Lifting Aquasport with davits.

[billytheboatingkid]

I have a 1976 19'6". I have davits in my backyard and I am wondering if I can lift the boat by the bow eye and stern u boats that are through the transom. Everything seems solid, but I have never used davits before and thought I would get some insight on it before trying it and ripping the boat apart. I bought a spread bar, so I will be doing it correctly. The davits are 5000 lb davits, so weight isn't an issue. Thanks for any help!

[flounderpounder225]

As long as your bow eye, and stern U-Bolts are tight and in good shape, that is how I lifted my 245 onto blocks for the bottom job, no problem at all, I would lift a little and hold, see how everything stands up.

[Blue Agave]

Are you lifting from the bow eye or from the bow cleat?  In order to lift from the bow cleat you must have a lifting assembly that ties into the bow eye.

Also remember that the boat is old and the block where the bow eye is mounted maybe rotten.

[wingtime]

As already mentioned you have to double check the condition of the hardware and the reinforcements inside the hull.  If you are lifting from the lift eye/cleat on the bow double check the connection from the lifting eye to the bow eye.  They should be connected by a 5/8" threaded rod.  On my 1981 all the nuts, threaded rod etc inside the hull were rusted away and I had to replace them.

[RickK]

On my 230 the transom is poured but the upper parts on the outside on each side is wood.  That was rotted out on my port side and when we tried to lift the boat to do the bottom, the eye started to pull through.  We stopped and replaced that wood and now it's solid.

[Capt. Bob]

Ditto on the port side of my 84 CCP.

[billytheboatingkid]

Just checked the bow eye, the rod is completely gone, so the bow eye is not an option. Any other suggestions? The transom was redone recently so it is rock solid and has no wood. So lifting the stern is fine. Thanks for all the quick responses!

[flounderpounder225]

Just checked the bow eye, the rod is completely gone, so the bow eye is not an option. Any other suggestions? The transom was redone recently so it is rock solid and has no wood. So lifting the stern is fine. Thanks for all the quick responses!

Billy
when you say the rod is completely gone from the "Bow Eye" as mentioned earlier, only a lifting eye on the top deck of the bow will have a threaded rod connecting to the Bow Eye (the eye where your trailer strap or cable hooks to) Some boats don't have lifting eyes.  If you were looking at your "Bow Eye" (again, where the winch strap hooks to) there is no rod attached to that, just through bolted usually with a block of wood glassed to the inside for reinforcement.  Just wanting to be clear of the advice and description of different components used for lifting.

[seabob4]

As long as the bow eye is secure and the backing block is still in good shape (no rot as Fernando pointed out...

How we used to lift 35 Expresses at Proline.  Spreader bar aft, short strap both sides through the stern eyes.  Long strap through the bow eye, meeting to a single hook centered.  Place a short 2X just below the rubrail to keep the strap from pinching and distorting the rubrail.  The 35 was/is an approximately 14,000 lb. boat, and she could hang like that all day...

[billytheboatingkid]

The lifting eye does not have a threaded rod going to the bow eye for the winch. It looks like it was there, but it is gone now. I was thinking about bolting a block to the lifting eye in the anchor locker, will that work?