Floe VSD 6000 User manual

1
OWNER’S MANUAL
VSD6000, VSD6500
VSD8000 & VSD10000
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

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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 experience,
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
Letter from Wayne Floe .........................2
Important Safety Information .................3
Important Safeguards............................3-4
Certication of Boat Lift Delivery ...........5
Boat Lift Capacities................................6
Is your lift’s capacity
adequate for your boat? ...........................7
Boat Lift Dimensional Specications .....8
Drive Train & Ball Screw........................9
Advanced Switch Control ......................9
Electrical System...................................10
Batteries & Charging Options................10-11
Limit Switch Connection ........................12
Raise/Lower Main Cradle Lift Beam......12-13
Wired Remote
& Optional Wireless Remote .................13-14
Leveling Boat Lift...................................14-15
Boat Lift Installation & Removal Options .. 16
Boat Lift Wheel Kits ...............................16
Float & Roll............................................17
Full Length Bunk Set Up........................17
Determining Proper Width ......................... 18
Determining Proper Height........................ 20
Vertical Guide-In Selection & Adjustment.. 21
Selecting Guides ....................................... 21
Adjusting Guides ....................................... 21
Boat Placement/Motor Stop....................... 22
Proper Canopy Frame Positioning..............22-23
Canopy Fabric Installation......................... 24
Canopy Wind Precaution........................... 24
Canopy Fabric Removal............................ 24
Canopy Fabric Folding Instructions........... 25
Canopy Fabric Care & Cleaning................ 25
Optional Canopy Lighting Package ........... 26
Inspections & Maintenance ....................... 26-28
VSD pre-installation check list................... 30
VSD-6000, 6500, 8000, 10000
Exploded Views & Parts Lists.................... 31-41
Warranty & Registration ............................ 43-45
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
You will be killed or seriously injured if
you don’t follow instructions.
DANGER
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Your safety and the safety of others is very
important. We have provided many important
safety messages in this manual and on your dock
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 dock system. All
safety messages will be preceded
by the safety alert symbol and the word “DANGER”,
“CAUTION” or “WARNING.”
You can be killed or seriously injured if
you don’t follow instructions.
CAUTION
Failure to take appropriate action could
result in mechanical failure, product
damage and/or cause serious injury or
potential death.
WARNING
All safety messages will identify the hazard and tell you how to reduce the chance of injury.
DANGER
Never allow anyone under this lift system,
especially while it is being operated, or it is
supporting the weight of a watercraft.
Stay clear of boat lift when someone if 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 dock system.
WARNING
CAUTION
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’s 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.
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 whoever is using this product.

4
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.
WARNING
Lift must be assembled and installed
properly or mechanical failure and possible
injury may occur.
Never overload a boat lift. See capacities/
specications for important information
regarding the boat’s actual weight and boat
lift capacity limitations.
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.
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 multi-
plied and bodily injury or damage to the lift
can result.
Perform all inspections and maintenance
on a regular basis. Replace any worn parts
immediately to avoid potential lift failure.
Ensure all pulleys 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.
Never lift a tour boat with water lled ballast
bags. This extra weight will overload the lift.
Bodily injury or damage to lift system
may result if installation or removal of this
lift is attempted without rst reading and
understanding the installation and removal
section of this manual.
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 brackish 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 ow under the
main lift beam. For example, do not install
lift in bodies of water with signicant water
uctuation or large water bodies that have
excessive wave action.
The electrical system is not designed to
be substantially saturated, immersed or
submerged in water. FLOE will not be
responsible for incidental or consequential
damages resulting from electrical damages
in these situations.
This manual is intended to serve as an owner’s use and maintenance guide for a lift that has been
properly assembled by a qualied, trained professional. Detailed assembly instructions
are packaged with the lift systems.

5
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 fully
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
total 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 capacity
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
everything in that you could ever have in it when
it is parked on the boat lift. Not all manufacturers
published 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 consistently:
• 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 (Illustration C).
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
optimal boat positioning and guide you to the best lift
selection 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),
divide 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
hardware or accessories that would affect the
capacity needed.
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
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.
WARNING
MAIN CRADLE
LIFT BEAM 1
MAIN CRADLE
LIFT BEAM 2
Fig. 1
VSD-6000.......................3000 lbs
VSD-6500.......................3250 lbs
VSD-8000.......................4000 lbs
VSD-10000.....................5000 lbs
LIFT TOTAL CAPACITY
PER LIFT BEAM

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* 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-6000
VSD-6500/8000
VSD-10000
Screw-Drive
Screw-Drive
Screw-Drive
Cradle Pads
Cradle Pads
Cradle Pads
60”
60”
52”
132”
119”
132”
140”
128”
140”
126.5”
126.5”
162.5”
Max. Inside Width of Guide-ins
6000 = 115.5” / 6500/8000 = 103.5” / 10000 = 115”
Max. Inside Width of Guide-Ins
with Double Vertical Style Only
6500/8000 = 107” 0 10000 = 119”
6000 = 119”
Top of Main Cradle
Lift Beam lowers down
to 11.5” (6000) or 15”
(10000) above the lake
bottom with legs fully
retracted.
Outside Frame Width
6000 = 140” / 6500/8000 - 128”
10000 = 140”
Frame Length
(from one main lift
beam to the other)
6000 = 126.5”
6500/8000 = 126.5”
10000 = 162.5”
Outside edge of sandpad to
outside edge of sand pad:
VSD 6500/8000 = 135”
VSD 10000 = 147”
0-35”
Leveling Leg
Travel with
Standard
Legs
21.5-48.5”
Leveling Leg
Travel with
Extensions*
Bed
travel
for
6000 = 60”
6500/8000 = 60”
10000 = 52”
MODEL/
CAPACITY
LEVELING
LEG
TRAVEL
TRAVEL
WITH
EXTENSIONS*
CANOPY
OPTION
GUIDE-IN
OPTIONS
MAX INSIDE
WIDTH WITH
GUIDE-INS
WEIGHT**
VSD-6000
VSD-6500/8000
VSD-10000
0-35”
0-35”
0-35”
21.5 - 48.5”
21.5 - 48.5”
21.5 - 48.5”
24’, 26’, 28’, 30’, 32’
24’, 26’, 28’, 30’, 32’
28’, 30’, 32’, 36’
vertical
double vertical
vertical
double vertical
vertical
double vertical
115.5”
119”
103.5”
107”
115.5”
119”
747 lbs.
731 lbs.
1,010 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 resettable 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
continuously trips refer
to the trouble shooting
section 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).

10
CHECK THE FOLLOWING TO ENSURE
PROPER OPERATION OF THE
ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE
Electrical System:
1. Power wires to the batteries & motor are
properly 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
initial use and seasonally to ensure the drive
motor shuts off automatically before coming
to a hard stop. Test by approaching the upper
& lower cradle positions cautiously with quick
on/off triggers of the remote.
• If any portion of the electrical system is
submerged, 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 contra-
ctor to ensure a
safe connection.
You must have
120v/20amp
service to the
connection 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.)