Trojan Boat Forum

Does anyone have any experience putting an F32 on a tidal grid for below waterline repair?

I need to check a prop, and the grid is much less expensive than the travellift. I'm concerned my F32 may try to tilt because of the keel, or that the props may contact the grid before the keel.

Not sure what a tidal grid is but we have electric lifts which you drive onto and pull the boat vertically above the water...no experience with having my 32 on such a lift. They are usually set-up for an individual boat with it's bottom's configuration. How about getting a diver to inspect?

I am a diver, but the harbor is being dredged, and visiblity is about a foot(like chocolate milk).

A tidal grid is a series of heavy wooden beams, running perpendicular to a dock. You drive over it at high tide, tie off to the pilings, then as the tide ebbs, the boat rest on the planks, allowing access to the bottom of the boat, until the tide comes back in.

Thinking about it, there are probably no tidal grids where there is insufficient tidal differential. We have 15'-34' tides

F-32 is nose heavy so it should want to tip forward onto the bunks in the tidal grid as the tide recedes.

I think that would be tricky on a large boat. The shafts would hit the wood and you would have to put some kind of bracing on the boat to hold it straight , like they do when you dry dock. I think that would be necessary.

Thanks for the reply. They actually do it with boats very much larger than my 32'. I'll let you know how it goes. One thing needed to be sure of is that the props end up between the beams. I'll post photos, good or bad.

Thanks again,

Dave

I sure hope you do post pictures. I would like to see it. Thanks.

Sounds like a stationary railway. Instead of winching up out of water you let water fall away like a drydock.