Backstay removal; Lifting out with a crane

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aussimed

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Could someone inform me what the best practice is, of how to support the mast and remove the backstay, to enable the crane spreaders and slings to reach the yacht for lifting out, when using an all terrain mobile boom crane. The yacht is a westerly sealord, with single spreader masthead rig and baby stay, with upper shrouds and rear lower inner shrouds. No forward inner lower shrouds are fitted since a baby stay is in place. To haul out the yacht for dry standing, the yard uses a mobile all terrain crane and not a travel lift / hoist. Slings are placed under the yacht and beam spreaders keep the load off the ship sides / toe rail or rubbing strake area. I am however concerned, that the back stay and also the topping lift, needs to be removed, in order to allow the crane tackle and spreaders and slings to reach the yacht's hull. I have seen a mast fall off when the back stay was removed during craning. I do not want to cause damage to the mast and the rigging, and no alternatice crane is available. What preventive measures could I take to secure the rig during the haul out. And is this practice of using a mobile boom crane to haul out sailing yachts recommended? The sealord mast is 50 feet high.
Thank you in advance for your feedback.
 
  1. We remove the masts before craning the boats out. (See LH side of second picture ... one being removed !)
  2. We do not use spreader bars. With long slings there is no need.

32 ft is the biggest we lift but Searush posted some pictures a while back of a real monster of a crane lifting their boats.

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My Sealord was lifted today in exactly the way that you are concerned about. I just remove the backstay and let it loaf f'wd. The aft lowers support the mast adequately for a few minutes while the backstay is off.

If you ever have another boat where the rig is all 'in line' and with nothing except the backstay to support the mast from the rear, then you need to remember to rig a halyard to a suitable point which will not interfere with the crane. Brace the halyard up well and even unstayed (from the rear) masts will survive for a few minutes with just the halyard to hold them up.
 
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re- backstay removal and conventional crane-out

Thank you for your advice and help. It is great and good help to receive comments from experienced persons who went through this matter before. Puts your mind at rest, as it takes some worries off, making you ready for the ordeal without being afraid that you are doing a wrong practice.
 
Nice photos of a old type of boatyard, looks a real nice place to wile away the hours of cold and wet winters...

much nicer than the concrete marinas we see sprouting up everywhere...
 
john_morris_uk said:
My Sealord was lifted today in exactly the way that you are concerned about. I just remove the backstay and let it loaf f'wd. The aft lowers support the mast adequately for a few minutes while the backstay is off.

If you ever have another boat where the rig is all 'in line' and with nothing except the backstay to support the mast from the rear, then you need to remember to rig a halyard to a suitable point which will not interfere with the crane. Brace the halyard up well and even unstayed (from the rear) masts will survive for a few minutes with just the halyard to hold them up.
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I have just found the reference to the video of the launch of our Westerly Sealord - which shows how ours is rigged.

Not a very exciting video - it doesn't fall over or crash or anything...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmhcXpUtuJU

Just noticed that this was post number 4000. And I used to consider 1000 posts was a big thing! Must get out more.
 
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VicS said:
Old fashioned is an understatement!

I know this yard - had our boat there for nearly 20 years in the 80s and 90s. I have fond memories of the 'facilities' shown in your photos, and of the annual working parties to clear the approach channel. We built the jety over a few years - good to see that it's still standing. However, a great place to leave a boat if you don't need marina facilities, you don't mind working the tides, and you enjoy a friendly (and cheap) atmosphere. Long may it continue!
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As John Morris, I always run the main halyard and topping lift back to the midship cleats. Since our spreaders are aft swept it is not essential but only takes 5 minutes (and they have to be taken off the boom anyway), gives reassurance with a high rig and has not impeded the slewing crane's lifting frame.
 
I agree with what has been said that the lowers, if set for and aft of the mast will hold the mast vertical enough. I take issue slightly with the stress on timescale - its as if the laws of physics dont apply if you only do it for 5 minutes. As somebody pointed out when I had this query some months back - the stresses on the mast during a careful lifting operation are not such as to overstrain the lowers.
 
JonJon said:
I agree with what has been said that the lowers, if set for and aft of the mast will hold the mast vertical enough. I take issue slightly with the stress on timescale - its as if the laws of physics dont apply if you only do it for 5 minutes. As somebody pointed out when I had this query some months back - the stresses on the mast during a careful lifting operation are not such as to overstrain the lowers.
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When I said, '...for a few minutes,' I was meaning that I wouldn't leave the boat without its backstay for the winter gales, but the few minutes of the lift with no backstay and only the lowers and in presumably benign conditions would not harm the rig.
 
I used to drive a crane for about 12yrs at a boatyard. Removing the backstay is no problem if you have aft lowers. If the crane is big enough you can leave it on.
Its easy craning out with masts up....but some yards dont like it due to a big reach, as you can spin em any way you like if the mast down so takesd less planning.

VicS

Don't tell everyone-that yard is full!
 
Don't tell everyone-that yard is full!
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Too true!

"That yard" as you know always takes the masts down before craning, but they do have a sturdy purpose built derrick for the job. :D
 
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