WHEW!!! Ziggy, thanks for that advice. My thoughts exactly. Paul and the guys gave excellent advice, but as I follow this thread, and others by Sergy, I cant help but think (with no disrespect intended Sergy) that he is on a pretty steep
learning curve. I realise we all had to start somewhere, but directing the
removal of a 50ft spar is not something I did until I had assisted riggers many times.
The spar on my Rhodes Reliant is 47ft of Douglas Fir, and I still hold my breath when it lifts out of the
deck step.
My first conversation is always to determine the experience level of the crane operator and hear him express what he thinks will happen when he lifts.
The answers are sometimes quite suprising.
My travel
lift operator, who is a close personal friend, asked me why I always walked to the other side of the yard when he was lifting my 12 tons. I told him that if I wanted to be in the business of
charging people to lift their boats, I would have my own lift. He double-checked my straps.