Think twice...

[KevinV]

My poor neighbour in the boatyard jacked his boat up a bit at the stern to refit the rudder - and the boat tipped off its stands. A bit of thought would have prevented this but he was trying to get the job done...

I'm sure we've all made stupid mistakes when rushing (I know I have) - let this be a gentle reminder to stop and think.

Nobody was hurt, and the boat is built like the proverbial outhouse, but it's going to be a right mess. Poor bugger.

 

[thinwater]

My poor neighbour in the boatyard jacked his boat up a bit at the stern to refit the rudder - and the boat tipped off its stands. A bit of thought would have prevented this but he was trying to get the job done...

I'm sure we've all made stupid mistakes when rushing (I know I have) - let this be a gentle reminder to stop and think.

Nobody was hurt, and the boat is built like the proverbial outhouse, but it's going to be a right mess. Poor bugger.

More than a gentle reminder, I think. Moving or adjusting stands while in a boat yard here is grounds for immediate eviction. Even moving them for painting without assistance. There have been cases when a whole row of boats have been knocked down, and someone could easily have been killed, not hurt. That is not something that would be allowed in my yard, and I would not want to see people doing it in a yard I used. It is one of the few things I would likely report, for their own safety and for others.

Unless you are a trained rigger, and insured for the job, the answer is a hard no. Unless you are at home, in which case please film it for You Tube.

In this case the cradle simply failed -- fatal

---

Rant over.

Was the boat in a cradle? How did he jack the keel up and maintain side support? I guess he didn't.

The normal way here is to lift the boat in slings, but the hourly cost is $$, so you want to have everything ready. The jackleg way (but safer than jacking in a cradle or on stands) is to dig a hole under the ruder. OK, if only a foot or less is needed. If more than that, support to the keel or stands can be jeopardized. Also, the soil must really be compacted, layer-by-layer, back into place, or it is a terrible hidden hazard for the next Joe who stands a boat there.

 

[KevinV]

More than a gentle reminder, I think. Moving or adjusting stands while in a boat yard here is grounds for immediate eviction. Even moving them for painting without assistance. There have been cases when a whole row of boats have been knocked down, and someone could easily have been killed, not hurt. That is not something that would be allowed in my yard, and I would not want to see people doing it in a yard I used. It is one of the few things I would likely report, for their own safety and for others.

Unless you are a trained rigger, and insured for the job, the answer is a hard no. Unless you are at home, in which case please film it for You Tube.

In this case the cradle simply failed -- fatal

---

Rant over.

Was the boat in a cradle? How did he jack the keel up and maintain side support? I guess he didn't.

The normal way here is to lift the boat in slings, but the hourly cost is $$, so you want to have everything ready. The jackleg way (but safer than jacking in a cradle or on stands) is to dig a hole under the ruder. OK, if only a foot or less is needed. If more than that, support to the keel or stands can be jeopardized. Also, the soil must really be compacted, layer-by-layer, back into place, or it is a terrible hidden hazard for the next Joe who stands a boat there.

Boat on stands. I wasn't watching what he did, so I can't (won't) go into detail - he messed up and he knows it.

Empty space around him thankfully.

 

[Bouba]

CRUSHED BY HIS BOAT: Brit Dies in Bizarre Spring Commissioning Accident - Wave Train

It’s a cradle.....just not a particularly meaty one

 

[thinwater]

CRUSHED BY HIS BOAT: Brit Dies in Bizarre Spring Commissioning Accident - Wave Train

It’s a cradle.....just not a particularly meaty one

This is not the incident the OP was reporting. Old cradle, weld failed.

Stands vs. cradle is interesting. I wish I knew in which case failures were more common. The failures are different. Stands can skid-out if not chained properly, but weld failures and collapse is rare because the stress is better aligned. The design is standardized and well vetted, but they must be properly set, supported by the ground, and chained together. Cradles require simpler adjustments, but are perhaps more prone to one-off design, weakening by rust (more important because the load is often not aligned with the post), and placing too large a boat in a small cradle.

