Floe VSD 3800 User manual

1
OWNER’S MANUAL
VSD-3800, VSD-5000
& VSD-5000 for pontoons
24 volt DC / 120 volt AC
Boat Lift Systems
(patented Easy-Level Leg System)
Read and follow all safety rules and operating instructions
carefully before attempting to install or operate lift system.
ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION
Visit our website at www.floeintl.com
Retain this manual for future reference
Watch our customized boat lift setup and installation video:
www.floeintl.com/manuals-information

2
Congratulations on the purchase of your new FLOE Boat Lift!
Like you, I enjoy many kinds of waterfront activities, and I know that to have fun I
need to keep my boat secure, protected, and accessible. Through my years of experi-
ence, I’ve learned how boat lifts should not only protect your watercraft investment,
but also be convenient and easy to use - and I have developed them accordingly.
The fact that you purchased a FLOE boat lift tells me that you research a product
thoroughly. You will nd a FLOE boat lift has many innovative features that will ensure
years of dependable service, satisfaction, and enjoyment.
Because your FLOE boat lift is engineered to lift and support a tremendous amount of weight, it is critical that you operate
it safely. Anyone who operates this lift must read the entire owner’s manual before operating the lift to make sure they are
able to operate it properly and enjoy all of its features to the fullest. See you on the water!
Wayne Floe , CEO - FLOE International
Important Safety Information .................2-4
Letter from Wayne Floe .........................2
Certicate of Boat Lift Pre-delivery........5
Boat Lift Capacities................................6-7
Boat Lift Dimensional Specications .....8
Drive Train & Ball Screw........................9
Power System .......................................10-11
Limit Switch ...........................................12
How to Raise & Lower Lift .....................12
Wired Remote........................................13
Wireless Remote .................................. 14
Leveling Boat Lift...................................14-15
Boat Lift Installation & Removal Options ..16
Boat Lift Wheel Kits ...............................16
Float & Roll............................................17
Insta-Float..............................................17
Full Length Bunk Set Up........................17-18
Cradle Pad System................................18
Pontoon Guide-In/Bunk System ............19-20
Carpeted Guide-In System........................ 20
Vertical Guide-In Selection & Adjustment ..21
Adjusting Guides ....................................... 21
Boat Placement/Motor Stop....................... 22
Proper Canopy Frame Positioning ............ 22-23
Telescopic Canopy End Frame Adjustment 23
Canopy Fabric Installation......................... 23-24
Canopy Wind Precaution........................... 24
Canopy Fabric Removal............................ 25
Canopy Fabric Folding Instructions........... 25
Canopy Fabric Care & Cleaning................ 25
Optional Canopy Lighting Package ........... 26
Inspections & Maintenance ....................... 26-29
VSD Kit Troubleshooting ........................... 29-30
VSD-3800 Parts List.................................. 31
VSD-3800 Exploded View ......................... 32-33
VSD-5000 Parts List.................................. 34
VSD-5000 Exploded View ......................... 35-36
Warranty and Registration......................... 37-38
CONTENTS
It may also be benecial to view the lift portion of
FLOE’s marine video, “A Look Into FLOE Dock & Lift
Systems.” See it on our website in streaming video.
Please retain this manual for future reference

3
This manual includes the latest information at the
time it was printed. We reserve the right to make
changes in the product after that time without
notice. Keep this manual so it will be available
to who ever is using this product.
3
While operating the lift, keep all body parts, long
hair, loose clothing and jewelry away from all
moving parts, including (but not limited to) the
drive-train mechanism, cables, pulleys and lift
platform.
Be sure the lift cradle is completely lowered
before any adjustments or repairs are made to
the winch.
Always keep all people clear of the boat lift support
structure and lifting cradle. Never swim or play near a
boat lift, even if it is not being operated.
Make sure the boat lift is completely clear of
people or other obstructions prior to operating.
Do not operate a boat lift with people inside the
boat.
Never operate a boat lift with protective cover
removed from drive train system.
Never allow anyone on or under this lift system,
especially while it is being operated, or it is sup-
porting the weight of a watercraft.
Stay clear of boat lift when someone is entering
or exiting the lift with a boat. Never try to assist
the boat’s direction while it is in motion (either
from inside or outside the boat).
Never work on or make adjustments to boat,
boat lift or boat lift accessories while the lift is
supporting the weight of the boat.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
Read and follow all safety rules and operating instructions carefully
before attempting to install and operate lift system
DANGER CAUTION
WARNING
You will be killed or seriously injured if
you don’t follow instructions.
You can be killed or seriously injured if
you don’t follow instructions.
Failure to take appropriate action
could result in mechanical failure,
product damage and/or
cause serious injury or potential death.
Your safety and the safety of others is very important. We have
provided many important safety messages in this manual and on
your lift system. Always read and obey all safety messages.
If you do not understand any of these instructions,
please ask your dealer or call FLOE Customer Service at
218-426-3563 or toll free 800-336-6337.
This is the safety alert symbol. This symbol alerts you to
hazards that can cause serious injury or potential death to
you and others, plus damage to the lift system. All safety
messages will be preceded by the safety alert symbol and
the word “DANGER”, “CAUTION” or “WARNING.”
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
All safety messages will identify the hazard and tell you how to reduce the chance of injury.
DANGER
CAUTION
WARNING

