Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

From other members of the news group thoughts and
experience am I missing something or is this something
that can be carried out providing there is care with
a reasonable degree of ease and safety.

The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
sides at about 45 degrees to hold the boat upright
so the support pads on the wintering cradle can be
lowered to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.

The boat weight is around 10 ton with a 50 foot
plus mast and a moderate keel that is level bottom.

All thoughts very much appreciated I have not seen
or done or attempted any thing like this before.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

I've done this when I beach my boat for bottom scrubbing or when I'm on a
"Grid". (If I'm on a Grid, there is usually a set of pilings to lean
against on one side but it is still a good idea to run a halyard off that
side to make sure she has a list in the direction of the piling as the tide
goes out.)

You should be ok on the hard, however it might depend on how your boat is
built. If it is an older wooden boat, you may need the support of stands to
help keep her shape. The frame and keel structure relies on support
distributed over the entire under water surface, not just the keel. The keel
should support only about 50% while the side supports the remainder.. (this
is a general rule of thumb for steel ships in dry dock.)

If your boat is fiberglass and has a fin or attached keel, you also should
be using a cradle of boat stands. Even then you need support of the stem and
stern.

There should be no problem using the mast and rigging to keep the boat
upright, as long as she is landed and maintained in a vertical conditions. I
wouldn't recommend moving a lot of fuel or weight around if your just
holding her with halyards.

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

I've done this when I beach my boat for bottom scrubbing or when I'm on a
"Grid". (If I'm on a Grid, there is usually a set of pilings to lean
against on one side but it is still a good idea to run a halyard off that
side to make sure she has a list in the direction of the piling as the tide
goes out.)

You should be ok on the hard, however it might depend on how your boat is
built. If it is an older wooden boat, you may need the support of stands to
help keep her shape. The frame and keel structure relies on support
distributed over the entire under water surface, not just the keel. The keel
should support only about 50% while the side supports the remainder.. (this
is a general rule of thumb for steel ships in dry dock.)

If your boat is fiberglass and has a fin or attached keel, you also should
be using a cradle of boat stands. Even then you need support of the stem and
stern.

There should be no problem using the mast and rigging to keep the boat
upright, as long as she is landed and maintained in a vertical conditions. I
wouldn't recommend moving a lot of fuel or weight around if your just
holding her with halyards.

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

If your boat is fiberglass and has a fin or attached keel, you also should
be using a cradle of boat stands. Even then you need support of the stem and
stern.

snip

Yes, the boat is fiberglass with attached keel.

beryl g

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

If your boat is fiberglass and has a fin or attached keel, you also should
be using a cradle of boat stands. Even then you need support of the stem and
stern.

snip

Yes, the boat is fiberglass with attached keel.

beryl g

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
sides at about 45 degrees to hold the boat upright
so the support pads on the wintering cradle can be
lowered to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

To what do you propose to tie the other ends of the ropes?

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.

Wouldn't it be simpler just to run ropes from the bottom
corners of the cradle frame to strong points on deck?

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
sides at about 45 degrees to hold the boat upright
so the support pads on the wintering cradle can be
lowered to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

To what do you propose to tie the other ends of the ropes?

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.

Wouldn't it be simpler just to run ropes from the bottom
corners of the cradle frame to strong points on deck?

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

To what do you propose to tie the other ends of the ropes?

snip

To the cradles of surrounding boats.

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.


Wouldn't it be simpler just to run ropes from the bottom
corners of the cradle frame to strong points on deck?


Would not rope stretch be a possible potential problem with
such a heavy boat.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

To what do you propose to tie the other ends of the ropes?

snip

To the cradles of surrounding boats.

Or has anyone any other suggestions of a better
way to support the boat whilst it is epoxied.


Wouldn't it be simpler just to run ropes from the bottom
corners of the cradle frame to strong points on deck?


Would not rope stretch be a possible potential problem with
such a heavy boat.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

From other members of the news group thoughts and
experience am I missing something or is this something
that can be carried out providing there is care with
a reasonable degree of ease and safety.

The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
sides at about 45 degrees to hold the boat upright
so the support pads on the wintering cradle can be
lowered

Well, provided you have something very secure to anchor the far end of
the ropes to, that would work fine.

But you could shortcut the procedure and not take up nearly so much room
by using some "legs" which could be simple stout poles, or something a
bit more complex, secured to the boat's chainplates. That's what holds
the mast up, so you'd be using the same part of the hull which is built
ver very strongly... but you'd be saving all the stress on the rig.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King