The bottom line is inspection and training.

 

[Tamar]

At the marina I am in the management won't let you work on your boat if it involves tools, you can clean and paint but not use any power tools or ladders. Mine was out in the yard in the spring having a propshaft and coupling changed. I wasn't allowed to change an annode, one spanner, 5 minutes job. Bit annoying to say the least.

 

[Bouba]

At the marina I am in the management won't let you work on your boat if it involves tools, you can clean and paint but not use any power tools or ladders. Mine was out in the yard in the spring having a propshaft and coupling changed. I wasn't allowed to change an annode, one spanner, 5 minutes job. Bit annoying to say the least.

That would have driven me crazy….sure, nobody likes the other guy with power tools making dust and sparks…but stopping me working just isn’t right

 

[Tamar]

That would have driven me crazy….sure, nobody likes the other guy with power tools making dust and sparks…but stopping me working just isn’t right

I guess it's not like the old days. I remember fabricating steel keels for a sailing boat in the yard, lots of grinding and welding. And making a rudder for a friend's sailing boat.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

More than a gentle reminder, I think. Moving or adjusting stands while in a boat yard here is grounds for immediate eviction. Even moving them for painting without assistance. There have been cases when a whole row of boats have been knocked down, and someone could easily have been killed, not hurt. That is not something that would be allowed in my yard, and I would not want to see people doing it in a yard I used. It is one of the few things I would likely report, for their own safety and for others.

Unless you are a trained rigger, and insured for the job, the answer is a hard no. Unless you are at home, in which case please film it for You Tube.

In this case the cradle simply failed -- fatal

---

Rant over.

Was the boat in a cradle? How did he jack the keel up and maintain side support? I guess he didn't.

The normal way here is to lift the boat in slings, but the hourly cost is $$, so you want to have everything ready. The jackleg way (but safer than jacking in a cradle or on stands) is to dig a hole under the ruder. OK, if only a foot or less is needed. If more than that, support to the keel or stands can be jeopardized. Also, the soil must really be compacted, layer-by-layer, back into place, or it is a terrible hidden hazard for the next Joe who stands a boat there.

It's forbidden in at least one marina in the UK that I have direct knowledge of; I haven't had reason to check where I am!

 

[thinwater]

There are marinas that forbid work around here, but just small yacht clubs. Mine is quite open, BUT ...

• You must clean up.
• No open sanding without vacuum. A few moments is OK.
• No open grinding. A few moments is OK.
• No spray painting (a few moments with a rattle can is OK, but obviously, be very careful).
• No climbing the mast.
• No moving stands, as stated, unless you get them to help (quite reasonable fee--just the time they are with you).
• No unattended power cords. Just roll them under the boat.

All reasonable stuff that is in your own best interests. No one wants grinding dust from the other guy, so don't be that guy.

---

The last time I was working a project I heard a band and a guy fell from a ladder (working the toe rail). He didn't fall that far, but it was a career ending injury. The boat was up for sale a few months later. The ladder was not tied off and he overreached.

Boat yards are more dangerous than sailing. Certainly by the hour. Got to keep you head on.

 

[Refueler]

At the marina I am in the management won't let you work on your boat if it involves tools, you can clean and paint but not use any power tools or ladders. Mine was out in the yard in the spring having a propshaft and coupling changed. I wasn't allowed to change an annode, one spanner, 5 minutes job. Bit annoying to say the least.

Where I am - presently 3 of my boats in the local marina ... one in water ... other two on the hard.

We do not have any restrictions on working on boats as long as we are not risking marina / others property etc. There is a limit on use of electric - general battery charging ... short period power tools - fine. But if any serious work such as grinding off antifoul etc - then marina needs to know so they can monitor the power use.

