Hoisting my C-Dory

C

cwericsson

New member
If possible I would prefer to hoist my boat rather than trailer launch it.
However, it doesn't come with hoist points.
Have others added hoist points or do you use straps. If so, type, length, and manufacturer of the straps.

Thanks, Carl
 
I think that hoisting a boat, any boat, is better than backing the trailer in. But you have to have a hoist. Is there one near you? Why don't you ask them about how they hoist a boat in? And you need a boat set up for hoisting. For example, Anacortes doesn't launch from bunk trailers, because there's no way to pass the straps between the bunks and boat. So you need a cutout or a roller trailer.

Journey On sits on a roller trailer with front and rear sets of rollers. There's a good starting point: under the front of the cabin and the middle of the cockpit. You're trying to keep the center of gravity in the middle, between the straps.

And don't forget the spreader bars, unless you're using a regular rolling hoist, such as a Travel-all.

How about finding a place that uses a forklift? I believe that places that store your boat and launch it when you call use a fork lift.

Boris
 
For example, Anacortes doesn't launch from bunk trailers, because there's no way to pass the straps between the bunks and boat. So you need a cutout or a roller trailer.
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Boris, I don't know about Anacortes, but not true for Cap Santa. They launched my boat and I have a bunk trailer. The bunks don't go all the way forward, so no problem putting a strap on the bow. For the stern, they just jacked the boat up slightly with a floor jack and piece of wood, then slid the sling under. Worked fine. Colby
 
The sling-in marinas around here are just hooking a clip to each of the eyes on the transom, and a strap through the bow eye. They’re launching dozens or more each day without any issues that I’ve heard of. Many much heavier than a c-dory 22.
 
Cap Sante told me they do not require bunk slots for boats under 8000 pounds and 26 feet.

I chose to launch at a ramp anyway.
 
My boat doesn't have any transom hoist points, so I would have to install them. If I can instead buy two hoist straps, that would be a lot easier. I can fabricate spreader bars. I know I will have to trailer launch when no other option is available. Thanks.
Carl
 
Where are you launching? I have never known of a commercial lift or crane where you had to supply your own lifts.

The sling-in marinas around here are just hooking a clip to each of the eyes on the transom, and a strap through the bow eye. They’re launching dozens or more each day without any issues that I’ve heard of. Many much heavier than a c-dory 22.
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The above is interesting, since some of the bow and stern eyes I have seen on various boats are not up to the loads of lifting. I towed my Grady White 20 Weekender--and had to beef up the bow eye just to tow it behind my Symbol MY. Do they require an inspection of the eyes and way they are fabricated and placed into the hulls?
 
One of the transom eyes on my boat bent under the load of towing a person on a tube. Wouldn't try lifting the boat that way.
 
thataway":34v35ga9 said:
Where are you launching? I have never known of a commercial lift or crane where you had to supply your own lifts.
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There are probably differences in different parts of the country (like those crazy East coat marina slips vs. "normal" West coast slips, LOL), but Cap Sante Marina also has a "small boat hoist" over by the P/Q docks which the user operates and supplies own straps / harnesses. It's rated for something like 5000 lbs, but they don't allow you to drive a vehicle onto the pier, so you have to un-hitch and push your boat over to the hoist.

I've thought about using it for the 16, but the extra $25 for the regular sling launch that the Marina operates and provide straps for, without having to unhitch and push your boat, makes the regular sling launch a no-brainer given the two choices. And yes, with the regular sling launch at Cap Sante, bunks are not an issue, same as Edmonds.. they usually just charge a little more for the extra hassle of putting the jack or blocks under the transom.

-Mike
 
Can not believe what I have just read. Transom tow eyes and bow eyes are for towing. And the actual weight imposed on those components in a towing application, are far different than a lifting situation.
Now to the hull. A hull is built with a backbone of sorts, whether on a trailer or in the water it bears it weight on it's bottom of the hull.
To pick it up at three end points, causes tremendous forces at all kinds of places in the hull. The lifting action is wanting to fold it.
With the sling/strap system ( the more straps the better ) and don't allow the strap system to pinch in the gunnel.
A boat is built to bear/ or lift it's weight bearing on it's bottom.
 
