Fairline SQ55 + Williams 325

[statgar]

Has anyone come across this problem or does anyone have an answer? Just bought this early Mk2 SQ55 (2009 MY) with a Besenzoni passerelle 450 kg lift when I fully retract the extension the lifting eyes are virtually level with aft edge of the bathing platform thus the tender chocks have to overshoot the platform. I can pull it forward as I lower it but its heavy and would probably need two people on rope to pull it in, not desirable. I've thought of using sliding chocks but the Williams weighs 350 kg so they would have to be sturdy and I've never heard of them anyway. As always all contributions would be gratefully received.

 

[markc]

I have a similar set-up. The lifting strops are very long and only lift the rib out of the chocks at the highest point when the passerelle is fully retracted, thus keeping the centre of lift over the centre of the chocks. once out of the chocks I extend the passerelle and then lower. Recovery is the reverse. I do have a short line that I clip onto the bow when it's over the chocks to keep it in place so I just need to guide the stern. This is v useful in a swell

 

[Portofino]

“ Pin craft “ have thought through that problem and solved it with a sliding rail under the outer leaf .
This means you can when the Passerelle is in adjust the centre of lift to suit .
When extending just push the rack out .

The sliding bit IN

Out

Tender sits fair and square on the BP no rear overhangs

 

[markc]

“ Pin craft “ have thought through that problem and solved it with a sliding rail under the outer leaf .
This means you can when the Passerelle is in adjust the centre of lift to suit .
When extending just push the rack out .

I wouldn't like to be near that recovering a heavy rib in a swell! Count fingers time!

 

[Portofino]

It’s lockable and fingers are miles away handling the tender .
Works rarther well tbo. Gives the option to centre the pick up point over the tender when it’s fully in .
You lift it stays in , then extend and when out enough drop the Passerelle level and slide it out further to the end .
It’s a track and the pick up bar is on wheels .

In a swell there’s no panacea to tender launch / recovery that I have witnessed.

 

[markc]

It’s lockable and fingers are miles away handling the tender .
Works rarther well tbo. Gives the option to centre the pick up point over the tender when it’s fully in .
You lift it stays in , then extend and when out enough drop the Passerelle level and slide it out further to the end .
It’s a track and the pick up bar is on wheels .

In a swell there’s no panacea to tender launch / recovery that I have witnessed.

Yep, I get how it works, but in a swell if you're trying to adjust the reach, with a massive rib swinging about, the results could get messy!

As for recovering in a swell, I have struggled before and have seen first hand how dangerous it can be with the huge weight of the rib swinging round when out of the water, hence the fewer things that need adjusting, the better! For me, quickly securing the bow with a clip before it's in the chocks reduces the swinging greatly. Bear in mind that I have to also beware of the prop and leg causing damage, a bit less to worry about with a Williams

 

[jrudge]

It sure I fully follow.

Centre mount paserelle ?

I have a s58 2004. The more you raise the paserelle the more the centre of lift will come to the transom. Can you not just raise and have strops to suit ?

 

[jfm]

It sure I fully follow.

Centre mount paserelle ?

I have a s58 2004. The more you raise the paserelle the more the centre of lift will come to the transom. Can you not just raise and have strops to suit ?

Yes exactly. It's not a thing specific the mk2 sq55. I can't think of any boat whose passerelle lift points are above tender's centreline when passerelle is horizontal, and I can't think of anyone who would want that. When I had this scenario I just lengthened the strops, as you say. I don't love Porto's slidey thing and it feels like Heath Robinson's solution to a problem that doesn't exist!

 

[MapisM]

Statgar, apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but having done what has already been suggested for 20+ years, I'm not 100% sure that I would have understood how to proceed, unless explained in a bit more details.

First, with the tender on its normal (fixed) chocks, retract AND lift the passerelle completely.
THAT is the point where the lifting eyes are as forward as possible.
Sometimes, this point is even more forward than the tender's centerline - if it is, lower the passerelle a bit, till the lifting eyes will be aligned with the tender centerline.
Now, make the strops exactly long enough to be slightly tensioned in this position - but not too much: you still must be able to attach/detach the carbine hooks.

Done that, you will be able to lift the tender NOT by raising the passerelle, but by extending its second section - btw, this movement is also more gentle and controllable.
Just extend the passerelle as much as necessary to clear the swim platform upon lowering, and then lower the passerelle to launch the tender.

For pulling the tender, just do the opposite: with passerelle fully extended and lowered, attach the strops, then lift the passerelle, and eventually retract the second section to lower the tender on its chocks.

As a final comment, it's unlikely that you will need to lift the passerelle completely while it is still fully extended (hence having the tender hanging around at an undesirably high position), so in practice you can combine the lifting/lowering movements the retraction/extension movements respectively, using as much as necessary to clear the swim platform - but that's rather intuitive.
What I think is not obvious are two things: how long to make the straps, and use the extension/retraction movements rather than lifting/lowering at the beginning of the tender launch and at the end of its recovery.

 

[statgar]

Thanks all great response as always. I'm pleased to say that my problem is solved having read through all the advice from you guys I merely bought 3 x strap winches with hooks on each end and then played with the strap lengths until the tender docked correctly you were right markc and Mapsim I was worrying too much about the first stage and not enough about the second it has actually worked really well and having the ability to adjust the straps individually really helps, getting the right lengths for the permanent strops will be easier to. Had it not gone so well I'd be thinking of selling either the SQ55 or the Williams TYG and thanks again to you guys.