I move all my beams by myself without trouble and I am of very average strength and 60 years old. The mast beam would be a bit heavier than the front one maybe 30kg.

A GRP one would probably always be heavier than a plywood one. Depending on the plywood used it can be more or less light. GRP doesn't float but doesn't rot. Conversely ply floats and rots!

My boat came with light hulls and beams but with a very heavy ipe deck (tabebuia, the lumber used for marina docks) that I am going to turn into fence posts! I am first going to use trampolines and see how it works.

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Johnny Martin on April 20, 2020 at 12:39pm

Thank you - ha thats what I thought - but the grp beams are built on ply framework and that rots!

good luck - ps I have a deck tent if that is of interest?

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Permalink Reply by NeilR on May 31, 2021 at 12:05am

Hi Johnny, hope you don't mind me bringing this thread back alive again.

I'm a little paranoid over my boats weight as I didn't build her and want to make some changes while it's here at home. It's been very well built using all the correct materials so I have no issues there. But the weight is unknown. So I just took delivery of a cheap set of Chinese crane scales and intend to weigh individual components as and when I can. Starting with the beams.

The scales have a + 9% error (so far) which I've subtracted from all weights so the numbers below are corrected. I would not trust them completely so just use as a guide.

I should also mention the beams are complete ie timber, ply, epoxy, fasteners, dolphin striker, fibreglass, filler and paint but no fittings except the end cleats.

FWD. 31KG

MAIN. 43.5KG

REAR 34.5KG

I've almost finished building a permanent crane on to my "Tiki Trailer" which will allow me to easily weigh each hull, cockpit and mast. I'll update these figures when I get that done.