SAILBOAT LIFTING FOR MAINTENANCE

[MBertin]

Hi Team,

I would like to know if anyone has made a lifting device for the Sailboat (mine is a MacGregor 25)? I would like to carry out a good surface inspection of the shell and may be a refresh paint on the next spring. But the sail boat being on the trailer did not get a good access for all the surface.

Let me know,

Marc,

[CMikey]

Hello Marc,
Blocking up the 25 is an easy task. You will need a couple of timbers (4 x 6) some concrete blocks and a car floor jack. Place the blocks outside the trailer width and after you have jacked up and blocked...pull the trailer out. When you are done with the bottom job..just put the trailer back and lower the boat back on it.Take a look at the attached photo and I think you will get the idea.
If you need answers to spacific questions please feel free to ask.

Mike
Naples, Fl.

On Edit: Let me point out that I had a few large styrofoam blocks that the local boat storage yards use to set boats on when using a forklift that I put under the boat while I was working under it. They were my safety net so to speak. Boat stands would be nice...but for the few times I plan on having to bottom paint over the next few years don't justify the cost.

[johnnyonspot]

Very nice setup there. Do you have a technique for getting at the strips covered by the lumber, for instance while doing antifoul/waxing, etc.?

[CMikey]

The areas where the timbers touch the hull are free and clear when put back on the trailer and easy to reach in order to finish off the painting or waxing. Please note, on the foward timber add blocks to the top of the timber to form a "V" so as to stablize the front of the boat from wanting to roll.

Mike

[MBertin]

Mikey,

That good concept, basic and efficient. During the lifting process, are you leaving the keel down and free so it removed a good part of the weight.
After you bring it back on the trailer, no damage to the hull where it was making contact with the wood.
Once on the block, can you go inside the boat or is this too dangerous to roll. But I guess it is possible to attach the side of the boat with some rope and some camping soil stud.

Thank you for the idea.

[CMikey]

I blocked the boat with the keel up. Removed trailer. Let keel down to scrape and paint. I didn't put the keel back up until I was ready to put the trailer back. I added blocking to the center and back supports for additional support. there were no indents or depressions to the hull from this meathod that I could see. You could add additional blocking to the sides of the boat if you planned to go up inside but in my case I entered from the rear center and was very careful not to move to the side of the boat while going into the cabin to lower the keel. Good level ground is the first thing you need to find. Don't attempt this on a hill side.

Mike

[Paul S]

No doubt this will work, I would personally feel better with proper boat stands.

[craiglaforce]

They just opened a Harbor Freight in my town. Went in to check it out this evening. Say that they have some nifty racks about 110 inches high and over 8 feet wide. around 600 bucks each. 2 of them would let you sling the boat up fore and aft, just like a regular boat lift. looks way stronger than the 1 ton lift rating of each rack

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=41188

Dang, might not be quite wide enough.