When assumptions are made without knowing all the information nor any photos, then I frankly avoid making any suggestions.
@caverun Thank you for the photo and will make this suggestion. Going back to Roanoke any time soon? Call Pelican Point at Smith Mt. Lake which has a travel lift and ask for Tom Hardy who is a contractor and also operates the travel lift. He knows the Hunter water ballast boats and has worked on them for years. He is a close friend whom I have known for years and worked with him often. If you do decide to do this, call and I will help. Kermit and Rgranger brought their boats there and I helped them changing out the center board line.
I will make a few comments. First, I would never take a strap around any boat to a single lift point unless the straps are so long that they will not crush the hull in. I have done that just like Jimmy above did with a Hunter 26. Please note the straps were tied together so the straps would not slip from beneath the hull as the bow and stern are curved.
Jimmy also pointed out in the other photo not to put boards out spreading the straps one in front and the other in the rear. Why for several reasons. First it is unstable using two lift points not attached to one another. I would use a metal reinforced rectangular spreader to prevent from crushing the hull in with two straps and again tied together from one lifting point or again only using long straps just like Jimmy did so the hull will not be crushed by the straps. In addition one lift point and of course with a spreader it is more of balancing if anything. I have successfully launched boats much bigger just like the set up with Jimmy over bulkheads and even bridges (permission from highway dept and police of course) with masts up.
Caverun, thank you for the photo. I would have too been concerned just like you but worth a shot. I think a little higher and possibly could have been done like Jimmy. PM Jimmy to see from the deck of the boat to the lift point was when he lifted his boat and then go back and look at that rig again. If close, that of course would be your call.
As for forklifts picking up a sailboat with the forks alone, not good. Two contact points on the hull will depress the hull in unless it is a thick hull like some of the real old sailboats but again not recommended. As for using the two forks with straps, it would have to be the big wide long straps just like those used on the travel lifts at the lift points on some of the Hunters noted of course or guessing just right but the straps need to be tied together on the sides and the strap end on the furtherst point out on the fork needs to be secured to the fork so it cannot fall off or come in too far.
Some have taken boats off trailers successfully but from a liability standpoint, I will not comment as I have seen boats in the past damaged and in several cases folks got hurt. I have said enough on this point.
