Flipping Our 50 ft Hull By Ourselves - Ep. 396 RAN Sailing

Flipping Our 50 ft Hull By Ourselves – RAN Sailing

Last week’s episode featured the big day where we rolled out the hull of the barn to turn it right side up. We had to pull it more towards that side as there wasn’t much room for maneuver. The next step was to start moving the hull sideways using machine skates on pieces of plywood, which allowed us enough room on the other side for the first flip.

To move the boat about 1.2 meters sideways, we used a Leever Shane hoist connected to our car and another one on this side tied to a nearby tree. It was interesting to see how challenging it would be to move such a massive object. The process went smoothly with the plywood, and we didn’t face many issues.

Setting Up for Flipping

In preparation for flipping the hull, we checked everything needed to ensure a successful operation:

t
• Laid out plywood and gravel tracks.
t
• Attached slings to the front wheels of the tractor to distribute the load on nearby trees.
t
• Straightened one frame that had started to buckle slightly during transport.

We decided to use machine skates instead of rollers, positioning one in each corner of the hull. Each skate sat atop a piece of plywood for stability and easier movement. By doing this, we’d have enough room on the other side after moving 1.2m sideways.

To pull the boat sideways, we connected it to our car using one Leever Shane hoist, while another was connected to a tree down in the nearby forest. We checked everything thoroughly before starting and took care of any potential weak points.

Turning Process

The process of flipping our 50ft boat hull went smoothly with all precautions taken into consideration:

t
1. Lifted the boat’s weight by using dyema lines connected to trees.
t
2. Used a tractor, with forks and safety straps in place, as support while lifting.
t
3. Held the boat in position with two Leever Shane hoists during its turning process.

The most challenging part was when we got close to reaching the Tipping Point, requiring careful control of balance throughout. To stop any violent movement in the hull at this critical point, we had placed brakes on both sides.

By following these steps carefully, the boat was successfully flipped after three long hours of continuous work.

Bringing Back Inside

To get back inside the barn, we moved the hull sideways by roughly 4.3m again using the machine skates on plywood and gravel. It was quite an effortful task but manageable due to proper planning.

The process continued into the early evening; however, my Tiger Saw malfunctioned midway through cutting away all frames for easier boat entry. The boat was successfully brought inside just before midnight with the help of additional family members, marking a long yet rewarding day!

Moving Forward

After completing such an immense task in flipping and bringing back the 50ft boat hull inside the barn right-side up, it felt fantastic knowing that all elements had gone smoothly without hiring a crane or any other professional equipment. Thanks to careful planning and determination from the whole team.

We also learned essential lessons for future endeavors. The project’s entire operation took three full days with prep time included – from rolling out, performing two flips, and bringing it back inside.

The next phase will involve working on the inside of the hull, so be sure to stay tuned as we continue our journey together through building a unique sailboat adventure.