When I was in UK with boats ... I could work on my boat without problem ... but if any outside workers were organised to work on the boat - marina had to be advised and they had option to refuse ... if it proved conflict with marinas services.

 

[Refueler]

Falls .....

When I had the Snapdragon 23 triple keeler ... at one time it was moored in a drying creek of from Farlington Marshes (Langstone Hbr) .....

I was doing some odd jobs on deck when boat was dried out .. meant boat was steady and not liable to rock when I moved ... I stepped back from mast ... guard lines at side caught me and I fell backwards into the dry stoney river bed ...

The wind was knocked right out of me .. in fact I had difficulty taking a breath in ... I knew I had hurt my back ... but I think landing stretched out flat may have saved me from serious injury. Trying to stand up was hard ... no-one was around to call to ... so I had to risk moving ....
Needless to say that I was not too good for days after ....

 

[Tamar]

Where I am - presently 3 of my boats in the local marina ... one in water ... other two on the hard.

We do not have any restrictions on working on boats as long as we are not risking marina / others property etc. There is a limit on use of electric - general battery charging ... short period power tools - fine. But if any serious work such as grinding off antifoul etc - then marina needs to know so they can monitor the power use.

When I was in UK with boats ... I could work on my boat without problem ... but if any outside workers were organised to work on the boat - marina had to be advised and they had option to refuse ... if it proved conflict with marinas services.

Yes, this is the only marina or club that I haven't been able to work on the boat myself. Outside contractors must have permission off the marina to engage any work and they/ me are charged an hourly rate. You can understand that if you are taking work off the marina guys I guess. The last job I had was a new propshaft and coupling, plus cutless. A few hours work for me, but two days for the Marina guys

 

[Cerebus]

Yes, this is the only marina or club that I haven't been able to work on the boat myself. Outside contractors must have permission off the marina to engage any work and they/ me are charged an hourly rate. You can understand that if you are taking work off the marina guys I guess. The last job I had was a new propshaft and coupling, plus cutless. A few hours work for me, but two days for the Marina guys

Rip off culture at work.

First some marinas charge to allow contractors work on your boat; really annoys me.

Now you tell me a two hour job on your own takes the marina guys two days - out of order surely?

 

[Bouba]

Yes, this is the only marina or club that I haven't been able to work on the boat myself. Outside contractors must have permission off the marina to engage any work and they/ me are charged an hourly rate. You can understand that if you are taking work off the marina guys I guess. The last job I had was a new propshaft and coupling, plus cutless. A few hours work for me, but two days for the Marina guys

They sound like they need to be named and shamed in all our public forums….if banning competition causes poor service then the world should know….hang on….second thoughts…it might just give every other yard ideas

 

[Tamar]

Rip off culture at work.

First some marinas charge to allow contractors work on your boat; really annoys me.

Now you tell me a two hour job on your own takes the marina guys two days - out of order surely?

Yes totally agree. I should have made it clear that they didn't charge me for two days, it was just the inconvenience of having the boat in bits in the yard. They did charge me 4 hours for the job. They ordered a 1" cutless bearing instead of 25mm, so had to wait for next day delivery.

 

[Concerto]

In the past I have seen 2 near accidents with yachts. One was a 36ft yacht in a launching trailer that had not been properly secured and it slipped backwards as it was being let down the ramp. It rested on the rudder and fortunately did no damage. The other was 25ft boat that slipped backward in a cradle and the bow dropped so the bow fitting was chest high. Again no damage done.

 

[Refueler]

Yes, this is the only marina or club that I haven't been able to work on the boat myself. Outside contractors must have permission off the marina to engage any work and they/ me are charged an hourly rate. You can understand that if you are taking work off the marina guys I guess. The last job I had was a new propshaft and coupling, plus cutless. A few hours work for me, but two days for the Marina guys

Not just a few times in UK - I knew guys who moved their boats from a certain well-known Marina Co's berths to another less restrictive marina for work to be completed. Once done - back to original marina.