Temporary jacking boat off stands

[spudnukem]

Hello, My New to me Fulmar has been on the hard for so many years that the keel has rotted though the old scaffold plank under the keel. Is it possible to jack the boat high enough to temporarily lift it and scrap out the remains and replace it? We only have a lift twice a year. Thank you

 

[Refueler]

Yes of course it is ... but the size of boat means you will need serious jacks and beams / packing to do it.

Given the size / weight of your boat - maybe best to talk with the yard and do a deal ... ??

 

[Sandy]

Hello, My New to me Fulmar has been on the hard for so many years that the keel has rotted though the old scaffold plank under the keel. Is it possible to jack the boat high enough to temporarily lift it and scrap out the remains and replace it? We only have a lift twice a year. Thank you

It is, but you should speak to your yard to see what the local requirements are. There maybe restrictions about jacking - there was a death a few years ago with a chap moving stands about while painting.

 

[ridgy]

I would hammer in some wedges and leave it at that.
Otherwise It's a lot of arsing around and risk for not very much gain.

 

[Refueler]

Question ... is the Fulmar now carrying all its weight on the vertical cradle pads to hull or are there props steadying her while standing on keel.

If former - then serious consideration to check hull for deformation where pads are - unless sited where structural bulkheads are. If latter - then why worry ? The rotted wood under will be filling the uneven ground etc under the keel.

 

[Refueler]

I would hammer in some wedges and leave it at that.
Otherwise It's a lot of arsing around and risk for not very much gain.

????? Its a Fulmar .... that's a fair weight to start hammering in wedges !!

Agree its a fair bit of work to lift - been doing it for years ... but once a boat is of reasonable size - not something I would advise inexperienced to do. Its far better if really needed - to discuss with yard.

 

[spudnukem]

Question ... is the Fulmar now carrying all its weight on the vertical cradle pads to hull or are there props steadying her while standing on keel.

If former - then serious consideration to check hull for deformation where pads are - unless sited where structural bulkheads are. If latter - then why worry ? The rotted wood under will be filling the uneven ground etc under the keel.

Was left - I have adjusted to compensate. Just don't like the idea of the keel on concrete!

 

[ridgy]

????? Its a Fulmar .... that's a fair weight to start hammering in wedges !!

Agree its a fair bit of work to lift - been doing it for years ... but once a boat is of reasonable size - not something I would advise inexperienced to do. Its far better if really needed - to discuss with yard.

Was assuming that there was still a gap of some sort to the ground and that wedges would stabilise it.

 

[Concerto]

spudnukem, good to hear from you again. You should mention the few years is about 18 years and you are doing a complete refurbishment including some internal structural work. Personally I would not do anything as the keel will not suffer sitting on concrete. There will probably be a little rust on the base of the keel if the wood has pooled any water. This will be impossible to fix unless your boat is held in slings for about a week to treat it. At least you were not sitting directly on earth as this would certainly have done a lot more damage. On Concerto I have never been able to antifoul under the keel and never worry about it.

 

[Refueler]

Was left - I have adjusted to compensate. Just don't like the idea of the keel on concrete!

On concrete ? And if hull pads are not carrying all the weight - she's fine ... save the hassle and let her be ...

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It's worth noting that some boatyards prohibit anyone but themselves from altering supports. I've encountered that condition.

 

[Stemar]

I had to adjust the stands on Jazzcat in the club compound this winter, first to get the boat more or less level, then to clean, prime and antifoul under them, but she's a cat. I just got away with it using a 2 ton trolley jack, though the jack will never be quite the same again, but that's a cat, sitting on wooden blocks. I wouldn't want to touch a fin keeler of any weight. The condition mentioned by AntarcticPilot strikes me as potentially annoying for a competent DIYer, but sensible from the yard's point of view - it only takes one person to get it wrong...

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I had to adjust the stands on Jazzcat in the club compound this winter, first to get the boat more or less level, then to clean, prime and antifoul under them, but she's a cat. I just got away with it using a 2 ton trolley jack, though the jack will never be quite the same again, but that's a cat, sitting on wooden blocks. I wouldn't want to touch a fin keeler of any weight. The condition mentioned by AntarcticPilot strikes me as potentially annoying for a competent DIYer, but sensible from the yard's point of view - it only takes one person to get it wrong...

And regrettably there have been several incidents reported here where things went wrong. Some were fatal. Personally I am not inclined to even try to shift a boat - the weights and stresses are such that getting it wrong could have severe consequences.

 

[Refueler]

And regrettably there have been several incidents reported here where things went wrong. Some were fatal. Personally I am not inclined to even try to shift a boat - the weights and stresses are such that getting it wrong could have severe consequences.

I've lifted boats up to 30ft .. bilge and fin ... by beams and jacks. Basically club yards where we did not have sling lifters etc. Jobs were putting boats on and off trailers / cradles.

But as you say - its not for the feint hearted .. and needs care and preparation.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I've lifted boats up to 30ft .. bilge and fin ... by beams and jacks. Basically club yards where we did not have sling lifters etc. Jobs were putting boats on and off trailers / cradles.

But as you say - its not for the feint hearted .. and needs care and preparation.

And you have appropriate professional experience! Most of us don't.

 

[Neeves]

It seems an odd thread to me - the yard lift yachts regularly why not simply get them to lift the yacht the required distance and insert new plank (and adjust cradle). Basically its what yards do. Or as implied, leave on concrete and adjust cradle (though if the cradle were to have caused damage due to rotting of keel plank - its done already). I cannot see how the cradle can be adjusted without lifting the yacht. Cannot think how concrete will harm keel - a rotten piece of wood would be permanently wet/damp is a much greater risk as concrete dries much more rapidly.

Jonathan

 

[Tranona]

It seems an odd thread to me - the yard lift yachts regularly why not simply get them to lift the yacht the required distance and insert new plank (and adjust cradle). Basically its what yards do. Or as implied, leave on concrete and adjust cradle (though if the cradle were to have caused damage due to rotting of keel plank - its done already). I cannot see how the cradle can be adjusted without lifting the yacht. Cannot think how concrete will harm keel - a rotten piece of wood would be permanently wet/damp is a much greater risk as concrete dries much more rapidly.

Jonathan

Read the first post. Specifically lifts only done twice a year. Suggests a cub or similar that hires in a crane autumn and spring. Very common here.

 

[Concerto]

The boat is in a yacht club yard, not a commercial boatyard. They have to hire a crane in for the annual lift out and in. I do know where the Fulmar is but do not feel mentioning exactly where it is necessary for this thread.

 

[Neeves]

Concerto and Tranona

Apologies - the concept that a boat yard was unable to lift yachts, except twice a year, was beyond my comprehension or understanding. I see that the OP did say this but it seemed so 'outlandish' I assumed I was misreading something. We generally don't have yacht storage on the hard (yachts like Etchells or Flying 15s excepted) - if you want to store your yacht - we have plenty of water. But generally we don't store yachts - we can sail 365. Boat yards, covering yacht clubs and commercial yards have travel lifts, or pull yachts up slipways and a few have fancy devices for lifting multihulls - different world (HK was the same as Oz).

I need to get out more.

Jonathan

 

[Stemar]

Our club is the same as the OP's. Hire a crane to lift out in the autumn and back in the spring - next Saturday, as it happens. We're fortunate to have members who are experienced banksmen and yard workers, which keeps things safe and ensures boats are secure. Everyone mucks in or gets in the way, according to experience and common sense level, and the cost is shared. Our winter in the compound, including storage, is about the same as a simple lift out and back in a professional yard.