Slings or Forks??

[rpell1@msn.com]

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone has had their C30 hauled out using the forks of a forklift, instead of slings?

My Club recently purchased a Taylor Forklift with 30k capacity, negative lift and 20' forks to replace the one we had for 25 years.

With the greater capacity, we have been hauling out bigger boats but have yet to try a sailboat of any size, leaving the mast up.

For obvious reasons, I would like to be short hauled with my mast up, leaving my sails in place.

I am concerned by the idea of picking up my C30, this way, with the forks placed underneath the hull, the long way and what kind of stresses it places on the hull?

We all realize that the boat is designed to be hauled with slings but am interested to know if we can safely haul with the forks?

Anyone with experiences?

Thanks.

 

[catalina27]

I have never seen a boat hauled with a forklift as you describe but I don't think it would be a good idea. The forks would put a lot of stress on the hull where they contact it and the hull probably wasn't designed to take that kind of stress. I personally wouldn't try to haul my boat this way, if I were you I'd haul the boat with slings.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Think about it

Boats on trailers have BUNKS, long support beams that run the length of the hulls they support on each side. The issue is not the strength of the fork lift, but rather the area over which the load is spread on the hull. The greater the area, without any keel support when being lifted, is a great strain that needs to be calculated to determine if the support area of the lift points does not exceed the ability of the hull to withstand it on a pounds per square inch basis. A simple eyeball engineering view says: nope. Unless you can find a way to spread the weight further than just from the tongs of the fork on the hull. Maybe with lighter boats w/o inboard engines.

 

[Tim C350 April IV]

Interesting question. I'm surprised that Stu didn't suggest that you "Call Catalina, They're still in business."

That being said, I wonder if Catalina and other boatbuilders don't use some sort of similar arrangement (lift truck) for moving boats around the production plants. Overhead cranes are a PIA and can be big production bottlenecks.

Good Luck!
Tim Brogan
April IV C350 #68
Seattle