Rail or Sling

[meuritt]

This week at the club I was havng a discussion with a fellow member who owns a wood 36 Grand Banks. It is sound, but time for the haul out. He is using a different yard than previous haul outs to get a more DIY friendly establishment, one of which only has rail.

Is there a clear answer to which method of hauling out is better/safer for the woody hull?

Thanks

Mike
San Rafael

[Thad]

Almost any rail setup will support the boat better on the keel and have no hull compression factor. On haulout most wooden boats are tight as a drum and able to take the strains. Dry the wood hull is much looser and the rail would be much better, imo.

[Lew Barrett]

If the boat can't haul by sling, there is a case to make that it shouldn't go to sea. There are pluses and minuses to both systems, but a healthy boat can come out either way. An unhealthy one is....you know.....unhealthy and then you really want a dry dock or a willing buyer. ;)

Haul outs can be hard on a big boat depending on the circumstances, but a good 4 strap sling while it's not fun to watch or contemplate, should not significantly affect a good boat. Keeping a fresh paint job perfect on the way back in can be a PITA.

[Hwyl]

If by sling you mean Travelift then what Lew says is valid, if you mean crane, make sure there is adequate spreaders.

If it's a railway and it's to be moved once up on the railway, make sure there is a very sturdy cradle, if it's to be dragged around by tractor.

If it's'a hydraulic trailer arrangement, then it's up to the operator

[peter radclyffe]

well said guys, they lifted a hatteras without spreaders, it cracked along the keel

[Lew Barrett]

Gareth, thank you. I meant Travel Lift. That's the way they sling out here, almost universally, (Delta has a huge Travel Lift but slings out smaller boats on a crane, and that is not as nice). Anyway, I apologize for my imprecision.

[Suprcargo]

I've owned Grand Banks 36 Cl # 210 for over 20 years and having the choice would prefer rail. Try to make sure to use at the very least Four main keel blocks, located so that one each land under the forward and aft engine room bulkheads. Majority, if not all, of the weight should be on the keel as you haul. If the cradle is short, add another set of blocks under the stem overhang when she's in position. One challenge you will encounter using a rail as opposed to travel lift is routine maintence of replacing the worm shoe. This will take some keel block juggling, but it can be done...safely.
Take Care, John

[Lew Barrett]

Just curious: why the preference, Supercargo?

Here are the pluses and minuses I can think of as they bear on this area (Puget Sound) and my boat:

Downsides of RRs
1. RRs are generally more expensive in respect to lay days. (This is the biggest downside in my view)
2. As a corollary of the above, it's harder to find RRs where you are allowed to bring in your own contractors, since RRs by their nature are more "exclusive" than Travel Lift yards. How many RR's have the means to move and shuffle boats around? There's only one that I am aware of in the entire Puget Sound area.
3. There's often less room (and harder access) to marine railways than there is in the work areas surrounding a "regular yard" fro tools (table saws, planers, etc.) which frequently puts you at the mercy of the yard you have chosen.

Corollary to above: It's harder to have free and open access to the topsides as a rule, (but often easier when it comes to the bottom though).
4. Stress forces on the boat are different and in different places. The argument that the boat can be blocked better doesn't make sense to me. Want full length keel support blocking after a travel lift picks you? Use more blocks! And adjusting the blocking is far easier, since the boat can be picked and readjusted; impossible if she's resting on a railway.


Pluses of RRs:
1. Theoretically less stress on the hull. (There is not universal agreement on this though). I spoke with my pall Rick Etsell yesterday (an NA and Captain) who made some arguments in favor of travel lifts. Having said that, I have to admit, on the face of it, it seems so much easier on the boat, but I think the reality is a lot of the stress transfer benefits can be summed up in one word: Depends.
2. I think there's no question it is easier on a green paint job.

Did I miss anything, or get anything wrong? Maybe! :D I'm self taught so I often get stuff wrong.
Against that is the experience I have had at this, having come out both ways.