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

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

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

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

To the cradles of surrounding boats.

I would not be happy to have you as a neighbor in this instance. Aside from
the fact that I am just being a grump, this is very poor practice. In the
second (or third, or whatever) place, you must somehow assure your
neighbors, the yard, and the insurance companies that this is a good idea.

Which it definitely is not.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

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

To the cradles of surrounding boats.

I would not be happy to have you as a neighbor in this instance. Aside from
the fact that I am just being a grump, this is very poor practice. In the
second (or third, or whatever) place, you must somehow assure your
neighbors, the yard, and the insurance companies that this is a good idea.

Which it definitely is not.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

If this is an attached fin keel then I would be more concerned with the long
term effect of the compression load where the keel is attached..

Say the ballast only accounts for 4 to 6 tons, the remainder of the 10 ton
will be concentrated on the faying surface between the keel and the hull..
This could ultimately cause damage to the internal keels support
structures..

I recommend you consult the boat designer or builder or a competent naval
architect..

Again, I find not fault in holding the boat upright with the mast but this
provides not under hull support.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

If this is an attached fin keel then I would be more concerned with the long
term effect of the compression load where the keel is attached..

Say the ballast only accounts for 4 to 6 tons, the remainder of the 10 ton
will be concentrated on the faying surface between the keel and the hull..
This could ultimately cause damage to the internal keels support
structures..

I recommend you consult the boat designer or builder or a competent naval
architect..

Again, I find not fault in holding the boat upright with the mast but this
provides not under hull support.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 20:47:21 +0000, beryl george
wrote:



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

snip

To the cradles of surrounding boats.

Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Steve

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 20:47:21 +0000, beryl george
wrote:



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

snip

To the cradles of surrounding boats.

Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Steve

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

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.

Not really, but you could use chain instead if it worries you.

Just roughly: Suppose your mast ropes are at 45 degrees, the
deck is 10ft above ground, the mast is 50ft tall, then the
mast ropes will be 85ft long.

Suppose a lateral force is applied (by wind, say) which is enough
to tilt the boat by 5 degrees against the tension of the mast
rope. That would cause the mast rope to stretch by 3.5 feet, or
about 4% of its length.

If your half-beam is 7ft, and the cradle bottom half-beam is
the same, I calculate the cradle rope would need to stretch from
10ft to 10.6 ft, or 6% of its length, in order to permit the
same 5 degree angle of heel.

Now if you were using the same type of rope for cradle-to-deck
as for elsewhere-to-mast, and if both ropes may be presumed to
be operating within their linear stretch/tension range, then it
takes 1.5 times as much force to stretch it by 6% as by 4%. The
lever arm advantage follows from the stretch distance ratios,
3.5:0.6, or about 5.8:1. This means that a heeling moment which
exerts 1 unit of tension on the mast rope would exert 5.8 units on
a cradle rope. Divide this by the force ratio of 1.5 to get a
number a little less than 4. I reckon that means you're as OK
if you use 4 cradle ropes each side as you would be if using one
mast rope of the same calibre and stretchiness each side.

Better still if you use heavier and/or less stretchy rope.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

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.

Not really, but you could use chain instead if it worries you.

Just roughly: Suppose your mast ropes are at 45 degrees, the
deck is 10ft above ground, the mast is 50ft tall, then the
mast ropes will be 85ft long.

Suppose a lateral force is applied (by wind, say) which is enough
to tilt the boat by 5 degrees against the tension of the mast
rope. That would cause the mast rope to stretch by 3.5 feet, or
about 4% of its length.

If your half-beam is 7ft, and the cradle bottom half-beam is
the same, I calculate the cradle rope would need to stretch from
10ft to 10.6 ft, or 6% of its length, in order to permit the
same 5 degree angle of heel.

Now if you were using the same type of rope for cradle-to-deck
as for elsewhere-to-mast, and if both ropes may be presumed to
be operating within their linear stretch/tension range, then it
takes 1.5 times as much force to stretch it by 6% as by 4%. The
lever arm advantage follows from the stretch distance ratios,
3.5:0.6, or about 5.8:1. This means that a heeling moment which
exerts 1 unit of tension on the mast rope would exert 5.8 units on
a cradle rope. Divide this by the force ratio of 1.5 to get a
number a little less than 4. I reckon that means you're as OK
if you use 4 cradle ropes each side as you would be if using one
mast rope of the same calibre and stretchiness each side.

