Launches and Haulouts – Shearwater Yacht Club

In order to keep costs down, we must assist the rigger as much as possible. We must assist with the set up and strike down of the crane at the start of the day, any time the crane has to be moved, and at the end of the day when the crane is being packed up to leave. We are paying for the crane from the minute it leaves its yard to the minute it gets back there. The less time it spends at SYC the less it is going to cost us.

To avoid idle time we must have constant movement, ie when one boat is in the air, another must be coming into position to be lifted and a third either preparing to leave its dock or circling in the pool waiting to come in to the lift area. This usually is the case, but occasionally the system has broken down and the crane been left idling while the next boat is brought in.

Only the rigger is to pass instructions to the crane operator. The owner or his/her rep will tell the rigger what he/she wants, and the rigger will pass the instructions to the crane operator. The Yard manager or his/her rep can override the owner if there is a safety consideration, or the boat owner is taking up too much time or yard space in placing his/her boat. We have a limited amount of space, can’t have an acre per boat, and if we take too long on an individual boat it will cost us all. Play safe, but try to be quick.

Small boats will be moved from the winter storage area of the clubhouse by the yard trailer and tractor. This equipment can only be used by our qualified members. We will alternate boats, ie a big boat will be landed or launched, meanwhile the tractor and trailer will be bringing a small boat or it’s cradle to the crane for launch or haul out, for this reason following the laid down sequence for the small boats is critical. It’s not going to work if Chianti’s cradle is brought to the crane when Althea is being lifted. The yard manager and his/her assistants will have the launch/haul out sequence for the small boats and it must be adhered to in order to keep a smooth flow going. 3 or 4 members will be needed to assist with lifting and storing of the cradles.

Boats must be prepared when they come into the lift position. A long (30 ft or more) bow and stern line (in windy conditions two of each for the small boats) must be rigged for the line handlers and thrown overboard at the last minute. Safety lines must be secured to the boat (toe rail if possible) so that the straps can be tied, preventing them from slipping as the boat is lifted. This is to avoid dropping the boat, a very undesirable and costly event. We now use Irving cranes, and they do not insist on this safety measure, it is left up to the owners if they want to do it. It is advisable for full keel boats.

Boats in the mooring field are to be brought into the marina area as soon as a space is available. Owners are to watch for this, and as soon as a space is vacated, their boat is to be brought in. The club zodiac will be manned and can run the owner out to his boat, but cannot linger. If the boat cannot be started immediately the zodiac cox’n is to check with the Yard Manager before towing the boat in. Cell phones or two-way VHF radios will be used to communicate with the zodiac. If the zodiac is not required immediately the boat is to be towed in as quickly as possible.

Every owner is expected to be present and to help out. If the owner cannot be present, in order to have his boat craned he must have a designated, authorised representative there, and the Yard manager and office must be informed. If necessary the owner can request the club to look after his boat for him, but he must (in writing) give the club permission to crane his boat in or out of the water and locate it in his winter storage (or, in the spring, launch it and secure it to his dock/mooring. It remains the owner’s responsibility to ensure the boat is properly secured, and his mooring bridles are in good shape, these things should be checked by the owner as soon as possible). The owner must accept full responsibility for the lift. Stay until the crane is finished for the day, remember, the faster the crane is packed up and gone, the less it is going to cost us all. If people leave as soon as their boat is out and secured, by the end of the day there will be very few workers left and we will pay the cost.

The Yard Manager, or his designated assistant, will coordinate the lifting sequence. If a boat is not ready he will call for the next boat in sequence immediately, and the missed boat will be craned as soon as it is ready. If for some reason the boat cannot be lifted during the scheduled haul out the owner will have to get a crane and lift his boat at his expense, unless the delay was caused by SYC. Any disputes between the owner and Yard manager or his assistants will be settled quickly by putting the boat back in the water while it is sorted out, or, if the yard trailer is being used and a dispute arises, the boat and cradle will be parked wherever the yard manager thinks is convenient and out of the way, and the matter will be resolved while other boats are being lifted. This is to avoid causing idle time for the crane.

Lunch breaks. Generally the crane stops for lunch. A lunch break would be taken if it is known that the lift (due to the number of boats, or unforeseen delays) will take two days. If no lunch break is taken, owners are requested to go for lunch a few at a time, so as not to cause a delay.