How to Identify Your Boat Lift Canopy Frame Brand (Complete Guide)
If your boat lift canopy is worn out and needs replacing, the first thing you need to know is what brand of frame you have. Ordering the wrong cover is one of the most common mistakes boat owners make — and it almost always comes down to not knowing their frame brand before they order.
The good news is that most boat lift frames have distinct visual features that make them identifiable once you know what to look for. This guide covers the nine most common brands so you can figure out exactly what you have before you buy.
Why Frame Brand Matters
Replacement canopy covers are not universal. Each manufacturer builds their frames to different dimensions, with different bow shapes, end styles, and attachment systems. A cover made for a ShoreMaster will not fit a Shorestation, even though the names sound similar and the lifts may look alike from a distance.
Getting the brand right means getting a cover that fits properly, installs easily, and holds up over time. A poorly fitting cover will sag, collect water, and wear out much faster than one made for your specific frame.
Step 1: Look for a Brand Tag
Before anything else, check your frame for a manufacturer's tag or sticker. These are usually found on one of the main aluminum crossbars or on the side rails. If the tag is still readable, you're done — that's your brand.
If the tag is missing, faded, or illegible (which happens often on older lifts), move on to the visual identification steps below.
Step 2: Identify by Frame Shape
The most reliable way to identify your frame without a tag is by looking at the overall shape, specifically the end panels and the roof profile. These two features vary significantly between brands.
What to Look For (by Brand):
Beach King
Beach King frames are one of the most recognizable on the water. Look for a deep, square-bowed frame with flat ends. The depth of the canopy is a standout feature, Beach King builds some of the deepest frames available, ranging from 38 to 60+ inches deep. The ends are flat (not rounded or tapered), and the bows have a squared-off shape rather than a smooth curve. Beach King frames are constructed from heavy-wall aluminum and are bolted or welded solid, so they feel very sturdy compared to lighter competitors.
Quick ID: Deep frame + flat ends + square bows
Shoremaster
Shoremaster frames have a distinctive look that sets them apart from most other brands. The key features are rounded ends and high rounded corners — the end panels curve rather than cut off flat. Shoremaster canopies also have vent flaps built into each end, which you can usually spot even when the cover is on. Look for holes in the bows where s-hooks or bungee cords attach. The frames bolt together in the middle down the back (peak) of the frame, and there is a flat bar running the full length of the inside on both sides.
Quick ID: Rounded ends + vent flaps in ends + bungee hook holes in bows + center bolt seam at peak
Hewitt
Hewitt makes several frame styles, which can make identification a little trickier. The most common style is a tower frame with a peaked roof and a slight radius to the ends. They also produce a flat-end version with a peak. The attachment system is a key identifier, Hewitt frames use 1-inch webbing snaps at the peak where the cover attaches to the frame. If you see snap hardware running along the top center of the frame, Hewitt is a strong candidate.
Quick ID: Peaked roof with slight radius + 1" webbing snaps at peak
Porta-Dock
Porta-Dock frames look similar to Hewitt at first glance, they are also a flat-end design with a peaked roof. The distinguishing feature is again the attachment system: Porta-Dock uses 1-inch webbing snaps at the peak, just like Hewitt. The way to tell them apart is overall frame proportions and any remaining brand markings on the hardware. Porta-Dock frames tend to have a slightly shallower profile than Hewitt tower models.
Quick ID: Flat ends + peaked roof + 1" webbing snaps at peak
Shorestation
Shorestation is often confused with Shoremaster due to the similar name, but the frames look completely different. Shorestation is a shallow canopy where the ends slide into two large side rail pipes approximately 4 inches in diameter. This pipe-in-pocket system is unique and easy to spot once you know what you're looking for. Older Shorestation lifts have a different system: pockets run down the length of the sides with long metal bands inside, and the clips have sharp hooks that attach to the ribs.
Quick ID: Shallow profile + large 4" diameter side rail pipes + pocket-style end attachment
FLOE
FLOE frames have a flat-end peaked roof profile, similar in shape to Porta-Dock and Hewitt, but the attachment system is completely different and very distinctive. FLOE uses a unique proprietary attachment system, older FLOE canopies have an aluminum clamp with 2-inch elastic in black and green that can be adjusted and tensioned. They also have 1-inch webbing snaps at the peak. If you see that black-and-green elastic hardware anywhere on the frame, it's almost certainly a FLOE.
Quick ID: Flat-end peaked roof + aluminum clamp with black and green 2" elastic (older models) + 1" webbing snaps at peak
Pier Pleasure
Pier Pleasure frames have a flat-end, peaked roof profile with a slight radius at the bottom of the side panels. The roof peaks sharply at the center and the sides curve gently inward at the bottom rather than ending in a hard 90-degree angle. This subtle curve at the base of the side panels is the best visual tell. Pier Pleasure is a Minnesota-based manufacturer and is common in Midwest lake communities.
Quick ID: Flat ends + peaked roof + slight inward curve at bottom of side panels
Lakeside (LSP / Lakeshore Products)
Lakeside frames, also sold under the Lakeshore Products or LSP name, share a key feature with Shorestation: they are a shallow canopy where the ends slide into large side rail pipes roughly 4 inches in diameter. The two brands can be difficult to tell apart from this feature alone. Look for any remaining brand markings on the frame hardware or lift structure. If no markings are present and you have the pipe-pocket end system, measuring your frame carefully and comparing to size charts for both brands is the best next step.
Quick ID: Shallow profile + large 4" diameter side rail pipes (similar to Shorestation, check for brand markings to differentiate)
Newman
Newman frames are identifiable by their sloped, rounded ends. Rather than flat ends or sharply peaked ends, Newman canopy frames taper and curve at the ends in a rounded slope. The frames bolt together in the middle at the rounded peak, running down the back of the frame. This center bolt seam is visible from underneath the canopy and is a reliable identifier. Newman is less common than some of the other brands on this list, but the rounded sloped ends make them fairly easy to recognize once you know what to look for.
Quick ID: Sloped rounded ends + center bolt seam at rounded peak running down the back of the frame
Still Not Sure? Here's What to Do
If you've gone through the list and still can't pin down your brand, try these steps:
Take photos from multiple angles. Get shots of the frame ends, the roof profile from the side, the attachment hardware at the peak, and the side rails. Good photos make remote identification much easier.
Measure your frame. Measure the outside length and outside width of the canopy frame (not the fabric, it may have stretched). Common sizes like 24 x 108 or 26 x 120 can help narrow down which brands made that size.
Send us the photos. At TideCover, we help customers identify their frames every day. Send your photos to our team and we'll tell you exactly what you have and which cover you need.
Once You Know Your Brand, Here's What Comes Next
After you've identified your frame, you'll need two more pieces of information before ordering a replacement cover:
- Frame size - measure the outside length and outside width of the frame
- Fabric preference - we carry Shelter-Rite SR13, Shelter-Rite SR18, Hydrofend, Harbor-Time, and RecWater, each with different weights, warranties, and color options
Browse our Fabric & Color Guide to compare your options, or head straight to your brand's product page to find the right cover.
Still have questions? Call us at 888-465-7620 or visit our Contact page. We're happy to help you get the right cover the first time.