4
If this unit is equipped with a canopy, severe wind
damage may occur if the lift is not securely held
down to the lake bottom by screw anchors or by
some other means.
FLOE lift systems have not been tested in brack-
ish or salt water conditions. Lift failures due to
installations in brackish or salt water locations will
not be covered by FLOE’s warranty. FLOE will
not be responsible for incidental or consequential
damages resulting from these installations.
Never install the lift system in a body of water
whereas either the rising water or wave action
will not always flow under the main lift beam. For
example, do not install lift in bodies of water with
significant water fluctuation or large water bodies
that have excessive wave action.
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Lift must be assembled and installed properly or
mechanical failure and possible injury may occur.
Never overload a boat lift. See capacities/specifi-
cations for important information regarding the
boat’s actual weight and boat lift capacity limita-
tions.
Never operate a boat lift that is not level. Under
normal conditions a boat lift operates under
extreme force. When the lift is not level, these
forces are greatly multiplied and bodily injury or
damage to the lift can result.
Perform all inspections and maintenance on a
regular basis. Replace any worn parts immedi-
ately to avoid potential lift failure. Ensure all pul-
leys are operating properly and that all cables
and their attach points are secure and free of
excessive wear and fraying. See Inspections &
Maintenance section for all important details.
Bodily injury or damage to lift system may result
if installation or removal of this lift is attempted
without first reading and understanding the instal-
lation and removal section of this manual.
WARNING
This manual is intended to serve as an owner’s use and maintenance guide for a lift that has been
properly assembled by a qualified, trained professional. Detailed assembly instructions
are packaged with the lift systems.
If the boat lift system is not assembled, installed, or operated properly, mechanical failure,
as well as serious injury or death, could result. See to it that all users understand
that this lift system is a piece of heavy equipment that requires the use of good
judgement and the knowledge of its dangers and limitations.

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Certicate of
Boat Lift Pre-Delivery
All dealers should have reviewed the checklist below with retail customers upon
purchase of a boat lift. If they did not cover this, retail customers must review
thoroughly and understand the statements below.
Date of Purchase ______/______/______ Boat Lift Model ______________________________________
Customer Delivery: Each item must be initialed by the selling dealer upon sale.
______ I understand that the boat lift must be properly assembled and must be tested prior to use with a boat.
______ I understand that a serious injury or death could occur if a boat lift is overloaded, not correctly assembled,
installed, maintained or not used properly.
______ I was given an owner’s manual and I promise to read and understand it before using the boat lift.
______ I understand that it is my responsibility to get clarication on anything in the owner’s manual that I don’t fullly
understand before using the lift system.
______ I understand that I must educate all persons who will be around or using my boat lift as to how to do so safely.
______ I understand that people must stay clear of the boat lift when it is supporting the weight of the boat. No one
should ever swim under it, be on it, in the boat, or in any position that could cause harm to them if the lift
were to suddenly drop.
______ I understand safe operation of the lift requires people to stay clear of moving parts and pinch points.
______ I understand that a boat lift should never be overloaded under any circumstance. A boats published dry
weight is usually substantially lower than its actual loaded weight. Your boat should be weighed with fuel,
water, batteries and contents in order to know its actual weight.
______ I understand the total capacity of the boat lift is equal to the combination load limit of the two main end lift
beams. For instance, a lift with a 5,000 pound capacity has a load limit of 2,500 per lift end beam.
______ I understand that a 5,000 pound total boat weight could easily over-load one of the main lift beams on a
5,000 pound capacity lift. For instance, if the boat was positioned so that one main lift beam supported 3,000
pounds and the other only supported 2,000 pounds, the lift would be over-loaded. For this reason, FLOE
recommends that your total loaded boat weight doesn’t exceed 85% of the lifts rated capacity and that you
locate and place the boat’s center of gravity (balance point) in the center of the two lift beams.
______ I understand that the boat lift needs to be installed level and must be kept level while it is in use. A lift that
isn’t level will have a reduced lifting capacity of 5% per 1” of being out of level.
______ I understand that I need to pull the drain plug on my boat if it is subject to water accumulation as this could
easily overload the boat lift.
______ I understand that I should never lift my boat if it has been swamped or has any signicant additional water
weight in it that will overload the boat lift’s capacity.
______ I understand that if my lift is equipped with a canopy it must be properly secured or it could blow over and
cause damage not covered under warranty.
______ I understand that I must discontinue using the lift immediately and contact my FLOE dealer if any unusual
sounds or functionality are present.
______ I understand I must follow all inspection and maintenance procedures as outlined in my owner’s manual.
Selling Dealership Name_________________________________________________________________________
Selling Dealership Signature_______________________________________________________________________
Print Name
Customer Signature_____________________________________________________________________________
Print Name

