Hanging a boat from the rafters

Since I am heading to Port Hedland for 2 years and won't be using my boat, my plan is to hang it from the rafters in a mates shed and store the trailer elsewhere.

My plan was to winch it up there using a tow winch, and then hang it from some lifting slings clipped onto eyebolts in the rafters. Is there any traps or tips out there on how to make this operation run smoothly?

Luke

hang from the beams

I have two hanging in my shed, You don't need a winch, I use the main sheet blocks attached to the main beam if hoisting on my own and just a single rope at the rear. To get it right to the rafters it needs a rope on each bow and stern for the last bit and tie off with those

Take photos so you know what is missing in 2 years time

Hey Luke,

Why not take the boat with you, the local YC even shows a Hobie on their website, must be some OTB sailing .

But if you have to hang it from the rafters, I recently hung mine with a couple of heavy tie down straps hooked in to the ends of the main beam which then went over the deck, under the main beam and hooked together with 6 to 1 tackle in the middle, then a light tackle hooked to the middle of the rear beam.

any recommendations on which side up?

I would love to take the boat but I have to take a box trailer with all our possessions instead. I have got a shed for the boat but still looking for a spot for the trailer.

Should I leave the hatch covers in or out? I am thinking there might be some condensation up there in the rafters and my covers have a hole drilled in them to breath, or is it better to the hulls to breath and air easier?

I should have thought to use the main block to hoist it, and can probably use the downhaul for the last 20cms too. As long as it is out of the way in my mates shed and not going to damage the boat while its there it should be all good. Unfortunately it means my already mediocre skills will slip backwards. No way around that though.

Luke

Definitely hatch covers on, It's amazing how much crap birds and mice can drag in, tried to buy a Stingray once and one hull would have weighed 200kg from the honeycomb. If your mates going to weld or grind, decks up, if birds are going to stand on top and repaint for you decks down. Take it as far as you can with the main sheet, then take it the last foot with the extra 4 ropes. When going up most of the weight is on the main beam the rear rope is just to take it up level, when near the top sway to one side tie of front and rear then do the other side, tie the mast next to it.

Put about a cup full of kitty-litter in an open plastic bag

Make 4 bags like that and place one down each hatch hole (condensation catching done)

Remove sponges or other bits you may normally 'store' in the hulls

Hatch covers on but NOT tight ( bottom out the threads then back them off half a turn)

St Vinnies.... Grab an old WOOLEN blanket or 3, lay one over the tramp area and cut the others to cover the fore & rear decks ...... use butchers twine to tie it in place if wind is a problem in the shed
The wool will act as a heat insulate, absorb bird-poop etc and is more flame resistant than most other "cheap covers" like blue tarps, plastic drop sheets, cardboard etc

Best NOT to lay items like boards, rudders, sailbags on the boat but to store them separately IE: hang them independent of the boat....


Place a few rodent baits on the woollen cover and a couple with any other stored gear

Hoist up and tie in place from the Beams only....... remember mice etc love to chew so choose wisely as to what material you use to do the final 'tie' with

Good point about the rat baits, in my loft I have icecream containers with holes cut in the side that I put rat blocks in. Don't need to worry about condensation, inside the top of a shed is pretty warm most days, I've got a boat that's been hanging for 3 years and it's perfectly dry

The kitty-litter isn't for the moisture in the hulls, it's for the condsation on the underside of the sheds roof ..... This drips down off of the purlins and the onto the boat ... Wrong drip in the right place could get past the hatch cover and over time cause issues .....

Cheap insurance in my book


That reminds me of one we've all forgotten ......

Contact your insurance company and give them the details of the storage time / location /etc

I have a fitted cover for when the boat is outside that I planned to leave on it. I like the idea of the kitty litter in the hulls and rat baits on top to keep them off. Maybe I will get a plastic cat for the birds.

It is going to be about 5 metres high when in place. I am sure it will turn bigger than Ben Hurr to get it up there.

Luke

Get a couple of rubber snakes.

Given the roof is so high, is there any chance you could pull the trailer up with it?

If you have someone to help, back into place on trailer, get helper to lift the bows as far as possible then tie blocks to the main beam. Normal sheds wont take the load of a trailer and cat, I'm not sure I would try that but if you do, make sure you position a Go Pro before you start hoisting

Did that ....
and five years later when I dragged it down I'd forgotten all about the snakes


Needless to say when eye level was only inches from that snake, there was a moment where a little bit of poo may have escaped

also worth taping a sign on the bottom reminding you about the snakes.

And take the tramp off.

Plastic cat? Rubber snakes?? There must be some dumb vermin around. The rats here are very smart, cunning and malevolent. Some times they eat things they don't even like just to be vindictive.

I took delivery of Whiteside Express complete with a Possum carcas inside. It was a hell of a job to get out and bones and bits of fur kept appearing for years.
The smell never went away!!

Hatches on (loosely) I think.

Boat safely in the rafters thanks gents.

The only downside was one of the kitty litter containers going over whilst hoisting but that is going to have to wait. We ended up using tie down straps as a safety and hauled it up with rope on the front of a ute. It is right up there above the height of the roller door so my mate is happy it is out of the way. I put some wax block rat baits on it and had the hatches on loosely. I also kept the covers on and put the sails up there as will be nice and dry. I dumped the trailer in a caravan parking spot so all good for a couple of years. Hopefully there will be some trailer left after 2 years.

Thanks for the advice,
Luke

Hopefully there won't be too many cats that make use of it while your gone