Lifting Rods

[drbill]

Well, I am back in the wilds, deep in the Gallatin National Forest in Montana, trying to get the old woodies in shape and launched. It has been a trying day.

I was working on my 1967 TollyCraft, which I bought from Robert Redford 32 years ago while I was living and working in Utah. Today I hooked a 4 ton shop crane to the forward lifting ring in order to lift it above the trailer and block it just high enough for some touching up of the bottom. I had her about 3" off the trailer when I heard a very loud "SNAP" and the boat came crashing back down on the trailer. There was a little damage to the foredeck by the lifting rod. I rolled around under the hull on a creeper, and could see no damage to the hull. The lifting rod had torn out altogether, of course, taking a piece of wood 1" thick by three deep and perhaps sixteen long. The bolts (two) were pulled up into the wood. There are three pieces, each 1" wide running in tandem along the keel. I assume that they had to have been glued when the boat was built, but were not otherwise fastened to each oher.

The piece that broke out must be separate from the actual keel, for there is no way I know to get the bolts in the middle of a piece of wood.

I obviously will have to get it repaired, as that particular boat was my first woodie, my first boat of any shucks, and very dear to me despite the fact that it belonged to Redford (well, he has made some pretty good movies). The nearest place would be in Somers, MT, above Flathead Lake, then Syd near Spokane, or south to Salt Lake City to Don Dannenberg, or on out west to Sierra. All these choices would eat up the summer, and I have become very possessive of my remaining summers.

The main question at the monent, is if it would be safe to go ahead and use the boat? should I glue and pound the pieces back in? I could fill it with structural epoxy filler, but that would surely complicate any repair. Any suggestions beside a good strong drink (already did that)? I might just fill her with water to the water line and see if she is incontinent.

Thanks

P. S. Where does one get the nylon straps to sling the boats?

[ 06-30-2002, 12:13 AM: Message edited by: drbill ]

[PugetSound]

First, I think you need to invest in a chair (aka "the groaning chair"). Most boats - with the notable exception of Navy gigs - are not built to withstand being dropped from a three foot height. I think that you need to do a careful 'hand-over-hand' hull examination from the inside of the hull to look for cracked members and sprung joints. If all looks OK after that, then put it in the water and see what happens.

In all cases, I would strongly recommend that lifting pads be carefully examined before putting them under load. If possible, get ahold of a boot-jacking rig to physically test such load points (consists of a steel can and a hydraulic jack with which to apply the load - any failure is relatively benign).

[Noah]

I think he said three inches, not feet. That doesn't sound too bad to me. I would still check all the frames and stuff that you can, but it sounds like she is probably ok.

They say that Epoxy is stronger than the wood that it is bonded too, so I suppose if you could fit the piece back in, Epoxy would keep it there pretty well.

That may give you the summers worth of boating anyway.

Good luck,

Noah

[drbill]

It was three inches, with the transom resting on the bunks. Unfortunately, the springs on the trailer were out of the loop, as I had to put jack stands under the aft end of the trailer so that not only the boat went up, and not the trailer as well. It was a pretty solid thump, and a guy standing next to the boat about had to go home and change, as did I (and no, I didn't have the front of the boat tied to the trailer).

Aside from a slight bend in the trailer jack in front, I have discerned no damage save a little chipping on the foredeck and the point of attachment of the lifting rod.

I have watched the boats being loaded and unloaded from the upper stories of the warehouses at Sierra Boat Company, boats of all ages and sizes, and have wondered if the lifting apparatus ever broke. Now I know.

[PugetSound]

Sorry Noah . . . . I stand corrected (it was late and I didn't have my glasses - hows that for an original excuse?). :rolleyes: