just wondering if anyone has advice. I have a 27 ft keel boat. it is moored in melbourne i was thinking of transporting it home 10km from where it is, so i can do major maintenance on it. Has anyone done this, looking for the most cost effective way. Where can i get a cradle, what are the down side to this, any info would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Hi Globetrotter
would need a wide load permit and maybe a pilot.
Mast needs to come out and put back in...$$ if you can't take it out yourself.
We trailed a 24ft keelboat from Sydney to Brisbane on a car trailer with the keel removed and placed in a corner of the trailer. Don't know whether your keel is integrated or bolted on??
Have also transported the same boat with the keel in situ, boat in her hardstand trailer, on the back of a towtruck. Height restrictions??
Cheers
Tracey
Thanks for that one Ramona.
Looking at the photo it appears the bipod was set up in front of the mast and when freed, the foot taken forward and the head aft.
If the spreaders are located close to the centre of gravity of the mast, this method of mast raising and lowering is as stress free and controllable as it can get.
I am pondering whether use of aluminium scaffolding tube (T6) and locating a pad eye or swivel bolt through the mast at C of G would be a strong enough rig for raising and lowering the mast of our S&S 34.
I am guessing the mast weighs around 150kg as two of us are just able to lift it.
I am figureing one of the genoa sheet turning blocks rigged at the peak of the frame with a long enough sheet taken to a turning block on the mast step and back to a winch, we have just about got it up.
Is that the way you see it???
Cisco,
That's pretty much it. It will vary slightly from boat to boat. The tricky part is staying the poles fore and aft and securing the feet.
150 kilos sounds a bit heavy for an SS34 mast, I presume yours is a mk 1 with the heavy section. Try inquiring on;
http://www.topshare.com.au/cgi-bin/SnSForum/YaBB.pl
Friend of mine, John M would probably be able to tell you exact weight.
Yes she is a Mk 1 single spreader rig and the section is the Taskers T10 or 11 which is affectionately known as "The Tree"
.
I am a long way from putting the mast up yet but I think a couple of lengths of scaff tube would be a good investment any way. Lots of other things I can do with it like spinnaker poles or land yacht frames.
What I have in mind is using measurements I take off the yacht and building the bipod set up and doing a dummy run with the mast on the ground in the boat yard.
When I get to that stage I will photograph it and post on the forum but it will be a while yet. Cheers Cisco.
thanks guys. If i was in sydney it would be very easy as that company sounds exactly what i need. The keel is bolted but i would prefer not to touch it!! Thanks for the tip on taking mast down. I am planning to start work late April will let you know the progress
I recently tranported my 42' Gazelle schooner about 60' LOA from western VIC to the Goldcoast no problems at all and is now in my back yard
Only need a pilot if beam is more than 11' 6" and mine is 11' 4.5".
My advice is get plenty of quotes because they vary alot!
Crane companies can be rip offs so be carefull.
I was lucky my guys were good both ends and the transport guys were awesome no stress at all.
I made my own cradle and used the plans of the boat for all the dimentions.
I brought A big "I" beam from the scrap yard which they delivered and got everything else from the steel factory, most of which were off cuts and 8 high tensile bolts.
All up the cradle cost about $400 including paint.
It was a nervess moment when the 120ton crain lowered her down I can assure but everything was sweet. All thoughs hours thinking and making sure "everything"
was right had paid off 
Having her at home is great I can work on her day and night and I have heaps of storage space so theres nothing in the way when im working.
I also setup my garden shed as a workshop and tool storage which is very handy also can hide in there when its raining and still get heaps done.
The biggest advantage for me is the cost to have her at home "free" and I can work for 2 mins or all day and night and not have to go anywhere
There has been alot of progress since these photos were taken.
great photos this is exactly what i was thinking of. Going to the marina to do work wastes 2hrs. travel, setting up, forgetting tools & then chit chat to other owners no work gets done. This way i can do it whenever i get a chance. Could you recommend a crane company in melb?
ps when will you relaunch....? & good luck with that
Hi Globetrotter
LoL... You can waste the whole day at the ship yard just with chit chat
Sorry I dont know any crane drivers in Melb, I used warnambool cranes. Its best to call and get quotes from a few and allow plenty of time to book both crane and truck because there always busy.
The old fella that was building her became ill so the project became just a hobby for him as he loved the sea and he was a real sailer, can tell by the way she has been fitout for comfort at sea. He passed away last year and I brought her from the family. I sold my Compass 28 to get her as we needed something bigger to live on and cruise long term.
I also got lots of his old books and just about everything to finish her off.
He spent alot of money buying everything and its all new just needs fitting. I have lots of old world stuff like deadeyes, very nice bronze steering wheel and lots of nice timber work that he made. She looks like an old girl in the photos because she was never finished been painted but she is brand new never been near the salt.
Im hoping to take about 1 to 2 years at most to finish her off and I really look forward to launching her for the first time, Shame the old fella can't be there, Id like to see the smile on his face.
There are lots of little details put into her that I can appreciate that will make cruising a pleasure, she's a real little ship 
This fit out in picture is Tom Colvens original but he modified it and I have the same modified version thats not pictured.
