Lifting a boat, sans Crane

[Fiveslide]

I'm thinking about buying a boat, 23' long, 8' beam, about 2800 pounds. It has a short keel nearly the full LWL. I have a trailer and can cobble together a cradle for transport. However, a crane rental at each end of the trip will put the costs beyond what I'm willing to part with for the boat.

I'm trying to think of an inexpensive way to lift it a couple of feet, back my trailer under it and lower it. I'd like to build something myself.

Thoughts? Any of you have a system you have used/built?

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

I'm thinking about buying a boat, 23' long, 8' beam, about 2800 pounds. It has a short keel nearly the full LWL. I have a trailer and can cobble together a cradle for transport. However, a crane rental at each end of the trip will put the costs beyond what I'm willing to part with for the boat.

I'm trying to think of an inexpensive way to lift it a couple of feet, back my trailer under it and lower it. I'd like to build something myself.

Thoughts? Any of you have a system you have used/built?

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

have been using this system for years...it is called the tide,very easy to access using tide tables.......here Tide Times | Tide Times

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by atoll

have been using this system for years...it is called the tide,very easy to access using tide tables.......here Tide Times | Tide Times

Oops. The boat is in a back yard. Nowhere near the water.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[a64pilot]

know anybody with a backhoe? Or just build something like two swing sets, 2800 lbs isn't that much

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

Oops. The boat is in a back yard.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

same principle but with a bit more stuff,get yourself some square welded mesh,and some heavy duty tarpaulings. and steel cables for reinforciong the mesh

park trailer next to the boat then build mesh enclosure around boat and trailer,cover mesh with tarpaulins and bottom of enclosure as best as you can.

bring garden hose and fill enclosure with water,or fire hydrant hose ,works faster,once boat floats move it above trailer,let water out,dismantle enclosure .....drive off with boat on trailer.

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by atoll

same principle but with a bit more stuff,get yourself some square welded mesh,and some heavy duty tarpaulings. and steel cables for reinforciong the mesh

park trailer next to the boat then build mesh enclosure around boat and trailer,cover mesh with tarpaulins and bottom of enclosure as best as you can.

bring garden hose and fill enclosure with water,or fire hydrant hose ,works faster,once boat floats move it above trailer,let water out,dismantle enclosure .....drive off with boat on trailer.

I think I will just build one of these 715 miles long and sail her home.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

know anybody with a backhoe? Or just build something like two swing sets, 2800 lbs isn't that much

I was thinking about some swingset type devices with a pair of 1 ton hoists.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[oceannavigator]

Engine hoists work.

[Andrew Troup]

Faced with the exact same problem we borrowed a couple of small gantry frames (inverted U) and chainblocks from a local steel fabricator, temporarily erected them over the boat, braced with diagonal ropes to stop them laying down and restrained back to trees and towballs on vehicles.

[nimblemotors]

First you need to trailer the boat the Montana, then you can rent a crane cheap.
At 2800lbs, maybe a crane isn't really needed, they have forklifts that can pick up that kind of weight, maybe two of them one each side would do it for smaller ones.

Build a couple tall A frames and a winch, more work required, and now have to disassemble and get rid of the frames.

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

Faced with the exact same problem we borrowed a couple of small gantry frames (inverted U) and chainblocks from a local steel fabricator, temporarily erected them over the boat, braced with diagonal ropes to stop them laying down and restrained back to trees and towballs on vehicles.

Ah, they have a name, gantry frames. And borrowing them locally would be ideal. Thank you for this idea and expanding my vocabulary by a word.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[mariner36bob]

A 2 ton gantry would do ya. Can be built, disassembled, transported on same trailer and rebuilt in new location.

Two one ton chain falls, two A frames and one header between the A frames.

[mariner36bob]

Uh, yeah what he said. I type slow. Sorry for the double tap.

[jeanathon]

Boom truck. Sometimes you can get them as cheap as 100 an hour. Some of them will lift 20000 pounds.

[SkiprJohn]

If you truly do want to do it yourself we just did it with an International Folkboat 26 using two 4x10 beams on 4 metal house jacks. Strap the boat with slings or heavy line then put jacks under the keel. As you raise the boat, crank up the house jacks until you get high enough to back the trailer under. Brace what you have fore and aft and on the outside of this frame before backing your trailer. Keep an eye on safety.
A boom truck is easier but watch where the slings are put because you don't want to oil can the sides.