The Liftout
Please have 4 x mooring lines at least 10 metres in length ready to throw to the staff when instructed. Make sure they are cleated to the boat. The boatlift operator will signal by waving for you to enter the lifter bay. Proceed slowly and stop adjacent to the catwalks. Throw the stern lines first and the staff will walk the vessel into the bay. This prevents the slings twisting underwater from the propeller wash.
Sling Positions
The Club Staff can take no responsibility for the position of the slings during the lift. The boatlift operator will not lift until the vessel skipper, owner or the owners representative has given the go-ahead. Please ask the staff for the sling marking stickers available at no cost from the Works Office or the Harbourmaster. Affix these to the sides of your vessel immediately below the gunwale to indicate the correct lifting points. An example below that indicates the positions of slings for lifting. Larger boats that weigh over 25 tonnes, especially lightweight hulls of foam sandwich construction, will be lifted with 3 or 4 slings to distribute the load better. Please advise the staff of the construction of the hull or any under water equipment e.g. sonar, speed impellers.
Lifting Sling
Sling Slippage
Yachts with an increased rise in the keel towards the bow, e.g. S&S 34's, need to tie the front sling back to a winch. Staff will assist and advise the correct tension. An example is shown below. Propping and Cradles Yachts up to 12 metres have a choice of a small prop cradle (supported below the waterline) or an arm cradle (supported above the waterline). Yachts above 12 metres go into large prop cradles. Powerboats are supported by steel stands and props. Please advise the staff if the hull is of foam sandwich construction or if the keel is hollow, as this will affect the number of stands required. Aft mounted engines with V-drive gearboxes need extra support under the transom.
Never remove or adjust props or cradles - ask the staff for assistance.
Tie Front Sling back to Winch.
Special Requests for Propping
Please advise the Works Staff of any work requirements you are undertaking that may affect the propping of the vessel, e.g., shafts to come out, rudder to come out, engines to be removed, or work to be done on the hull or keel. This information will affect the way the vessel is propped or which cradle is used.