Better still if you use heavier and/or less stretchy rope.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

"beryl george" wrote in message
...

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.


Sounds like extreme folly to me. The mast will bend, the lines will stretch,
the boat will teeter and tip one way or another. Then anything might happen.
And you are going to do this in among a lot of other boats? Think long and
hard about the consequnces of it falling over, then ask yourself how you
could ever have thought it was a good idea.

Tim W

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

"beryl george" wrote in message
...

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.


Sounds like extreme folly to me. The mast will bend, the lines will stretch,
the boat will teeter and tip one way or another. Then anything might happen.
And you are going to do this in among a lot of other boats? Think long and
hard about the consequnces of it falling over, then ask yourself how you
could ever have thought it was a good idea.

Tim W

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

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

How about using some of those angled jacks that sit on the ground? Set them
up fairly near the pads on the cradle, then lower the cradle pads and paint
the bits they were covering.


--
Wally
www.artbywally.com
www.wally.myby.co.uk/music

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

beryl george wrote:

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

How about using some of those angled jacks that sit on the ground? Set them
up fairly near the pads on the cradle, then lower the cradle pads and paint
the bits they were covering.


--
Wally
www.artbywally.com
www.wally.myby.co.uk/music

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 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.

How is this any different from the problems of antifouling the same boat?
You simply add supports and wedges adjacent to the existing pads then drop
the main support legs, paint over the pad areas, then wait for the epoxy to
dry and re-attach the main legs, dropping the other two temporary props. We
used to do this every spring on our Hustler 36, (with the mast still up).
The temporary supports need to be fairly sunstantial. Does no-one remember
life before the diesel-powered boat hoist?

Remove "nospam" from return address.

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 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.

How is this any different from the problems of antifouling the same boat?
You simply add supports and wedges adjacent to the existing pads then drop
the main support legs, paint over the pad areas, then wait for the epoxy to
dry and re-attach the main legs, dropping the other two temporary props. We
used to do this every spring on our Hustler 36, (with the mast still up).
The temporary supports need to be fairly sunstantial. Does no-one remember
life before the diesel-powered boat hoist?

Remove "nospam" from return address.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

Dennis Pogson wrote:

How is this any different from the problems of antifouling the same boat?
You simply add supports and wedges adjacent to the existing pads then drop
the main support legs, paint over the pad areas, then wait for the epoxy
to dry and re-attach the main legs, dropping the other two temporary
props. We used to do this every spring on our Hustler 36, (with the mast
still up). The temporary supports need to be fairly sunstantial.

I suspect what he wants to do is spray on umpteen coats, each time
doing the whole underwater hull in one go, and the drying coats would
get damaged by being scrunched by any supports.

Does no-one remember life before the diesel-powered boat hoist?

To be sure. AFAIK life at Port Edgar is still like that. They have
one fixed electric crane at the end of the pier, and they drag boats,
on their cradles, around the site on trolleys pulled by a lawnmower
tractor. The trolley axles have built-in hydraulic lifts, and one
of the axles is removable. The cradles are lowered onto stacks of
diced railway sleepers, and the trolley is then lowered and pulled
away from underneath.

Two advantages are that they can park the boats a lot closer together
than with a travel hoist, and that boats can be manoeuvred into
sheds with limited headroom (especially headroom at the doors).

Disadvantages are that it takes longer, and that use of cradles is
mandatory. They can't deal with boats to be propped up on sticks.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

Dennis Pogson wrote:

How is this any different from the problems of antifouling the same boat?
You simply add supports and wedges adjacent to the existing pads then drop
the main support legs, paint over the pad areas, then wait for the epoxy
to dry and re-attach the main legs, dropping the other two temporary
props. We used to do this every spring on our Hustler 36, (with the mast
still up). The temporary supports need to be fairly sunstantial.