6
LIFT CAPACITIES
It’s recommended that the total loaded weight of
the water craft doesn’t exceed 75-85% of the to-
tal lift capacity. The total capacity of a lift is the
combined capacity of each of the boat lifts two
main lifting beams.
Never exceed the weight capacity of either main
lift beam. For instance a 5,000 lb capacity boat lift
is limited to 2,500 lbs for each main lift beam. It is
very easy for a 4,000 lb boat to exceed the capac-
ity of a 5,000 lb boat lift by not parking on the lift in
the correct position.
BEFORE PUTTING A BOAT ON THE
LIFT YOU NEED TO KNOW THREE
VERY IMPORTANT THINGS:
1. Determine the total loaded boat weight?
Weigh your boat loaded with fuel, water and ev-
erything in that you could ever have in it when it is
parked on the boat lift. Not all manufacturers pub-
lished boat weights are accurate because they
don’t account for motors, gear, fuel, water, etc.
2. Determine the boats center of gravity or CG?
A boat’s CG is the location under the boat hull
which the boat will balance if sitting on a narrow
object ((Illustration A). Your dealer or the manu-
facturer of the boat should be able to help you
locate the boat’s CG. Be sure that the motor and
gear weight have been taken into consideration.
Never exceed the lift’s rated capacity. Doing
so could cause structural/mechanical failure
and serious injury or death.
WARNING
3. Determine that the boats center of gravity (CG)
is centered between the two main lift beams
The boat should be parked so that the boat’s CG
or balance point is centered between the two
main lift beams (Illustration B). Each of the lift
beams should be supporting the same amount of
weight.
Once you know that your boat is well within the
boat lifts rated capacity and the location of the
boat’s CG develop a positioning method that will
ensure that all users of the boat lift will park with
the Boat’s CG in the center of the lift. Here are a
couple of suggestions to do this consitently:
• Use a motor stop.
• Note the proper location of the boat on the lift
and use some sort of marking system or labels.
• If equipped with canopy, center the canopy
over the boat when the boat’s CG is in the
center of the lift, park with the boat centered
under the canopy.
• You can even hang an object such as a
tennis ball so it just touches the windshield
when the boat is properly positioned.
If your boat is not positioned properly, you can
extremely overload one of the main lifting beams
(See Illustration C, below).
Illustration A: above shows the boat’s balance
point of center of gravity (CG).
x
Illustration B: shows the boat’s center of gravity
(CG) centered between the two main lift beams
– each of the lift beams is supporting the same
amount of weight.
Illustration C: shows a boat’s center of gravity
(CG) improperly positioned so that it extremely
overloads one of the main lifting beams.

