Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

[jerryjerry05]

Another time we were hauling a boat with a travel lift.
The boat was on blocks and had just been painted.
We were lifting it to move the blocks so the owner could paint the bare spots.(it was an owner job)
The travelift was OLD probably 25-30 years old maybe older.
They picked it up and the owner was in there before it was blocked with his brush and bucket.
The lift operators yelling at the guy to get the "H E L L" out of there.You crazy??
About that time the lift breaks in half.The lifts 12x12 cross beam was bolted together at the top.
I guess over the years the salt water in the air started rusting and it broke at the connection.
The guy under the boat pee'd himself as the boat dropped back onto the blocks.
He said he thought he was gonna die!!!
They were looking at buying a bigger lift and this just made them hurry.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

Our lift is that old also,no salt air,inspected yearly by travelift,neccesary repairs/maintainance done regulary. But I still treat it with respect. She is still a good machine,hope it never breaks in half like that as this one is driven from the cab,no remote control.
Grub

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

we were discussing things like this at the boat shop Saturday and one guy observed, to paraphrase, dangerous machinery has no conscience.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

Gravity is just needy.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

respect the iron, it is not forgiving.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

"There are no rewards or punishments, only consequences."

That saying, one of my mottoes, was said about nature, and thus it applies perfectly to boating. I think it does well with this topic of accidents, failures, safety, injury and close calls.

But I might add in this wild card: "the Lord looks out for fools and drunkards." And there are those who go for double coverage....

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

We dropped one years ago. Brand new 50ft VERY expensive sailboat. Thank God is was over the water. The idiots running the lift had the new owner and broker on the boat. Owner broke his arm. The front stay was off and the mast snapped and just missed the both of them. Aux steering was in the front cabin and tore it up pretty good. Spent months repairing everything.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Another, BE CAREFUL!!!

We dropped one years ago. Brand new 50ft VERY expensive sailboat. Thank God is was over the water. The idiots running the lift had the new owner and broker on the boat. Owner broke his arm. The front stay was off and the mast snapped and just missed the both of them. Aux steering was in the front cabin and tore it up pretty good. Spent months repairing everything.

Wow! Had one slip out of the fwd sling,a 35' with cuddy. Seaweed got between the sling and boat,groundcrew didn't have the safety line snug enough. She was only about 2' off the ground so luckily it hit just a bit soft-if soft is a big bang! If it was higher it would have ripped off the bowpulpit. Fixed easily inside and out. That is the very reason no one is allowed on any boat when launching/retrieving them. I tend to keep them low and slow.
Grub