Boat Hoist plans

[JustinG328]

Greetings,
I am looking at repainting my MacGregor 25 and refitting the keel. To do this, I believe that a boat hoist would be my best method. I want to build a hoist where my trailer can be backed into lift the boat and then remove the trailer without the boat. Have any of you completed this task? Do you have any plans, specifications, recomendations, or lessons learned as you have completed this task? Thanks for all your help and happy sailing!

 

[Ross]

Do you have a big oak tree in your yard? There is some serious engineering work to be done there. Do you plan to get under the boat while it is hoist? How much does this boat weigh?

 

[kendall]

Over on the plastic classic site there's a couple pics of a hoist built to lift a Triton:

http://plasticclassicforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3903

Looks like a very easy design to set up. I would go with a different arrangement on the cross bracing myself, as shown it looks a bit flaky.

Maybe build a couple of large saw ponies, then connect them with bracing, make it easier to assemble by having each side able to stand alone.

Ken.

Edit: As Ross says, since you plan on working under the boat, block it up so the trestle is only used to hold the boat upright, not actually supporting the weight.

 

[Ross]

I think 6x6 timber at a minimum. The bracing should look like you are betting your life that it is strong enough because that is exactly what you are doing.
When you are through with it/them for hoisting your boat hang swings on it/them for the kids.

 

[sailingdog]

A 6x6 may not be enough...depending on the weight of the boat and the distance between the supports...

 

[MacMikey]

Blocking a Mac 25

I blocked my Mac 25 and the process took about 60 minutes on a gravel driveway...it would be faster on a concrete or asphalt drive because the floor jack I used would have been easyer to move around.

Just assamble concrete blocks and wood blocks and to 4 x 6 x12' timbers and set the blocks outside of your trailer weels.
Jack the boat up using wood blocks at the rear till the keel clears all aft trailer cross braces. Insert timber across blocks and then move to the front of the boat, detatch winch line and jack the front of the boat up till it is level with the rear and insert the front cross timber. Use thinner blocking to maintain level. I screwed blocking on each side of the bow where it meets the timber to keep the front of the boat from wanting to roll in either direction. When you have everything in place and are above the trailer hand walk the trailer out from under the boat. Add any additional laterial support that makes you feel secure. I added additional block in the center of the cross member that are not pictured here. Hope this helps.

 

[R Bounds]

Should not be too much problem for a Mac. Are you lifting out in the yard or on a driveway. Just brought my Hunter home a few weeks ago from Hurricane Ike for a few minor repairs and a paint job. Here's a couple of pics of the lift I built for it. Try to figure on lifting on 50% more than the boat weighs just for a safety factor. The blocks and timbers may work for your boat weight, just be sure to use true building blocks and not cinder blocks.

 

[kendall]

All the specs I've seen list a mac 25 as being under 3000lbs, no spectacular loads anywhere.
look to swing sets and A-frame hoists for inspiration.

Ken.

 

[JustinG328]

Thank you all for you advise and suggestions towards this endevour. I will be using this as a perminant hoist to not only refit my MacGregor 25 but also to switch out my Sunbird 16 off its trailer to slide my 14' jon-boat on the trailer when I decide to go bass fishing instead of sailing. I will be under the MacGregor to align the keel in the trunk but I belive that this will be done after I have secondary braces to ensure that nothing bad happens. Thanks again and happy sailing!

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I built a set of frames to fit on my trailer to support my Mac while I was working on it. I call it a tradle. It was made on a Saturday morning using 2x2 x 1/8" square tube. Each frame weighs about 60 lbs. They attach to the Mac trailer with 8 bolts 1/2" dia. I have access to a lift at our club and so lift the boat install the frames and lower the boat. I can then trailer it slowly around the yard to a parking space. It works well, easy to paint the bottom or service the centre board.

Bob

 

[BaySailerBill]

I built a hoist out of lumber and four motorboat jack stands that works great. I've used it on three different boats so far (a Oday-23, Oday Tempest and a 20' Century) in every instance I've been able to lift the boat single handed.

If you go to my web page and look at the photos in the album marked "Oday-23 Finished Refit" you will see more pictures. If you would like to build one just drop me an email and I will forward the plans and supply list to you.

Web Site: http://baysailorbill.spaces.live.com/

Email: william_pellegrino@hotmail.com

Good Luck with your project,
Bill

 

[George H260]

Some people just have a local yard put the boat on stands to do hull and centerboard maintenance. Here's some other DIY options for this job:

http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=6109&Itemid=257

 

[compusolver]

more info, please..

Ross B - that's a nice looking setup! Would you mind posting some details, like type of metal, diameter, how deep to sink into the ground, etc. I've never worked with metal before, but I could hire someone to do the welding, etc. if I had more specifics.

Thanks a bunch! Maintaining my two sailboats will be a lot easier and safer if I could build a contraption like in your photos.

 

[William12213]

When I did mine I used a wench in the rafters of my pole barn. The mac 25 only weighs 1600 lbs so it is not the heaviest boat in the world. I did build a couple saw horses to lower it mack down on and make it stable so I could get under it to remove the keel.Make sure you have a good way to get the keel back up if you intend to remove it. I used a trans jack to do the job and it worked fairly well.

 

[Ross]

I tried that but she kept climbing down and walking away.

 

[tommays]

While concrete blocks are used a lot they are a real saftey time bomb because they shatter so easy when there stacked lose


Wood blocking is much safer

 

[thisoldspouse]

Use Caution

I lifted my V222 off it's trailer using the cement block and wood beam meathod pictured in the first posting. As I was making the final lift to remove the trailer, the boat shifted off the jack and almost fell. The back cement blocks were at a 45 degree angle, I don't know what kept them from falling all the way.I'm thankful to say almost. I would have lost the boat into my Land Cruiser, two for the price of carelessness.
In that book "fix it and sail" the author uses the same method to lift his boat, then goes on to say how dangerous it is. I agree.
Eric

 

[Ross]

Re: Use Caution

The safest way to build temporary supports is with wood timbers stacked as cribbing. Concrete blocks shouldn't be stacked more than twice as high as wide and the holes must be vertical.