I suspect what he wants to do is spray on umpteen coats, each time
doing the whole underwater hull in one go, and the drying coats would
get damaged by being scrunched by any supports.

Does no-one remember life before the diesel-powered boat hoist?

To be sure. AFAIK life at Port Edgar is still like that. They have
one fixed electric crane at the end of the pier, and they drag boats,
on their cradles, around the site on trolleys pulled by a lawnmower
tractor. The trolley axles have built-in hydraulic lifts, and one
of the axles is removable. The cradles are lowered onto stacks of
diced railway sleepers, and the trolley is then lowered and pulled
away from underneath.

Two advantages are that they can park the boats a lot closer together
than with a travel hoist, and that boats can be manoeuvred into
sheds with limited headroom (especially headroom at the doors).

Disadvantages are that it takes longer, and that use of cradles is
mandatory. They can't deal with boats to be propped up on sticks.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

in message , 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 to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

I have to say I wouldn't. The chances are, of course, that you would get
away with it, but if you didn't the consequences would be disasterous - not
only would you lose the boat but you'd have a fair chance of killing the
painting crew. Could you attach legs to the chain plates at deck level if
you need to get the props out from underneath? That should be strong enough
and used to be a common enough technique.

But please, get advice from someone experienced locally who can look at the
problem. Theorising on Usenet about a boat and yard we haven't seen is
probably less than useful.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

I'm fed up with Life 1.0. I never liked it much and now it's getting
me down. I think I'll upgrade to MSLife 97 -- you know, the one that
comes in a flash new box and within weeks you're crawling with bugs.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

in message , 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 to allow unhindered access to apply the
4 plus coats of epoxy coating to the under sides.

I have to say I wouldn't. The chances are, of course, that you would get
away with it, but if you didn't the consequences would be disasterous - not
only would you lose the boat but you'd have a fair chance of killing the
painting crew. Could you attach legs to the chain plates at deck level if
you need to get the props out from underneath? That should be strong enough
and used to be a common enough technique.

But please, get advice from someone experienced locally who can look at the
problem. Theorising on Usenet about a boat and yard we haven't seen is
probably less than useful.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

I'm fed up with Life 1.0. I never liked it much and now it's getting
me down. I think I'll upgrade to MSLife 97 -- you know, the one that
comes in a flash new box and within weeks you're crawling with bugs.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

"Steve" wrote in message ...
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.

Wouldn´t it be simpler to get additional supports and put them
alongside the original ones and take these off, painting the area
underneath and replace them when the epoxy paint has polymerized. A
bit of waxed paper on the top panel would prevent adhesion.
john

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

"Steve" wrote in message ...
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.

Wouldn´t it be simpler to get additional supports and put them
alongside the original ones and take these off, painting the area
underneath and replace them when the epoxy paint has polymerized. A
bit of waxed paper on the top panel would prevent adhesion.
john

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

"beryl george" wrote in message
...
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.

I don't know what you mean by "epoxy", if you were referring to bottom
paint, what we do in these parts is apply as much as we can while the boat
is in the cradle, then have the yard pick up the boat with the travelift and
leave it in the air overnight so that we can get the spots that we couldn't
do while the boat is in the cradle.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...73258492izAlis Something like
this, actually just like this, if you look you'll notice a square area where
the paint looks lighter. They pick the boat up at the end of the day and put
it in first thing in the morning, more than enough time for the paint to
cure. If something happens to the boat while it's sitting in their
travelift, their insurance has to cover it. If I damage my boat or my
neighbors while attempting to jack it out of the cradle or something along
those lines I'll be in a world of hurt, insurance wise.
John Cairns

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

"beryl george" wrote in message
...
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.

