Travel Lift Band Crushes Catalina 30 Hull….. Help!! Sorry about the long note, but I really need advice -- How could a routine annual haul-out with an oversized travel lift result in a crushed (pushed in, dimpled…big time) port and starboard sides of the aft hull area of my 1990 Catalina 30? I wasn’t present when the boat was hauled out on Friday [that’s another marina story] but on Saturday I paid a visit to take care of winterizing. I just arrived and coincidentally the lift was in the area, and the operator came over to tell me about a “problem” at haul-out. He told me both sides “oil canned” under the rear support band when the boat was raised out of the water!! My inspection easily/quickly confirmed his heart-stopping words. Circular indentations nearly 2 feet in diameter were centered about 2 feet off of the keel centerline. The operator was quick to point out they were not as deep today/Saturday as yesterday, as if that was supposed to be comforting. The center of each indentation was ¾ to 1 inch deep, just eyeballing it. I guess they were 1.5 inches deep yesterday. Tapping the dimpled area yielded an ugly sounding thud, rather than the customary crisp ring and the center of the dimple can be pushed in about 1/16 inch before firm resistance is felt. Based on the telltale band marks on the bottom paint, she was lifted very close to the recommended location, which the book shows to be right in front of the shaft. If I were there, I would have had them place the bands a scant foot more forward, to be exactly at the proper location (almost up against the wing keel). These travel lift bands are huge…about 16” wide. The lift is the largest (80 ton) in the northern Chesapeake Bay area, located at Pleasure Cove Marina on Bodkin Creek, Pasadena MD. The boat has no history of any bottom problems (not even 1 blister) and, she has been hauled out every winter. There is also minor damage to the inside. The cabin liner/sole support immediately to starboard of the companionway ladder is detached from the hull, and there are some hairline cracks in a corner of the liner under the nav table. QUESTIONS -- NEED HELP/ADVICE: 1. Do you know of someone who has had a similar problem on a sailboat… from any manufacturer? I’d sure like to talk to the skipper. 2. Is this a known, rare or unheard of problem with Catalinas? I occasionally work the Catalina newsgroups, and never saw anything like this. 3. Do you agree the outer layer of laminant is hopelessly separated, and major structural repair work is needed….and, perhaps including hull interior reinforcement? 4. Do you have any advice on how to proceed?? Hire a darn good/well experienced surveyor for advice. (Any recommendations who work the Annapolis area) Consult with a fiberglass repair shop? All the above, after a good cry? 5. Could the lift operator somehow be at fault, at least partially? I can’t see how…but, again, I wasn’t there. Thanks, Dave Gierisch Dave.sheila@prodigy.net 1990 Catalina 30T, 5808, Wing keel