This week, I had my 1983 Hunter 34 washed up on the beach in Anguilla, B.W.I. as a result of hurricane Omar. (Photos attached.) Question - if I have an 80 ton crane place slings under it as it lies on the beach, swing it around and drop it in about 3 - 4 feet of water, can I haul down on the mast to lift the keel off the bottom and drag it off? Will the mast take the preassure of pulling it down to a 50 or 60 degree angle? Will it float in maybe as little as 3 feet of water (5.9 tons)? Any suggestions? Nothing available here but a 80 ton crane, and don't know how close he can get to the water in the sand, or how far out he can go with his boom. Nothing at all damaged on the boat - like a crane just lifted it and placed it there. Thanks for any help
Hunter 34 Washed Ashore
- Thread starter steve21968
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Steve...
Those of us with H34's truely feel for you perdicament and our hearts go out to you. That the boat survived the grounding is testament to their construction and answers a question on another thread about their seaworthiness.
I suspect the achilles heel of what you'd like to do will be getting a crane close enough and stable enough to be able to lift it and place it far enough off the beach to get it into three feet of water. You might think of hiring local labor to dig a well in the sand to set it in, then use high pressure water pumps to direct a stream of water in front of the keel to create a channel to drag her through.
A bridle afixed to the jib winches and secured to the bow may give you the best pulling effort to move the boat to deeper water. Without a channel for the keel, though, you risk great harm from an over zealous tow ripping the keel loose.
I'm sure there will be more suggestions from others.
Those of us with H34's truely feel for you perdicament and our hearts go out to you. That the boat survived the grounding is testament to their construction and answers a question on another thread about their seaworthiness.
I suspect the achilles heel of what you'd like to do will be getting a crane close enough and stable enough to be able to lift it and place it far enough off the beach to get it into three feet of water. You might think of hiring local labor to dig a well in the sand to set it in, then use high pressure water pumps to direct a stream of water in front of the keel to create a channel to drag her through.
A bridle afixed to the jib winches and secured to the bow may give you the best pulling effort to move the boat to deeper water. Without a channel for the keel, though, you risk great harm from an over zealous tow ripping the keel loose.
I'm sure there will be more suggestions from others.
Looks like a job for the professionals - which may be you?
Better idea might be, if it is possible to get a crane there so it should be possible to get a truck or trailer and have her loaded in the normal way.
Insurance paying? If so leave it to them.
Good luck.
Incidentally a strop round the mast with uphaul and downhaul to prevent it sliding up or down; then applying the weight of 4 to 6 persons should careen her over without rig failure but quite large forces involved. Then towing her with all that weight on the mast will be difficult.
Try to locate the thread on this site a few months ago about a much larger boat which hung a water bag from the mast to get under a bridge
Better idea might be, if it is possible to get a crane there so it should be possible to get a truck or trailer and have her loaded in the normal way.
Insurance paying? If so leave it to them.
Good luck.
Incidentally a strop round the mast with uphaul and downhaul to prevent it sliding up or down; then applying the weight of 4 to 6 persons should careen her over without rig failure but quite large forces involved. Then towing her with all that weight on the mast will be difficult.
Try to locate the thread on this site a few months ago about a much larger boat which hung a water bag from the mast to get under a bridge
Maybe ?
A combination of using a weighted mast and a air bag on the lower side of the keel MIGHT be enough to get you floated. The air bag I'm thinking of is used by professional boat towers for salvage. Thinking maybe a way to secure it to downward side of keel, get the mast over then fill air bag to help "lift the boat" over ??? Glad you boat does not appear to be damaged.... Sorry for your miss fortune ! Good Luck and let us know how you get it back into deep water. Will be an interesting follow up..........
A combination of using a weighted mast and a air bag on the lower side of the keel MIGHT be enough to get you floated. The air bag I'm thinking of is used by professional boat towers for salvage. Thinking maybe a way to secure it to downward side of keel, get the mast over then fill air bag to help "lift the boat" over ??? Glad you boat does not appear to be damaged.... Sorry for your miss fortune ! Good Luck and let us know how you get it back into deep water. Will be an interesting follow up..........
may be close enough...
if you *can* get it three or 4 feet...
-- how about a water pump that can blow the sand for the additional 1-2' you need for moving it out?
-- how about setting it on it's side.. and using a "sled" to move it out to deeper water....
-- if on it's side.. you might "keep it there" with a weight on the mast end... may be heel over enough to get it deeper...
*************
got to be a lot more - better ideas than mind... I like the idea of sledding it out.. On all these ideas- I do not have expereince - but has seen some big boats moved before....
--jerry
if you *can* get it three or 4 feet...
-- how about a water pump that can blow the sand for the additional 1-2' you need for moving it out?
-- how about setting it on it's side.. and using a "sled" to move it out to deeper water....
-- if on it's side.. you might "keep it there" with a weight on the mast end... may be heel over enough to get it deeper...
*************
got to be a lot more - better ideas than mind... I like the idea of sledding it out.. On all these ideas- I do not have expereince - but has seen some big boats moved before....
--jerry
Steve, you might want to get the crane operator down to have a look before you try to lift into the water. He'll need solid ground for his outriggers (?) and the sand may not give him the bearing he needs. Also with the weight of the boat he won't have a lot of reach to be able to boom down too far. Judging form the pictures, you'll have to get out a ways to get into deep enough water?
Maybe the best solution would be lift onto a trailer and have the crane remove the mast and truck to a harbour.
Maybe the best solution would be lift onto a trailer and have the crane remove the mast and truck to a harbour.
Going to try to meet with a crane operator Monday, and try to go with getting it into a few feet of water, blasting out a trench with high pressure hose and drag it off. I'll post final results. Like the other 4 sailboats on the beach, I have no insurance (wouldn't have covered it anyway - we're 18.0 N lat.), so we're on our own, and can't afford $1,000 to get them off. Will post with final pictures.
One suggestion re. rudder
You might save yourself two or three grand by first removing the rudder. It is pretty vulnerable if you decide to drag it out of three feet of water(ask me how I know). It would be simple to remove. After taking the radial wheel(quandrant) and the bearing collar(s) off it will slide right out. With some help you should be able to pull down on the mast to get enough clearance. Or simply dig a big hole in the sand.
You might save yourself two or three grand by first removing the rudder. It is pretty vulnerable if you decide to drag it out of three feet of water(ask me how I know). It would be simple to remove. After taking the radial wheel(quandrant) and the bearing collar(s) off it will slide right out. With some help you should be able to pull down on the mast to get enough clearance. Or simply dig a big hole in the sand.
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