Lifting a 30ft-er on Cradle onto a Flatbed (without a crane)

[bobfromcanada]

I don't know if he'll go as far as Hamilton for a pick up, but he has a pretty nice hydraulic trailer, insurance and permits, knows what he's doing and is pretty careful with the boats. You indicate that the boat was originally placed with a hydraulic trailer, so load and unload should be easy. Try giving Ed Pursey a call:

Purseys Yacht Portage Ltd
881 William St
Cobourg, ON K9A 3B1
905-372-2901

[fatherchronica]

A little off topic, but I was a framing contractor in mostly Los Angeles all my life and moved giant things, usually wood, with jacks and wedges and other brilliant Archmedean ways. Me an a laborer once moved a 60 foot glu lam beam to the back of Tommy Lasorda's Pasta restaurant with 2 skateboards because there was no way a crane could get close enough and raised it 10 feet into it's position in a day using a pile of 2x4 blocks. I always told onlookers during my life that in a past life I built pyramids. I know I could figure it out and I believe you have figured it out, and I hope you can show us a slide show when you do it. But, and I know you know this, be careful, when in doubt stop until you are happy with your next move and don't hurry. Good luck

[captlloyd]

I jacked up my 64 foot steel hull and welded a semi rear axel into the bow section and a fifth wheel assembly into the stern. Backed a semi into the fifth wheel and off we went, 40 miles. Of course I had to have a police escort and permit but no problems.
As you go up with your load just stabilize everything so nothing gets away from you fore or aft. Given the short distances you are going I might not risk dealing with the government entities, “ outlaw here “ but that is your call. I always plead ignorance which if pretty honest. Go slow around those curves and corners ! You can do it, good luck and let us know how it turned out.

[skipper53]

I loaded two O'Day 22s into a 45 shipping container using two Pettibone fork lifts. Pretty much the same for loading a San Juan 24 and it's cradle onto a flat bed trailer.

Would think your laminated beams will be sufficient. Or, maybe you can find large timbers 10x10 or 12x12 ......

[ebisucapt]

I see 2 problems with your plan. Not sure PL is a good choice as if the glue don't get air it can take days, weeks even for it to set up. and second will 12' be long enough for cribbing and still get the trailer under it? I did similar with my boat at 7000lbs. but it as on a trailer and needed to get the trailer out from under it. I pulled the trailer up on boards used 2- 4x12s on the front 14'long the trailer barely made it out between the cribbing. For the back made a heavy duty saw horse.


Greg

[Dave22q]

The adage 'penny wise and pound foolish' comes to mind. Firstly, I doubt your insurance will cover losses on your DIY operation. Sure, all may go smoothly but you never know. The dollars involved underscore my opinion, hire a pro. If 2 G's upsets you how are you handling a refit at 20 G's or more.
Get over it, sailing is not a poor man's game. There's a lot of truth in B,O.A.T.

[LouK]

If you’re near a boatyard, why not see if you can rent some of their jack stands? Raise and block, drive trailer under and place on more jack stands. Use steel channels with u-bolts to secure the stands to each other. Deliver & reverse process. You’ll have to coordinate the spacing of the stands with the width of the trailer, but hey it might work out.

[bruceb]

I think everybody that has never done this needs to step back and take a breath!
Around many boat yards, the "Pyramid" method is common if not the preferred method of moving boats on shipping cradles. Around Atlanta, several dealers and haulers moved dozens of sailboats every year ranging from around 5000-20000 lbs the same way, to and from our lots to the local lakes, in and out of indoor boat shows, and sometimes even ramp launched them. Over a 20 year period, I don't recall any issues.

With some sense and experience, I think we all considered it to be the safest way, while cranes, forklifts and even travel lifts had accidents.

Of note- we used a pair welded steel pipe "saw horses" for the "front" of the load for support as they were much more stable if tapped with the trailer, and we used a 12' wide flange steel beam for lifting since it was more stable on the flats. The horses had a steel peg on each end to keep the beam from slipping off. I don't like your wooden beam very well, it can turn on it's side too easily. We tightly chained the beam to the cradle. You have to know where your CG is and make sure it lands properly on the trailer and never get one end too high in relation to the other, even it it requires multiple lifts.

Your equipment needs to be in perfect condition- no old chain, stands or jacks and with plenty of safety margin. Your 2x4 stands look a little shaky to me!
When anything fails during a lift, it is not usually slowly- more like an explosion!! Keep all body parts and people out of the way! There is no way to move clear fast enough if it starts to come down!
We often towed with a similar sized rig, on a reasonably flat tow, the truck makes less difference than using a trailer strong enough (oversize?) that it won't flex very much, and with good well balanced working brakes. I don't trust anything but chain and proper commercial chain tensioners to tie the cradle to the trailer.

Be careful!
Bruce

[xxxxx]

Done


Thanks folks!


(Edit: For anyone interested, those ratchet straps are only there to suspend the beam up against the underside of the cradle. They're non-loadbearing.)

[xxxxx]

Originally Posted by bruceb

I think everybody that has never done this needs to step back and take a breath!


...


Be careful!

Agreed

[xxxxx]

Originally Posted by BugzyCan

And you can do all of this for less than $750?

I'm happy to say I was



Also, that quote fell through...the provider was unable to do it. So, I was left between 2x$1500 or 2x$3,819... plus tax.

[xxxxx]

Originally Posted by robwilk37

easy to over think this job, i spent waaaay too much time and worry before just biting the bullet and getting it done. if youre worried about wood beams (maybe use LVLs or gluelams?) just grab square steel tube or I-beam from the local metals yard.

Agreed on this also. I spent weeks stressing about what to do.


I ended up going the I-beam method.


Thanks for the reality check, and the materials suggestion.


It really isn't rocket surgery at the end of the day.

[xxxxx]

Originally Posted by Dave22q

The adage 'penny wise and pound foolish' comes to mind...Get over it, sailing is not a poor man's game.

Thanks Dave!

[xxxxx]

Originally Posted by fatherchronica

A little off topic, but I was a framing contractor in mostly Los Angeles all my life and moved giant things, usually wood, with jacks and wedges and other brilliant Archmedean ways. Me an a laborer once moved a 60 foot glu lam beam to the back of Tommy Lasorda's Pasta restaurant with 2 skateboards because there was no way a crane could get close enough and raised it 10 feet into it's position in a day using a pile of 2x4 blocks. I always told onlookers during my life that in a past life I built pyramids. I know I could figure it out and I believe you have figured it out, and I hope you can show us a slide show when you do it. But, and I know you know this, be careful, when in doubt stop until you are happy with your next move and don't hurry. Good luck

A sincere thank you for the thoughtful and encouraging response fatherchronica.


I'm happy to hear there are (several) other people on this forum who see solutions to problems, other than tossing money at them. That's what I was looking for when I started this thread.


Safety and cost are not mutually inclusive. Surely not everyone can just "break out another thousand" each time they run into a problem.



I am committed to safety, and I would never undertake something I didn't feel confident doing.


Work slow. Work safe. Step back and "zoom out" on the project every few "moves". Ask for help, and get another set of eyes on it to see what you might be missing. Many hands make light work, and safe work.



Smooth sailing brother, and again, thank you for taking the time to reply!

[xxxxx]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Given the short distances you are going I might not risk dealing with the government entities, “ outlaw here “ but that is your call. I always plead ignorance which if pretty honest. Go slow around those curves and corners ! You can do it, good luck and let us know how it turned out.

Thanks for the encouragement LLoyd!