Trawler_traveler
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2017
- Messages
- 89
- Location
- Where the anchor is
- Vessel Name
- Shiplet
- Vessel Make
- 382 Diesel Duck
I love that we no longer have to hoist our dinghy up the mast to lift it over the side to launch or retrieve, but the crane offers its own challenges.
The dinghy and motor aren't huge but controlling the ~200 pounds at the end of the crane in big swells certainly is exciting. It wants to play wrecking ball and there is no brake preventing the crane from swinging around.
Once the dinghy is down far enough to use controlling lines from deck the excitement dies down, but while the dinghy is at the top it is pretty much like a rodeo. The fact that there are no rails or lifelines on the top deck make it more fun.
I have looked for some way for one person on the top deck controlling the swinging while also running the winch but so far I haven't come up with any ingenious answers. Are there any tricks I might be missing or are there brake systems that can be retrofitted to this kind of crane ?
Thanks,
-Sven
The dinghy and motor aren't huge but controlling the ~200 pounds at the end of the crane in big swells certainly is exciting. It wants to play wrecking ball and there is no brake preventing the crane from swinging around.
Once the dinghy is down far enough to use controlling lines from deck the excitement dies down, but while the dinghy is at the top it is pretty much like a rodeo. The fact that there are no rails or lifelines on the top deck make it more fun.
I have looked for some way for one person on the top deck controlling the swinging while also running the winch but so far I haven't come up with any ingenious answers. Are there any tricks I might be missing or are there brake systems that can be retrofitted to this kind of crane ?
Thanks,
-Sven