Let me take a swing at the true problem. Why would you not want to use a trailer to launch? far safer and far easier then a sling. Is it a matter of lack of training? Horror stories from friends that have a lack of training? Rust stories from people that don't rinse? Using a trailer is by far the simplest easy cheapest and safest way to get your boat in the water.

So why do you not want to use the trailer you have?
 
I'm with Tom on this one. Simpler, safer, and more convenient. You are not relying on someone else to do the lifting, or something else, (rings and slings), that could fail and make a real mess, nor are you bound to some other time table other than your own.

Trailering is not hard, backing can be learned, and many more launch sites available.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

IMGP1107.thumb.jpg
 
oh and remember that every time you use a sling you will be signing a paper that relieves them from any responsibility to damage to your boat EVEN if they drop it>
 
The OP and I are in the same area. There’s a lot of really small “marinas”, that hoist boats in for a small fee. There’s no waivers to sign or anything like that. You back up under the hoist and the salty marina assistant puts it in the water for you. A lot of the ramps get silted in so the hoist is popular here. I don’t suggest anyone use their tow eyes for this purpose, but that’s what I’ve seen time and time again down here. I have a ramp nearby so I’ll probably just use that with my own boat, though we did hoist our Parker in there before we sold it.
 
So they are using straps to tie down points or using slings under the hull? Might be ok for a small boat but not for a cabin boat. How big of a boat do they hoist from tie downs??

Around here its $40 at Edmond and $75 at Cap Santa for my boat.
 
Can’t speak for the OP, but I think I understand the appeal. After trailering boats and fighting the good fight with saltwater since age 16, I finally conceded defeat about 3 years ago, began sling launching and have never looked back.

I rinsed with freshwater religiously and thoroughly, both after launching and retrieving. Refused to launch anywhere that didn’t have a wash-down. Unplugged lights before dunking in water. Minimized how far the trailer is backed into the water (roller trailers are great!). Trailered almost exclusively with galvanized (not painted) trailers… Still, it seemed like every trip involved some fix that was corrosion related, usually lights, sometimes more.

Now, my preferred method of launching is via a phone call to the covered/heated drystack marina while driving there in my car at 30 mpg (hands-free speaker phone, of course!). These days, the only trips to the launch ramp are on the busy holiday weekends to enjoy the show. (BTW, 13-lane Everett ramp is fantastic entertainment, especially on minus tides!)

But for the 2 years prior to drystack, I was using public sling launches almost exclusively (Edmonds and Anacortes), and discovered many perks that were not expected. Never did I encounter a crowd or long wait like you sometimes get at ramps. When single handing, as soon as they lift your boat off the trailer, you go park the trailer…by the time you are back, your boat is in the water and ready to go! It's the reverse coming back in - you always have a dock hand or two to help, while you go get the truck. There are certainly more launch points with ramps, can’t argue with that. As to the possibility of a dropped boat, yes that is a risk. But so is an auto accident or trailer failure (as some C-Brats can attest to!).

So yeah, for the past 3 years I’ve not launched a trailer into salt, and the last 1+ year I’ve not even trailered. Life has been so much happier without! Anyone want to buy a 2016 tandem axle galvanized roller trailer set up for a 22? It has literally never been in salt water! (Fits a 23 Venture just fine too!).

Like most things in life there are pros and cons to both. Now the real question worth debating is, Single or Twins?

-Mike
 
starcrafttom":2m5hme0o said:
So they are using straps to tie down points or using slings under the hull? Might be ok for a small boat but not for a cabin boat. How big of a boat do they hoist from tie downs??

Around here its $40 at Edmond and $75 at Cap Santa for my boat.
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Straps to the tie down point, one big one through a ring and hooked into the two d-rings on the transom. Another hook on a single strap for the bow d- ring. I really scratched my head the first time but that’s how it’s done. Far as how big of boats they’re doing like this, probably up to mid 20s feet center consoles. My Parker was probably about as heavy of a boat I’ve seen launched this way. Made me really nervous for sure. I can’t say every place does it this way but the two marinas closest to me, Kilkenny marina and Fort McAllister marina. My sample is small, but likely where somebody from Midway GA would sling in
 
WHAT?!! This is all Greek to me! And I'm not Greek , I'm Indian. LMAO

We have no such hoisting operations for trailered boats in New England (or at least in Mass.) This is an interesting thread ! Subscribed. I can definitely see the appeal of it...
 
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