DIY Hoist?

[SailArkansas]

I have a small air conditioner that I use on my boat. When not at the boat I keep it locked up in my dock box. I would like to build a portable hoist that would lift the unit out of the box and swing it out over the boat and lower it to the deck. I have seen several units on the internet but they are either too heavy to be portable or too darn expensive. Anyone done something like this?

 

[DannyS]

How about using your boom like a crane?

 

[SailArkansas]

How about using your boom like a crane?

I thought about that but the a/c needs to be lowered in place forward of the hatch. I had a tent made that directs the air down into the cabin through the forward hatch. Carrying the unit from the cockpit to the foredeck is what I am trying to avoid. The lifelines prevent me from transferring the unit from box to deck. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Bill Murray]

Use a halyard.....

Use a halyard.....

and maybe rig a short pole to the mast or somewhere else to help control the angle/position????

 

[SailArkansas]

Use a halyard.....

and maybe rig a short pole to the mast or somewhere else to help control the angle/position????

Not bad! I had never thought of that. I had bolted handles to the unit to help in carrying it. Maybe I could attach a control line to one of them.

 

[DannyS]

I have a spinnaker pole from a 20 foot sailboat that I keep on deck that I attach to the mast to use as a crane to lift, swing and launch kayaks from the bow of the boat. I run the spinnaker halyard through the end of the pole to the kayak bridle. This would easily work for an AC unit. You don't need a spinnaker pole, a 2x4 would work with a couple of screw eyes and a caribener to attach it to the mast.

 

[catsailor]

Not a lot of details, but...

I have used an extension ladder section with plywood between the rungs as a boarding ramp to move heavy things (engines) on and off boats. The rails provide some safety. Pull in bow first and take the lifelines down; it might work very well.

I have a cruise-n-carry and it's a bugger. Although I can lash it in place so that it will stay through anything, it catches on the jib sheets something terrible.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/09/keeping-cruise-and-carry-ac-unit-on.html

 

[Tim R.]

Why not remove the lifelines? Using the halyard is probably the best ides. Most people who store their dinghys on the foredeck use a halyard.

 

[SailArkansas]

I have a spinnaker pole from a 20 foot sailboat that I keep on deck that I attach to the mast to use as a crane to lift, swing and launch kayaks from the bow of the boat. I run the spinnaker halyard through the end of the pole to the kayak bridle. This would easily work for an AC unit. You don't need a spinnaker pole, a 2x4 would work with a couple of screw eyes and a caribener to attach it to the mast.

I also have a spinaker pole on deck clamped into the bow pulpit and stanchions. Wouldn't have thought of that one either. Looks like this is going to be a lot easier than I thought. Sounds like I just need to make a sling for the a/c. Thanks so much! Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Tom]

How heavy is the ac unit?? Can't you just pick it up and move it, sometimes the the cure is worse than the problem.

tom
s/v GAIA

 

[Winkfish]

Can't quite tell from your phot-signature, but if you have a wooden post at your dock, which is next to your boat, you could put a heavy duty eye on it, clip your spin pole to that, and use your spinnaker or other halyard, run it through the outer end of the pole. The pole would act like a crane boom. (Not sure if it's as clear in words as it is in my head.) ;-)

 

[Ed A]

This is gettig fun, then there is that big roof next to the boat. surly there is an eye up there. run the halyard over there put a snach block on it with a line down to the ac, pull it up and walk it over.

it is so easy sometimes to solve problems longdistane.
now you are obligated to take a picture and post the solution to the delemia!
Have fun.

 

[Joe]

You already have the solution..... use the spinnaker pole... attach the mainsheet tackle to the lower outboard end of the pole to lift the AC vertically, a halyard on the upper end to control horizontal. IOW... the halyard lowers the pole to horizontal to extend reach.... raise the pole to shorten reach. Use main sheet blocks to raise and lower load.....

 

[SailArkansas]

How heavy is the ac unit?? Can't you just pick it up and move it, sometimes the the cure is worse than the problem.

tom
s/v GAIA

I would say the unit weighs about 40 pounds. I can pick it up but walking it back to the cockpit, boarding and then walking it up the cabin sides makes me pretty nervous. The lifelines have been the biggest problem with just moving it from the box to the deck.

 

[SailArkansas]

Can't quite tell from your phot-signature, but if you have a wooden post at your dock, which is next to your boat, you could put a heavy duty eye on it, clip your spin pole to that, and use your spinnaker or other halyard, run it through the outer end of the pole. The pole would act like a crane boom. (Not sure if it's as clear in words as it is in my head.) ;-)

Thanks. A piece of the solution is in all of these posts. Its just a matter of getting my head around it. I will have to make some measurements but your idea seems to make the most sense. If the distance from the woodenpost to the box is too short for the spinaker pole, I can always move the box as its just bolted down using lag screws. I could also use the roof idea taking a line from the roof to the end of the pole to support the weight kind of like a gin pole. Then use the halyard to raise and lower the unit itself.

 

[Winkfish]

Definitely let us know what you do - with photos!!! (video would be even better!)