Your boat lift will lift up to its stated capacity. Do not attempt to lift any more weight than the boat lift is rated for. This capacity is TOTAL weight, so make sure you are not just looking at the dry weight specified by the manufacturer. Usually that does not include fuel, water, coolers, accessories, etc. If you are unsure of the weight of your boat or you think it may be close to the lifts capacity, you can trailer your boat to a weigh station then subtract the weight of the trailer.