Lifting a 205 Osprey

[CaptBurt]

Can I safely lift my 205 Osprey, year 2000, with a 200hp Johnson and gear (maybe 3500#) using the 2 stern and 1 bow eyes? Are they structurally made to carry the weight?  I would like to launch from a pier that has a 5000# hoist.

[fitz73222]

CaptBurt,

Check and see if there is a 5/8 stainless threaded rod connecting the bow eye to the bow cleat up above. If not, there are kits available for the purpose. Seabob should chime in on the stern. Is your boat the euro transom design? (Offset curved design or straight "old style" type?) Not sure of the  bedding support on the euro design, beyond just being a ski eye. Seabob will know.

[flounderpounder225]

CaptBurt
If you are going to be doing a lot of lifting, like in and out of the water, the lifting eye like fitz was speaking of, is the way to go, my last Chris Craft WA had one.  On my 245 Osprey, which I bought is Savannah where they have very high and low tides, the marina where the previous owner kept the boat used lifting slings to put the boat on and off the trailer and into the water.  The owner gave me the slings when I bought the boat, I used them to lift the boat off the trailer and onto stands when I did the bottom.  We used the stern eyes and the bow eye, I figured it had been done this way for years on this boat, so no problem.  They are just nylon heavy slings, one has hooks on the ends for the stern, and the other was used as a choker on the bow eye.  My .02
Marc

[seabob4]

Actually, the above mentioned methods are exactly how we loaded the boats at the plant, as well as picking them up and placing them on dollies.  A lift ring on the forepeak would be the preferable choice if the boat was going to be stored in the lifted position.  However, installing one on a completed boat is a bit of a b!tch, as the backing plate on the bow eye has to be replaced with one that has the captive nut to accept the threaded rod that ties the ring to the eye.  Those backing plates aren't fun to get to through the anchor locker.

If your lifting is going to be kept to a minimum, I wouldn't worry about it...

[CaptBurt]

Thanks, Guys.  I will probably do this only a couple times.  I have lots of experience lifting trailerboats this way and have the proper straps/harnesses, etc.  Just didn't know if the eyes were designed/installed to take the weight of a fully loaded, ready to fish boat (my 3,500# guess might be closer to 4,000#).
There is a pier launch in Gaviota, CA but with no other facilities, so you must have the boat fully loaded, ready to go when you launch.  

Farley, it is the euro style transom and the eyes are low, on the hull at the very aft.  So far haven't been able to see what kind of backing plate there.

On the bow, I plan to take a strap completely thru the eye with the ends above deck level on both sides as there is no deck lift eye.  I'm not too concerned about the bow as the pull will be back aginst the hull on a 3 point lift and most of the weight will be in the stern.  Really, the bow eye just keeps the strap from slipping up.

We have albacore running about 20/25 miles off Pt Conception;  thought I might go this weekend and see if I can scare some.

[seabob4]

Capt. Burt,
She can handle it.  Believe it or not, we pick her up the same way...


You'll be fine, the stern eyes have backing plates, and blocks are glassed in where they enter the hull...