tips for lifting heavy beams

[Brett Parker]

About to take all my beams off the boat for painting and repair. They look pretty heavy. Any tips?? maybe sliding out the sides??? How many helpers???

regards Brett

[Bart]

Sorry, but what boat? I can lift the beams off my tiki 30 alone, but only just. 2 persons is perfect and easy. Good luck, regards Bart

[Björn]

3-4 people for Tiki 38 beams, once they are out you can move them around with 2 people.

1 - 2 people if you can access a forklift. For the rear beam you may need a support beam to rest the cockpit on.

This winter I am renovating the last beam, fortunately the front one which is the lightest, but still the mast support has to come out first.

[Brett Parker]

Hi Bart

Sorry , beams off a T 38. I found my t30,  beams heavy enough ,especially the rear one,but these look pretty solid!

[Dave Vinnicombe]

Hi Brett

I pulled my (T38) beams out with 3 people. As suggested it is best if they are slid out to one side. As the beam end leaves the one hull, it becomes 'lighter' as the centre moves closer to the other hull. Once the beam is balanced on the other hull it can be tipped down to the ground and it is then more easily handled. I placed a plank on the ground and as the beam end was lowered on to it, it was easier to slide the beam end along the plank until the beam end still resting on the hull was ready to be lifted off. Two people need to do this or you need one person on deck with a line around the beam end to assist with lowering it to the ground. The same trick with the plank and a line to the deck made lifting the beam back into to boat easier.

Good luck and have fun!!

Cheers,

Dave

[Brett Parker]

many thanks! looks like I'm going to have to rally the troops!

[Ann and Neville Clement]

In case anybody is interested in lifting the beams of a Tiki 46 for painting, we had to lift and lower ours a few times during the build.  To get them up on deck level, we used a fork lift attachment on a Sanderson (heavy farm equipment).  Once on deck, we lifted and lowered them several times for various reasons using block and tackle on to two saw horses left on deck for that reason.  This was easy enough for us to do with one on each hull using the main and foresail sheet tackles.  The saw hurses were good and strong.  Those beams were good and strong too and they still are.

Peace IV is for sale now (see our page) and she looks great now that we have finally gotten her tidy and ready for sale with a good wash inside and out plus some sanding and primer paint as needed.  It is amazing how well a properly built Wharram keeps her good looks and maintains her good sailing strength.  

All the best to you, Brett!

Ann and Nev