The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

Indoor "rack" storage for Tomcat

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> General Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
nwboater



Joined: 21 Oct 2023
Posts: 33
City/Region: PNW
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: FastCat
Photos: FastCat
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 11:50 am    Post subject: Indoor "rack" storage for Tomcat Reply with quote

My boat lives in wet moorage (PNW) all year round, but I'm considering moving it to indoor "rack" storage for the winter since we're now snow-birds, living far from home. Has anyone stored their Tomcat on a "rack" system indoors? I'm guessing the twin hulls could be a problem for accommodating the forklift and storage rack?
_________________
Richard Soto
Tomcat 255 "FastCat"
American Tug "Salty"
Selene 47 "Kika"
Willard 40 "Northstar"
Classic Monk cruiser "Annie B"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 21207
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Down our way, they build special cradles which hold the catamaran. This cradle is picked up by the Fork Lift and then the Boat lined onto the cradle. The boat and cradle are picked up. That way the fork lift does not try and pick up the boat in the tunnel or cross wise. (Both of these can easily cause major damage to our c Dorys.)
_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
nwboater



Joined: 21 Oct 2023
Posts: 33
City/Region: PNW
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: FastCat
Photos: FastCat
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That’s a good suggestion, Bob. But I decided to bite the bullet and arranged to move FastCat from her current open slip to a cozy boathouse when my contract renews in April. Sure, it’s more money but worth it for the peace of mind knowing that my boat will be indoors and out of any freezing weather while I’m sitting by the pool in Palm Desert next winter Smile)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 21207
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Watch out for the Wind in Palm Desert--an enjoy your stay. You could come down to Florida for the same price--and have snow for a few days.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
CPlay



Joined: 16 Feb 2020
Posts: 33
City/Region: Savannah
State or Province: GA
C-Dory Year: 1998
C-Dory Model: 24 Tomcat
Vessel Name: CPlay
PostPosted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Richard,

I'm glad you found a solution. Dr. Bob's advice about a cradle is 100% the way to go.
During a momentary lapse of judgement on my part this fall, I requested a forklift pick my boat up sideways. My logic at the time was that the port and starboard hull transom would be supported by one fork and the strong solid fiberglass area near the port and starboard bow would be supported by the other fork. I have supported boat this way when doing bottom paint but the lifting force was gradual and even. The forklift did not lift as evenly as I thought it would and the fork that I anticipated being near the bow was position too near the center. Way to much force applied near center of one hull.
Result was an over 2 foot long crack in bottom of hull. Crack was through lower layers of fiberglass into balsa core but not through upper layer of glass above the core. I had to cut out damage and perform a fiberglass layup repair. Bottom of the hull is not a fun place to do this kind of work. Took me about 3 weeks. Hopefully my mistake can prevent someone else from doing the same.
-Jeff-
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nwboater



Joined: 21 Oct 2023
Posts: 33
City/Region: PNW
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: FastCat
Photos: FastCat
PostPosted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeff,

I appreciate your candidness in describing your unfortunate haul out...thank you! Soon after posting here, I got a call back from my marina to tell me they had an immediate vacancy for a 34 foot boathouse. Needless to say I grabbed it; and only $100+/month over what I've been paying for open moorage. Best of all, because I'm unable to move the boat until springtime, the dockmaster offered to move it into the boathouse for me -- that's what I call a "full service marina" Smile)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> General Chat All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.0395s (PHP: 62% - SQL: 38%) - SQL queries: 23 - GZIP disabled - Debug on