Gantry (need a lift?)

[John Ring]

We got a rare mid winter break with temps well above freezing, and I didn't want to waste it. The motor had to come out sooner or later, and I couldn't quite lift & carry the 400lb Volvo down the ladder. So, off to Home Depot I went. A 14' long 2x8, a long 2x4, and some Gorilla Glue and I was in business.

A few days later I had a homemade gantry ready to go. I made the trolley from a bit of 2x3 (with beveled ends & a plywood skirt) and 1" wooden dowels cut 1-1/2" long for bearings. Lifting/lowering was done with a simple come-a-long.

[img]http://www.yachttantalus.us/Images/Repo ... y1-500.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.yachttantalus.us/Images/Repo ... y3-500.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.yachttantalus.us/Images/Repo ... y5-500.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.yachttantalus.us/Images/Repo ... y9-500.jpg[/img]

I can't say using a gantry around a boat is anything new; I got first hand experience back when I worked at the Fore River Shipyard. This is General Dynamics' Goliath gantry crane circa 1985. I was working in the yard when the riggers did this 1,120 ton lift, the largest in North America. That's a 5 story steel deckhouse being lifted onto the deck of the John P. Bobo. This image puts my motor lift into perspective, but shows what you can do with a good gantry

http://www.hazegray.org/shipbuilding/qu ... /mps25.jpg

See more of this lift here:
http://www.hazegray.org/shipbuilding/qu ... constr.htm

Cheers,
John Ring
CD28 Tantalus
www.yachttantalus.us

[Neil Gordon]

Nice. It doesn't hurt to have a convenient tree, either.

[Tim Mertinooke]

This is a little unrelated, but I'm sure you will find it interesting nonetheless John.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0

Good work removing the engine!

[John Ring]

Nice. It doesn't hurt to have a convenient tree, either.

Yeah, you should have seen the size of the tree on the other end of the General Dynamics crane!!

John

[Dean Abramson]

John,

That is amazing. I never cease to be amazed by the resourcefulness of many sailors. Nice job!

Just curious; are we talking replace, rebuild, or repair?

Dean

[Neil Gordon]

Just curious; are we talking replace, rebuild, or repair?

Maybe he just did it so he could post cool pictures of the crane.

[Warren S]

Looking at the flywheel on the Volvo, what was Plan A?

[John Ring]

[img]http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x105 ... y-17-1.jpg[/img]

Just curious; are we talking replace, rebuild, or repair?

Dean

Thanks Dean. I'm Repowering with a little Beta 13hp.

Looking at the flywheel on the Volvo, what was Plan A?

"Plan A" was always to sail there. When the wind died out, it was time for "Plan B"

John

[Wayne Grenier]

I did the exact same thing with the exact same boat-a cd 28 and the exact same motor a volvo md 2B? about 20 years ago-but even simpler-I simply nailed 2 2x4's together-placed them across the companionway hatch and used a come-along like you did-once the engine lifted I tapped the 2x4's with a hammer and slid the 2x4's and the motor forward until I could rest it on the cabin floor-then I used about 5 guys to pick it up and slide it down a plank (not recommneded)-but to reinstall I hired the boatyard crane (off season) for $75 -hang onto that old motor!! its worth more in parts than you can imagine-especially the gear box!

[Ldybg]

Very nice John,

A couple of years ago I pulled my Farymann out using a boom derrick to lift from the cockpit sole up/out & over the stanchions. Did it early one Sunday morning so I could clean up any mishaps before any else arrived in the yard!

Dennis

[John Ring]

I did the exact same thing with the exact same boat-a cd 28 and the exact same motor a volvo md 2B?

This one's an MD7A, (13hp) but but yeah, parts are expensive for the old Volvos. I'm not sure if the alternators are available anymore - that's why I put a Balmar 621 (70amp) on this one a couple seasons ago. The transmission/gearbox is fine.

I'll put a compression gage on it, and decide whether to sell it as a motor or as parts. It actually starts & runs ok, but makes some blue smoke at times. Other times the exhaust is clear; I'm not sure why it does this. If the pressure is over 400 psi, it's still a good motor, maybe in need of valve work or seals. Having sailed Lake Huron 'till 2004, the insides are probably pretty good. With the thought of hauling the 385 lb Volvo in and out, I just didn't want to get into it.

I really like the little freshwater cooled Beta. There was just something wrong about motoring along the coast of Maine and running 39° water through an engine block that wants to be 185°. After lifting the 385+ lb Volvo, the 200lb Beta felt like reeling in a flounder.

Cheers,
John