wiring.

The owner did a beautiful job with the carpentry on all the wood you see here. He also integrated rewired the lift control button plate directly into the railing post.

Looking up the track. It’s pretty clear from the light level in these photos that the track ran through a part of the yard these cottagers never used.

Before we arrived the owner moved some of the rock to prevent later damage to the lift.

In order to minimize the intrusion of the lift into the upper garden we mounted the car over dolly. This configuration raises the car at the lower end and requires a landing platform there.

The owner built this simple lower station platform and incorporated the pre-wired button box post we had left. The platform was so close to the ground and so small that no railings or permits were needed.

Lift 81

Before we built this lift a trip to the dock for the owners began with an exciting 15 minute trip on a 4x4 gator to get to a access dock where they transferred everything to a boat and then took a 15 min boat-ride to finally reach their waterfront. Trips to the dock were neither spontaneous nor frequent. Now it’s 1 minute walk and a 1 minute ride, making spontaneous and frequent trips possible.

This is our steepest lift ever, by about 8°, and our most challenging lift to date, surpassing the previous record holder, Lift 80, in both categories.

John (above),enjoying the peace and the view while waiting for the boat to arrive, before belaying down to the dock. He’s looking for loose rock, possible footings, and the best lift line.

We spent the first day of the build reviewing our safe climbing techniques with Dave Humphreys of Elevation Aerial.

The build team’s first foray onto the hill. The track follows a natural line in the rock. Before we started, a crew from Premier Docks cleared the loose rock off of the cliff face .

The completed lift and upper station gate platform has a significant wow factor.

All the hoisting hardware is inside the housing that’s attached to the track. Premier Docks built the upper station platform, railings and gate and mechanically integrated the button box plate and the gate interlock we left for them.

Looking down the track to the dock can be an exhilarating experience. The lift and the ride are rock solid. Premier Docks did another great job re-positioning the floating dock so it meets the lift perfectly.

Premier Docks also built an adjustable landing platform, it can be 3, 2, 1, or no steps to allow for changing water levels. The lower button box is welded to the track itself so it is always accessible from the car.

An absolutely spectacular lift that the owners named “The Top of the Cliff”.

A quick drone flight caught the car in the top station. Without the Inclined Elevation sign cable-tied to the car, the lift would blend seamlessly with the cliffside.

Lift 80

This spectacular lift has turned a challenging 15 minute walk from the chateau to the water into an easy 60 second ride and will enable its’ owners to keep enjoying their beautiful setting indefinitely.

This was our first lift of 2018, our third in Quebec, and our most challenging lift to date. We had a 60° slab of slate to build on and had to epoxy nearly 20 36" long, 3/4" diameter, hardened steel threaded rods into the rock. For the first time since building Lift 5 in 2004, we built the track from the bottom up rather than the top down to deal with the special challenges of this cliffside.

The result is a spectacular lift that the locals call “The Stairway to Heaven”.

The owner wanted to keep the lift as low as possible so it would not interfere with the view from the Spa, which is on the other side of the chairs. The local contractors did a beautiful job of building the upper station platform and landscaping the approach.

Looking down the track.

Looking up at the car halfway up the track. The angle formed by the track and the car floor give a sense of the steepness.

The car tucks in nicely at the bottom, completely out of the way and still nearby. There’s a PARK button to completely remove the car from view. The owner added a safety railing on the far side to deal with a pinch point approaching the station.

Lift 79

The owners of this cottage needed a lift to include everyone in boathouse activities, even people who can't handle their 8+ stories of stairs and pathways between the cottage and the waterfront. We worked with the owners, their general contractor Paul Barber, P.Eng., of Infinity Fine Homes, and their landscape architect, Helen Batten, M.L.Arch., of Basterfield and Associates Inc to design the lift and set the track line.

Many of the photos are from the construction phase but there are a few interesting videos.

The upper station platform was built by Infinity Fine Homes. The lift is easy to access from the parking area and cottage. It’s great for getting people and things to and from the water.

The upper section of track is 11°, the most gentle pitch we’ve ever done and the change in angle to the lower section is 27°, the largest change in angle requiring the longest piece of curved track we’ve ever built.

The motor and winch are in the housing at the top of the track. The lift control panel is mounted to the back side of a shed about 30’ up the hill.

The new owners going for a ride. The interplay between the car, dolly, track and "pipe" track keeps the car level throughout the curve and all the power for the transition is provided by the hoist motor/winch assembly.

The lower station is nearing completion.

Looking up the track with the car in the curve.

A wintry looking photo of the car with its winter cover. It’s has an aluminum frame and a durable cover. A single fastener holds it down.

The installation hoist is on the track and loaded with a new 400 lbs. 20' long track section. Even though the curved track is the longest we’ve ever used, the installation hoist had no problems going over it.

