Forearm lifting straps

[rbgarr]

I've seen furniture movers use them on furniture. My wife and I have to move several round bottom row boats in and out of storage, over low stone walls and the edge of a rock wharf to granite shoreside ledge at the beginning and end of the season. I'm wondering if these thing would make it safer and more manageable.

Anyone used them for that before?

[Ian McColgin]

There are many strap variations, depending on the load shape and size. In general, you want to shift loads to the legs and a straight back.

Dinks are an especially awkward shape, especially if you have major strength differences. I find that with the dink mounted upside down on the car, it's easiest to slide it back, put a tight strap yoke about 1/3 of the way forward of the transom, get my back under the strap with me pointed away from the car and letting my partner take the less weighted bow. She takes that in her hands and once away from the car down at comfortable waist level carrying perhaps 20# of the dink. In this configuration, I have a clear view ahead as we lurch down the beach.

[KNOCKABOUT]

They'll work for just about any kind of lifting...

http://www.cuttingedgeconsumerproduc...m_forklift.php

[KNOCKABOUT]

oh and the girlies are cute too...

[Figment]

As a 4th generation mover, I have two words for you: SNAKE OIL.
All of these fancy-pants straps with the loops and the cushioning and such are a complete waste of money, and when used improperly will cause as many injuries as they prevent.

Any strap or rope will work, though cotton webbing is kinder to the skin in long-duration use.

The key is to take two wraps around your WRIST. Not your forearm and not your hand, but your wrist.

Start with the bitter end at the heel of your hand, pass the working end over the palm between thumb and forefinger, then around the back of the hand to the wrist. One complete wrap around the wrist, and then exit through the grip of the hand. If you can't hold a beer with the wrapped hand, you did it wrong. The load should go directly to your wrist, requiring almost no grip strength at all.

Set the length so that the lift requires your elbow to be only very slightly bent. The load should essentially go from the strap straight through your arm to your shoulder. If the length is set properly, it's impossible to do the lift WITHOUT a significant bend of the knees.

[brian.cunningham]

What about this?

[rbgarr]

Stone walls in the way, etc. I'd knock a hole through but it's not my property where we launch and store.