I don't know what you mean by "epoxy", if you were referring to bottom
paint, what we do in these parts is apply as much as we can while the boat
is in the cradle, then have the yard pick up the boat with the travelift and
leave it in the air overnight so that we can get the spots that we couldn't
do while the boat is in the cradle.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...73258492izAlis Something like
this, actually just like this, if you look you'll notice a square area where
the paint looks lighter. They pick the boat up at the end of the day and put
it in first thing in the morning, more than enough time for the paint to
cure. If something happens to the boat while it's sitting in their
travelift, their insurance has to cover it. If I damage my boat or my
neighbors while attempting to jack it out of the cradle or something along
those lines I'll be in a world of hurt, insurance wise.
John Cairns

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle
Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle
Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 08:47:36 -0000, "Nigel"
wrote:


Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle

Because it can pull the cradle out. Even tying to your own cradle is a
bad idea. If a wind kicks up it can start the boat rocking and
vibrating. That's the worst time you'd want a rope that might be
flapping around in the wind putting tension on the cradle trying to pull
it out.

If you HAVE to tie something off to the cradle (like tying off a tarp)
take the line under the boat and tie it to the one on the other side.
That way, at least the line is pulling the cradle in instead of out..

Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Actually, as long as the ropes are strong enough and they are secured
well at ground level and you have a big enough angle at the mast
(probably at *least* 45 degrees), it doesn't seem so bad to me. You're
not supporting the boat, you're only preventing it from tipping over
(same thing cradles do btw.) The rig should be able to take the stress.
Afterall, what do you think is pushing the boat over when you heel.

You may want to have multiple sets of ropes, one set at the top and one
set at the spreaders, kind of like the way radio towers are supported at
multiple levels.

If it's well balanced and you keep an eye on the tension so it doesn't
try and start to tip over, no big deal. Not something for long term
unattended storage though.

Steve

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 08:47:36 -0000, "Nigel"
wrote:


Definitely don't do that. There should be nothing tied to the cradles.

Why? I can understand why you wouldn't want anything tied to single
props, but what would be wrong with tying a boat to it's cradle

Because it can pull the cradle out. Even tying to your own cradle is a
bad idea. If a wind kicks up it can start the boat rocking and
vibrating. That's the worst time you'd want a rope that might be
flapping around in the wind putting tension on the cradle trying to pull
it out.

If you HAVE to tie something off to the cradle (like tying off a tarp)
take the line under the boat and tie it to the one on the other side.
That way, at least the line is pulling the cradle in instead of out..

Must admit though, the idea of supporting a boat using guy ropes from the
top of mast, scares the hell out of me, don't know the maths and stuff, but
it doesn't seem right to me.

Actually, as long as the ropes are strong enough and they are secured
well at ground level and you have a big enough angle at the mast
(probably at *least* 45 degrees), it doesn't seem so bad to me. You're
not supporting the boat, you're only preventing it from tipping over
(same thing cradles do btw.) The rig should be able to take the stress.
Afterall, what do you think is pushing the boat over when you heel.

You may want to have multiple sets of ropes, one set at the top and one
set at the spreaders, kind of like the way radio towers are supported at
multiple levels.

If it's well balanced and you keep an eye on the tension so it doesn't
try and start to tip over, no big deal. Not something for long term
unattended storage though.

Steve

Supporting a boat by its mast.
 

It has been assumed that you wish to do this to make painting (or something
similar) easier. If this is the case, how are you going to work on the
bottom of the keel? If you have to do the bottom in a different stage
anyway, why not use a more conventional method (i.e. moving stands etc.)
for the work?




The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
..
..
..
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.
 

It has been assumed that you wish to do this to make painting (or something
similar) easier. If this is the case, how are you going to work on the
bottom of the keel? If you have to do the bottom in a different stage
anyway, why not use a more conventional method (i.e. moving stands etc.)
for the work?




The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
..
..
..
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.
 

Aaron wrote in message . 3.44...
It has been assumed that you wish to do this to make painting (or something
similar) easier. If this is the case, how are you going to work on the
bottom of the keel? If you have to do the bottom in a different stage
anyway, why not use a more conventional method (i.e. moving stands etc.)
for the work?




The plan is to block of the foot of the keel and
secure ropes from the top of the mast out to the
.
.
.
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.


I dunno but I suspect that many boats are ok being supported only by
the weight being on their keels. However, one thing that strikes me
is that when the Titanic sank, she was initially in one piece and only
broke in half when the upward force of the water was removed from her
entire hull when she was submerged. She was designed to be supported
evenly all over by the water, once this support was removed, she broke
in half. Does this apply?, probably not.