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HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOUR LIFT’S
TOTAL CAPACITY IS ADEQUATE FOR
YOUR BOAT
One way to determine whether the lift’s capac-
ity is adequate is to log onto FLOE’s website,
www.oeintl.com, and click on the Boat Lift
Selector program. This program will calculate opti-
mal boat positioning and guide you to the best lift se-
lection for your boat. It even has a link that will help
you determine the weight of your craft. Your dealer
can also assist you in making the best choice.
The following simple exercise is a second, but
less accurate way, to manually determine the lift
capacity needed for your boat:
1. Obtain the boat’s actual total weight including
motor, fuel, water, equipment, accessories, etc.
2. Subtract the weight of the motor and fuel from
this number.
3. Take the boat’s weight, (the result of step 2), di-
vide it in half and add the weight of the motor and
fuel to that number. This number is the approximate
weight that the rear lift beam will need to support.
4. Take this number and multiply by two. This will
equal the approximate minimum rated lift capacity
needed for the boat.
For instance: If the boat is an I/O that has a total
loaded weight of 2900 lbs. and the fuel, motor and
lower unit weigh approx. 800 lbs. it would be calcu-
lated as follows:
• 2900 - 800 = a boat only weight of 2100 lbs.
• 2100 / 2 = 1050 lbs. This is the approximate
boat weight that will be supported by each lift
beam (not including motor and fuel).
• 1050 + 800 = 1850. This is the approximate
actual weight that the rear beam will need to
support.
• 1850 x 2 = 3700. This is the minimum overall
boat lift capacity needed.
This example does not include any additional hard-
ware or accessories that would affect the capacity
needed.
If watercraft is open to the accumulation
of rain water, be sure boat’s drain plug is
pulled. Additional water weight may cause
the maximum lift capacity to be exceeded,
resulting in potential lift damage or bodily injury.
This is a guideline only. It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure capacities are not exceeded.
You must weigh your boat fully loaded,
including fuel, gear, etc. to get its accurate
weight. It is common for published dry weights
to be considerably lower than actual loaded
weights. Lift and/or boat damage due to
overloading is not covered by your warranty.
WARNING
WARNING
VSD-5000
Each lift beam has a total capacity of 2500 lbs and is
rated to support one-half of the lift’s total capacity.
MAIN CRADLE
LIFT BEAM 1
MAIN CRADLE
LIFT BEAM 2
Fig. 1

8
* Deep water extensions available. ** Does not include the weight of the bunks, guides, or other accessories.
LIFT DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATIONS Specications may change without notice.
MODEL/
CAPACITY
DRIVE TRAIN BUNKS BED
TRAVEL
INSIDE
WIDTH
OUTSIDE
WIDTH
FRAME
LENGTH
VSD-3800-lb.
& VSD-5000-lb
Screw-Drive Full Length Bunks
Cradle Pad Pivot Bunks
Pontoon Full Length Bunk
or Cradle Pad Systems
52” 116.5” 122.5” 109.5”
Max. Inside Width of Guide-ins
(Single Vertical or Horizontal With Vertical Bum-
pers) 102”
104.5”
Max. Inside Width of Double Vertical
Guide-in Style Only
Top of Main Cradle
Lift Beam lowers down
to 9.5” above the lake
bottom with legs fully
retracted.
122.5”
Outside
Frame Width
109.5”
Frame Length
(from one main
lift beam to the
other)
Outside edge of sandpad to
outside edge of sand pad 129”
0-30” Leveling Leg Travel
with Standard Legs
28.5-50.5”
Leveling Leg
Travel with
Extensions*
Bed
travel
for
VSD-
3800
& VSD-
5000
52”
MODEL/
CAPACITY
LEVELING
LEG TRAVEL
TRAVEL WITH
EXTENSIONS
CANOPY
OPTION GUIDE-IN
OPTIONS
MAX INSIDE
WIDTH WITH
GUIDE-INS WEIGHT**
VSD-3800-lb.
& VSD-5000-lb
0-30” 28.5” - 50.5” 22’, 24’, 26’,
28’, 30’
Horizontal with
Vertical Bumpers
Single Vertical
Double Vertical
102”
102”
104.5”
486 lbs.
536 lbs.