Lift 76

We had to squeeze the lift into tight quarters, both at the top end and all the way down the track as it's so close to the ground. We took out the old concrete footings and even had to trim some stumps down to make it fit.

Looking down the track from the top end before the upper station platform was built. This shows how close to the ground we had to go and how close we came to the tree near the bottom. The left side of the track has even less ground clearance.

We had to keep the track and car as close to the hill as we could to allow access to the storage shed door and the area behind the shed. While the shed door is accessible even with the car in the lower station, the PARK button makes it easy to get the car completely out of the way but still be handy.

Lift 77

Bill Connolly Contracting was making extensive renovations to improve the integration of the cottage, garage, side yard, front yard and dock for the new owners of this cottage. We designed an upper station platform level with the external deck and the main floor level. It is connected to a ramp leading to the garage and then a set of stairs leading to the side yard where there's a fantastic play structure, to another set of stairs to the lake side yard the other way, and the lift.

The approach to the upper station from the garage or the path that runs around the garage. The cottage is to the right.

The lift as seen from the cottage. The car floor is about 8’ off the ground at this point so the gate is interlocked with the lift, the gate won’t open unless the car is stopped in the station and the car won’t leave unless the gate is closed and latched.

The middle station connects the lift with the walk-out level of the cottage. This gate is also interlocked with the lift. The car only stops here when the middle station button is pushed.

At no point does the track touch the dock, yet we use it as the lower station platform with the car floor cantilevering 4’ out from the track. In order to make everything fit we used “shallow” track for the lower 30’ rather than the “regular” track we used to build the upper 60’

Looking up the track at the finished lift.

Lift 76

When I first walked up and down the stairs, looking for the best place to locate the the lift, I wondered how we could possibly build it without damaging the existing aesthetic that was present in every detail. We worked with the owner and with Steven and Scott at Vision Contracting to choose the station locations, and therefore the track line, that integrated those stations into the landscape and the buildings. We continued to work with Steven and Scott throughout the build; while we were building the track and installing the machinery and car, Vision was building the access platforms and railings. We all finished at the same time. It turned out great.

The upper station was located in the far corner of the main level cottage deck. We set the track to preserve the pathway running off to the left. The cottage is behind the photographer..

The lift connects the main level of the cottage to the rooftop level of the boathouse.

The lower station blends beautifully into the boathouse. The owner designed the cladding on the track to blend the lift line with the cottage and Vision Contracting built it.

Take your pick, stairs or lift.

The track hardly intrudes into the natural amphitheater formed by a rock wall and the boathouse deck, an amphitheater that looks like is could be a scene at a natural history museum. The PARK button moves the car up the track 15’ where its hidden but handy.

Lift 75

9 stories separated the cottage from the water, 9 difficult stories. The lift makes frequent trips up and down safe, easy, and restful.

The top station is about 10' off the ground and protected by the interlocked gate. The station was still under construction when this photo was taken. All the machinery is inside the housing at the top of the track.

This photo gives a sense of the height and length of the track. We had to lift all but the last few sections of track into place with the gantry crane.

We added a button box post to the dock to make the lower station.

Lift 74

Without the lift the trip from the boathouse to the cottage was a daunting 9 story climb. Now it's a relaxing 2 minute ride that runs from a ground level upper station to the dock.

Imagine how this would change your cottage experience.

The upper station was tucked neatly into an unused corner of the cottage. After the track went in Lovegrove Construction built this access platform and we integrated the button boxes into a railing post. This is the 3rd lift we've designed and built for Lovegrove Construction.

The lower 113' of track was so high off the ground we needed to use the lift winch and our "installation hoist" to carry 20' sections of track to the end of the completed track. Once it’s in the right place we unbolt the new track section from the hoist, lower it into place, bolt it onto the completed track, and set up ladders. This arrangement allows us to use the new section as scaffolding to complete it’s own installation.

A view down the finished track. Once, as a test, we sat a full wine glass on the outside corner of the car railing and ran the car up and down the track without any issues.

The lower station connects to a previously unused corner of the boathouse deck. Again the craftsmen at Lovegrove designed and modified the deck and added the railing. Afterwards we integrated the control buttons into the railing post.

Lift 67

The owner of this property needed the lift so guests and family arriving by boat would not have to make a hundred foot climb to get to the cottage.

The cottage recently sold and the lift was a critical factor in the purchasers decision.

The top section was pretty tame, basically on the ground and not too steep.

The lower section was far from tame. It began about 18’ off the ground and gradually descended to the lower landing. Thanks to the network of triangular braces supporting the legs of the structure, the ride feels incredibly stable. While you're in the car, you can't even tell how high up you are.

View from the lower station.

View of the path from the car.