Hanging a dinghy in the rafters

stranded

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Dec 2012
Messages
2,568
Location
Lympstone
Visit site
Hi. Hope I might find some advice on the best solution (and any pitfalls) for suspending a wooden dinghy in the rafters of our very high but not enormous garage. I was thinking of making a block and tackle, but then came across a scaffold hoist that looks like it might do the job cheaper.
The dinghy will probably (it is not yet built) weigh in around 120kg (including a frame for it to sit on, or maybe a lightweight launching trolley). I hope to be able to lift it with a single attachment, but suspect it would not be possible to balance it? I would need to lift it around 3 metres above the floor. The fixing point for the hoist would be about 8 metres above the floor, from solid looking rafters. The dinghy would be stored dangling from whatever I use to lift it. Would a 200kg scaffolding hoist be suitable for this? Any other suggestions? Thank you in advance for any advice.
 
I regularly do it with a Finn (125kg). Two slings under the hull, 2:1 tackle on both sides of each sling with a jamming cleat on.
 
I've always done this just with a couple of blocks and a cleats on the wall. Add some toestrap webbing if you want to get sophisticated. A good idea is to tie the slings together to stop them slipping when hoisting / lowering.
I fitted a roof box hoist to my daughters garage for her boat but it was unnecessarily complicated.
If you have a trussed rafter roof, avoid any heavy point loads.
Mind your head!
 
Noted re rafters, thanks guys, two slings it shall be. Peter - so you have four lines to pull? Or do you/is it possible to bring them altogether so there is only one, or maybe two ropes to pull, as I will mostly be doing it alone.

As you can tell, I have never used tackles before (haven’t even yet used the handy billy I bought for the big boat) and because I will need to order in the hardware and hire long ladders to get up to the rafters I am keen to get it as right as possible first time. Cheers.
 
Sorry, couldn’t work out how to write on the photo post. This is the roof - not sure if that is trussed it’s not. The diagonal timbers, from which I think I will have to hang it, look pretty substantial so I hope 60kg on each should be OK?
 
Should not be difficult to spread the load by placing upright bearers across half a dozen or so rafters, the deeper they are the stiffer they will be.
 
I used to have a Mirror hanging from the roof of my workshop. I hoisted it up with a block and tackle at each end, then stored it with a couple of long ratchet strap. I'm about to store a boat in the roof of my garage. Since that's rather narrower I plan to hold it in position with a couple of 6x2s across the rood space, sitting in joist hangers. So: haul the boat up, put in the beams, lower the boat onto them.
 
Yes I used 4 tackles. It's still quite a heavy lift at 2:1. I progressed to the clam cleat trapeze adjusters as the easiest pulley/ cleat to use.
 
That isn't a truss rather roof. It looks easily beefy enough to take the loads you want.
I use a strop, fixed at one end with a pair of double blocks on other end. I find it easier to shoulder the boat up while somebody pulls on the rope to take the strain. Keep it simple but think ahead.
 
I hoist a heavy trailer into the roof of my garage using 2 scaffold hoists. It works well but there are limitations as the hoists won't lift close home without disabling the safety cut outs. That said a few blocks may allow you to get a straight pull which will achieve the aim.
 
I have one of these that I can bolt to the front tow bar of my 4x4.

GWINCH-200-510x510.jpg


I can also bolt it to a lifting frame or lift anything I need, like a boat onto my trailer.

This could be bolted to the wall of your shed to lift you dingy with a twin pull from pulleys front and aft of the dingy.

MAC-AFRIC EWK 2000D 12V Winch | Adendorff Machinery Mart

Not much more than the hand winch ol'will posted considering 10 SA Rand to 1 Oz Dollar.
 
Thanks all - plenty of possible solutions here. I’ll price up the UK equivalents of the winches then decide what to do. If that is too expensive, as the hull alone should weigh in at only about 60kg (as long as I don’t get carried away with the epoxy in the build) I might also look at stowing spars, sails, oars etc separately rather than in the hull and try Dan’s ‘muscle it up’ solution to start with.
 
I have a scaffold pole set horizontally below the rafters, at the correct height & suspended on 2 metal brackets. The wife & I lift the stern up & hook it over that. then I attach a block & tackle to the bow & with a few gentle words from the wife, I lift the bow as far as I can ,whilst she pulls on my tackle !! Then we both give a tug until it is right up . I have made sure that my truss is properly secured. (y)
Often accompanied by grunting & harsh words. But it only takes place once a year.:unsure:

A tip worth remembering is to store lots of gear under it. That means that you cannot walk in the vicinity & smash the hell out of one's nut. Because that can hurt.
 
Last edited:
Chain hoist and then 2 webbing slings with separator bar to make sure they stay in place

I lift my Lawn Tractor with such ... which is a lot heavier than a dinghy.

For long term lift ... have a second secure line to same lift point as chain hoist, so once chain hoist has done its job - the secure line is tightened ... made of to strong cleat and chain hoist can be eased back or left as is.
 
Top