American Docks Works was founded by boating enthusiasts who believed there was a better way to design and build a lift system.
American Docks Works began with an idea for a better lift and has since grown to a 25,000 sf facility that has produced thousands of boat lifts for owners around the globe.
In the late 1980s, Don Haynie, owner of American Docks Works, Inc., built a prototype boat lift for his father’s 23′ Sea Ray. After some tweaking and re-designing, Don knew he had developed a better boat lift than any offered on the market. However, with the fast and unbelievable growth of the dock business, the design was tabled until the fall of 1998.
In September, 1998, Don partnered with Ernest Rogers, an avid boater with extensive knowledge of boats and welding expertise, to bring his lift design to the Upstate South Carolina lakes. After some modest equipment purchases and further fine-tuning of the design, the first lift rolled out for sale in early 1999. From that first lift built in a one-bay shop area, American Docks Works has grown to a 25,000-square-foot fabrication plant with thousands of lifts on the water. In fact, that prototype lift of the late 1980s is still operating today. Although many of the lift components and materials have been further improved, the design functions of that original lift are still being used.
Don Haynie, working in the financial, marketing, and sales end of the business, and Ernest Rogers, in charge of fabrication, delivery, installation, and quality control, have proved to be a winning combination. Be assured that when choosing a American Docks Works, you are purchasing a custom boat lift designed and installed for you by the original owners, owners that will stand behind their product and guarantee 100% satisfaction.
