Best way to suspend and turn a boat

[mtnrat]

I am going to replace the floor and stringers as well as work on the bottom. What is the best way to suspend the hull so it can be turned. It is an 18 foot V hull sterndrive. I have a leanto shed with hugh 12"x18" beams that I can use as well as a garage with 4"x 16" glue lam beams that I can suspend from. What would be good suspension points? What about turning it over so I can more easily work on the bottom?
Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

i have heard of people using a revolving automotive engine stand, and making a bracket that bolts to the tramson, and then manhandle the bow.

 

[sport15]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

Mtnrat,
The idea:
Make two loops of rather stout line from which the boat is suspended and hoist the hull up high enough for the gunnels and chines will clear the floor. The loop goes around the hull to keep it under control, and then up through the block. In a perfect world the loops pass through blocks of sufficient strength in the beams to keep the whole show from crashing to floor. Tie off some snubbers on the loops on one side of the hull and slowly begin to turn the hull. Depending on what you have on hand the snubbers can act as a lifting line till top center then as a belay on the way over. Make sure you do the math right so your knots don’t jamb the blocks... Where things can get out of hand is top center. The idea of taking a turn around the hull and the up through the block is that when you go overcenter the hull just doesn’t slide the rest of the way over out of control. At top center, with everything tight give her a little push over and pray. If Poseidon is listening he will smile on you and will allow you to ease off on the sunbber and roll the rest of the way with gravity helping in a dignified way. Positioning of the lines will depend on hull shape and weight distribution (engine in/out). A loop to close to the forefoot results in the line slipping off and lots of unwanted repair work to the bow. (This by the way would not be a way to impress the Admiral…).
If the bow eye is strong enough you could suspend the forward end from it and go with just one loop. It will make the roll over just a little tricky to keep from hitting the floor but if you go slowly there should be little or no excitement as long as nothing parts off..

Good luck!
Dave

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

I am planning to do that very thing this fall with my speedboat. My advantage is that the my boat only weighs about 700#. I was going to support the hull using the bow eye and 1/2 the jackplate, on 4X4 posts. I will use a bolt through both sides of the jackplate, and some pipe to keep an eyebolt centered in the transom. This eyebolt will be bolted to the 4X4 rear support. The bow will have another eyebolt bolted to the bow eye, with an appropriate bolt, spacers etc. The 4X4s will be braced to keep them vertical. If all goes well, I will be able to spin the boat on the two eyebolts.

For your project, you obviously must pull the motor and outdrive. It will be a huge advantage to be able to hang the boat from the rafters. I think, however, that ropes from the ceiling, around the hull will not allow the boat to be pivoted.
I would think you will need to suspend the boat from two points, bow and stern, in order to be able to turn it. The bell housing on my Alpha I has two bolts which allow the outdrive to tilt up. I do not know if these would be strong enough for your purposes.

 

[mtnrat]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

Some good ideas. I will take out the engine and outdrive as they are a chev 350 and a volvo 280 leg and weigh a fair amount. I figure the hull weighs about 1000-1200lbs as the whole thing weighs in at about 2400 lb according to the manufacturer. I was thinking of suspending it from the bow loop and the loops on each side of the transom. And have 3" webbing around the hull in 3 places. This will support it. The tricky part will be turning the hull in the webbing.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

a friend and myself did this to paint his Donzi, here is what we did, one beam above the boat, fastened a rope to a hoist connected to the beam to bow eye fastened two hoist to the beam in the stern and a rope to each tow ring (eye) this way the bow would swivel and we could twist the boat however we wanted by either hoist at the stern, we did not have to flip it but i am sure it would because we turned it vertical port and vertical starboard to spray even coats of paint on the bottom..

 

[sport15]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

Willyclay this may help

 

[drewpster]

Re: Best way to suspend and turn a boat

I flipped a 16 tri hull, less outboard of course, using an engine stand at the bow end and two engine hoists (cherriepickers) at the stern end. I made a plate with a 5/8 inch turnbuckle through bolted and welded to the center of it. I then Bolted the plate to the head of the auto shop engine stand and used a large chain splice to connect the turnbuckle eye to the bow eye on the boat. I them made a couple of makeshift extensions to the engine stand legs with the wheels removed to support the stand. At the stern end I used a hoist at each corner of the transom connected to the two stern eyes using tow straps. As I raised one hoist, I lowered the other causing the boat to rotate while turning the engine stand's head. At the half way point, the boat was suspended by the engine stand in front and one of the fully raised hoists. I then disconnected the lowered hoist, moved it the other side of the raised hoist, reconnected it to the bottom stern eye. I raised the low hoist while lowering the other hoist, and walla!, upside down boat. I simply lowered the whole thing on some saw horses and returned the hoists to the rental store.
It is important to check any lifting points to make sure they are solid and properly backed with plates. It is also important to check the hardware condition for rust or any sign of weakness. Do not assume the lifting points are solid! A Splattered boat in shop floor can ruin your day.