This may be a silly question, but for the second year in a row my yard pulled my Catalina 30, Wing Keel and left it in the Lift for two days. My concern is that the keel was not "blocked" during that time. Can this cause any damage?
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A hull that is evenly supported by water
A hull that is evenly supported by water is not stressed the same way that the same hull is when that hull is only supported by two points or straps. The reason it doesn’t matter in this case is that while the hull is plastic and will distort over time a couple of days or even a week is not enough time to cause any problem. Store the boat the entire winter without supporting the keel and you will have a problem All the best, Robert Gainer
A hull that is evenly supported by water is not stressed the same way that the same hull is when that hull is only supported by two points or straps. The reason it doesn’t matter in this case is that while the hull is plastic and will distort over time a couple of days or even a week is not enough time to cause any problem. Store the boat the entire winter without supporting the keel and you will have a problem All the best, Robert Gainer
Wow
The part of this that is surprising is that a travel lift could go for 2 days without being needed for another haul out this time of year.
The part of this that is surprising is that a travel lift could go for 2 days without being needed for another haul out this time of year.
That’s right John
That’s right John. I missed that and around here some yards are hauling 7 days a week. All the best, Robert Gainer
That’s right John. I missed that and around here some yards are hauling 7 days a week. All the best, Robert Gainer
Drama, Drama ! !
The yard I have been using for the past 6-7 years closes by mid afternoon on Saturdays and resumes work on Mon morning. For many years now, I have been having them haul my boat as their last boat out on Saturday, and purposefully leave it in the slings till Mon morning so that I can paint the bottom. Two advantages to leaving it in the slings, less cost because they aren't blocking it, and more importantly, I can paint the underside of the keel (and rudder) really well; not just 1 quick coat just before putting it back in the water ( which probably doesn't "stick", because most paints require 12+hrs to set up properly). I feel that the unpainted area under the straps (which can be painted every other hauling) is less of an issue than the underside of the keel. But that's just my preference. As far as how long a boat could be left in the slings without damage; Robert's post may be correct. I'd be interested to know how marine engineers might answer the question.
The yard I have been using for the past 6-7 years closes by mid afternoon on Saturdays and resumes work on Mon morning. For many years now, I have been having them haul my boat as their last boat out on Saturday, and purposefully leave it in the slings till Mon morning so that I can paint the bottom. Two advantages to leaving it in the slings, less cost because they aren't blocking it, and more importantly, I can paint the underside of the keel (and rudder) really well; not just 1 quick coat just before putting it back in the water ( which probably doesn't "stick", because most paints require 12+hrs to set up properly). I feel that the unpainted area under the straps (which can be painted every other hauling) is less of an issue than the underside of the keel. But that's just my preference. As far as how long a boat could be left in the slings without damage; Robert's post may be correct. I'd be interested to know how marine engineers might answer the question.
I dunno
But at my marina this past summer, there was a large 30-something foot sailboat on jackstands without blocking. It had deformed to the point where the rudder was touching the pavement and holding up the hull in the back. The jackstands had sunk into the fiberglass probably 4-5 inches, (not cracked) just made inverted bubble over the stand pads. I was quite impressed with the "liquidity" that the glass showed. and the keel no longer needed any blocking - it was one the ground. It looked like it had been there for 10 years, though
But at my marina this past summer, there was a large 30-something foot sailboat on jackstands without blocking. It had deformed to the point where the rudder was touching the pavement and holding up the hull in the back. The jackstands had sunk into the fiberglass probably 4-5 inches, (not cracked) just made inverted bubble over the stand pads. I was quite impressed with the "liquidity" that the glass showed. and the keel no longer needed any blocking - it was one the ground. It looked like it had been there for 10 years, though
Storing boats
Sailboats should always be stored with the keel supporting the weight of the boat and pads only take enough weight to stop the boat from falling over and rocking back and forth in the wind. We all know that. Extrapolate this to the sling situation and the same principal should apply. It is better for the boat to have it's wieght supported by the keel. At least in the slings, the force is distributed along the length of the sling. that is much better than letting the small area of the cradle pads do the job, but not as good as letting the keel do it. As simple as it is to lower the keel to a block or two, why not do that?
Sailboats should always be stored with the keel supporting the weight of the boat and pads only take enough weight to stop the boat from falling over and rocking back and forth in the wind. We all know that. Extrapolate this to the sling situation and the same principal should apply. It is better for the boat to have it's wieght supported by the keel. At least in the slings, the force is distributed along the length of the sling. that is much better than letting the small area of the cradle pads do the job, but not as good as letting the keel do it. As simple as it is to lower the keel to a block or two, why not do that?
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