Hi Paul,
This isnt particularly an unusual thing to do; there are crane companies
that specialise in this sort of thing. If there are none in your area, then
just call around and when talking to them make sure they've got plenty of
long soft slings and spreaders for their chains. This is what keeps the
chains nice and wide.

Since the boat is in the water and the crane probably cant get right up
close ot it you'll have to get a crane with a better capacity than
required - the further away you get from the crane, the more the lifting
capacity is reduced. Aim for about a 50 tonner would be my guess. In
Australia, a 50 tonne slew crane costs about $180/hour including the
operator, plus whatever time it takes to drive to and from your site.
smaller cranes really arent much cheaper.

Best regards,
Shaun


"Paul Wiggins" wrote in message
...
GOt a bit of a challege ahead. Splashing my 1959 40' CC SeaSkiff into a
river. The bank is steep and 20' high. I'll need to remove the boat prior
to winter and after te spring floods (we've had back to back 100year
floods).

Boat is 18KLbs. Lapstrake with a solid hull. I've heard all the stories
about being able to lift a boat by the Samson pole... but I'm assuming
thets not the case.

Two options seem to exist:
1) design a strap harness that will enable a honking big crane (20 ton?)
to literally lift the boat out level and place it on new cradles.
Designing the harness such that it doesn't crush the keel or the sides of
the boat will be a challenge.

2) build a one-trick-pony trailer that will ride on old railroad rails.
Two challenges are the dramatic angle change from level water to 50degree
bank... and then at the top... another transition to level yard.

In writing this... I think the Crane idea is the best... simple, not too
costly, and I'll need one anyways to lift my docks in and out every year.

Any other approaches I'm not thinking of?

thankd so much.