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Limit Switch
Ball Nut
Galvanized
Steel
Lifting Cable
Rotating Screw
The drive train simply spins
the
screw so that the ball nut
travels back and forth as it
pulls the lifting cable.
Fig. 3
DRIVE TRAIN & BALL SCREW
This boat lift is equipped with FLOE’s exclusive
Vertical Screw Drive (VSD) drive train technolo-
gy. The VSD system replaces the common winch
style drive-train common to most
boat lifts. It uses a DC or AC powered, high-torque
electric motor along with a ball-screw and ball-nut
mechanism. See Fig. 2.
When operated, the motor turns the ball-screw,
allowing the ball-nut to travel back and forth
along the screw. This raises and lowers the lift as
shown in Fig. 3.
Maintenance and trouble-shooting tips for the
exclusive drive-train system are addressed later
in this manual.
This efcient drive train has enabled FLOE to
design a lift for mid-sized boats that is easily
powered by a 24-Volt battery system or a 120-
Volt AC power system, and to develop a line of
optional accessories to keep the batteries charged
effortlessly.
To prepare your VSD lift for operation, you should
rst understand the basics for setting up the
electrical features of the lift, and especially the
importance of the limit switch safety feature.
Fig. 2
Drive Train
Power Unit
& Ball Screw
ADVANCED SWITCH CONTROL (ASC)
The electrical connection panel (Fig. 4) is located
on a separate box. It is designed to allow for easy
hook up of standard and optional components as
well as the resetting of tripped circuits.
• The black wire is for the limit switch.
• The blue wire is for the wired remote/key switch.
• The yellow wire is for the wireless receiver.
The resetable circuit breakers are designed to
trip if there is a short in the wires. The DC version
has one reset for the radio remote receiver and
the optional ood lights.
The AC version has two
resets, one for the radio
remote receiver and op-
tional ood lights and the
other reset is for the drive
motor. If one trips you can
reset it by pressing in the
reset button (Fig.5). If it
contiously trips refer to
the trouble shooting sec-
tion of this book.
Black Wire
Limit Switch
Yellow Wire
Wireless
Receiver
Blue Wire
Wired Remote
Fig 5
Reset
Advanced Switch Control (ASC) 24 volt DC
powered unit (above).

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CHECK THE FOLLOWING TO ENSURE
PROPER OPERATION OF THE
ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE
Electrical System:
1. Power wires to the batteries & motor are prop-
erly connected, corrosion free & tight.
2. Batteries are fully charged. When tested a 12
volt battery will have between 12.7 and 13.8 volts.
3. Limit Switch is connected to 13-in. plug.
4. Wired Remote/Key Switch is connected to
10” plug.
5. Wireless Receiver (optional) is connected to
7” plug.
Important:
• Test the upper & lower limit switches before ini-
tial use and seasonally to ensure the drive motor
shuts off automatically before coming to a hard
stop. Test by approaching the upper & lower cra-
dle positions cautiously with quick on/off triggers
of the remote.
• If any portion of the electrical system is sub-
merged, please refer to the owner’s manual for
corrective action.
Cable Note:
• Ensure that cradle travels freely to the bottom
of the lift and keeps tension on lifting cable at all
times.
120 VOLT AC WARNING
For the AC power
connection please
contact a licensed
electrical contrac-
tor to ensure a
safe connection.
You must have
120v/20amp ser-
vice to the con-
nection on VSD
drive train.
Keep the cables from the connection panel
inside the battery boxes by running them through
the rst box, and then into the second. The white
battery interconnect wire should also be neatly
contained within the battery boxes (Fig. 8).
SELECTING THE BATTERIES
FOR 24-VOLT DC MODELS
Batteries are not included with the lift system. The
recommended bat-
teries (Fig. 6) are two
12-Volt, deep-cycle,
Group 27 (case size),
with 600 cold cranking
amps and stud post ter-
minals with wing nuts.
An Interstate SRM-27
meets this criteria.
CONNECTING THE BATTERIES
The DC lift comes standard with two battery trays
and plastic battery boxes, as well as the wiring
kit to connect them to the lift’s control panel. The
two 12-volt batteries connect together in series
to create a 24-volt system. It is important that
the two deep-cycle batteries are connected to
the cables leading from the electrical connection
panel exactly as shown in Fig. 7 below. This 24-
volt system will reduce the amperage draw on the
batteries, and maximize battery life.
Batteries that are improperly connected
can cause damage to the lift system,
the batteries, and a potential explosion.
WARNING
black ring connector red ring connector
Fig. 7
24 Volt System
Fig. 8 Battery
Boxes & Trays
(Note how
cabling is neatly
stowed and
completely
contained within
the battery
boxes.)