How much can our Booms lift???????

dlochner · Oct 16, 2019

I used the boom to lift my Yanmar diesel, not an issue. Support the boom by attaching the halyard to the aft end. This helps to take the load off of the gooseneck. l use a block and tackle to lift the generator. You'll want at least a 6:1 purchase, even with the that there will be a significant load on the tackle, you'll need around 50-60 lbs of pressure to lift the generator. A come along might also work.

Brian D · Oct 16, 2019

Well it would depend on the support offered by the sail/halyard, or by the topping lift hardware. One test you can do is to apply your body weight in a controlled test. If it can support you then it should be able to support a generator of lesser weight. Booms have been known to help pull people out of the water.

capta · Oct 16, 2019

I'd check the state of your topping lift as that is what would be bearing the loard. If you use a vang instead, you might want to run a halyard to the boom's end for added support.

Pirate Dave · Oct 16, 2019

Use the topping lift and the main halyard on the end, you will be fine

Mr Fox · Oct 16, 2019

I think 350 will absolutely ok, from what I can see online your boat is not a fractional rig (is that right?) so the mast has good support for a non-vertical mast load going aft. As others suggested inspect your lines, and run the halyard to the booms end; if there were to be a failure at a line/shackle or splice point you will have a backup (topping lift and halyard assuming you have a topping lift).

Hopefully someone with your model boat will chime in here though as it's going to be specific to your boat model, but given the size of your boat 350 seems totally safe. People use slings from the end of the boom to pick up MOBs who can weigh 300 lbs when wet, and this is under duress.

If you have a solid vang you will want to make sure it will allow for enough lift of the boom for the generator to clear whatever it needs to in order to swing to the cockpit. Easier to detach it before you lift up the genny.

Sandy Stone · Oct 16, 2019

Personally I think it would be better to attach the halyard or topping lift to the boom at the same point as the lifting tackle. That way you are not applying a bending force to the boom.

Gene Neill · Oct 16, 2019

We hoisted a Beta 14 diesel (200 lbs) into our Albin Vega 27 using the boom and a come-along. I'm sure the boom on your 42' mega yacht is waaaay stronger than ours!

Gene Neill · Oct 16, 2019

Sandy Stone said:
Personally I think it would be better to attach the halyard or topping lift to the boom at the same point as the lifting tackle. That way you are not applying a bending force to the boom.

YES.

Michael Davis · Oct 16, 2019

Pulled the motor out of a Fast Passage 39 (Perkins 4-108 @ 520lb.) using the boom. Had the main halyard supporting the boom at the come-a-long attachment point.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Oct 16, 2019

pulled an engine and transmission from a friends 27 footer using his boom. Reinstalled same way. No problem

DArcy · Oct 16, 2019

It looks like the Beneteau 423 has mid boom sheeting with a 4:1 reduction then running to a winch. You can easily put more than 350 lbs force on the boom with that setup so you should be able to lift the generator with no concern for the boom. Fixing the main halyard to the boom near the lift point is a good way to minimize the load on the boom. Don't trust a topping lift of rigid vang to take the load.

Whatfiero1 · Oct 16, 2019

Run multiple if not all halyards to evenly spaced distances throughout boom length if you have fractional rig or spinnaker topping lift will help load mast up randomly to carry load.

Gene Neill · Oct 16, 2019

DArcy - Islay Mist said:
Fixing the main halyard to the boom near the lift point is a good way to minimize the load on the boom.

Right. It's not really the boom at all that's holding up the load. It's the masthead, via the halyard. All the boom is doing is holding the load steady, at a predetermined distance from the mast.

Speaking of which, it was necessary for us to do the engine install in two phases: first hoist it off the trailer it was on, then up and over the coaming, and set it down in the cockpit. Then re-rig the halyard and the comealong closer to the mast. Then hoist it again (controlling the motor as it moved forward) and lower it through the companionway.

It's a little spooky, but it's really not hard. I was able to pull it off with only my wife helping me.

dlochner · Oct 18, 2019

NYSail said:
Thanks for all the input..... and yes I agree to put my halyard where the lifting point on the boom will be. Along with the topping lift looks to be fine and have seen it done. Have a mast head rig..... not fractional so good support from above. I just worried about the load pressures from the boom over the side to lift generator off dock. Just love to run things by the group to see all opinions of this practice.... will post photos when I get to that point!

Again thanks!

Greg

The load will be the same regardless of whether the boom is over the dock or over the cockpit. However, hanging 350 lbs off the boom a few feet from the boat will cause the boat to heel.

dlochner · Oct 18, 2019

NYSail said:
Ill put the beer on the opposite side while I'm lifting!

You must carry a lot of beer and have a happy crew.