DIY Truss for lifting

[bbn]

I'll soon need to lift up and flip the boat I'm building. The boat is 18' long, 8' wide and is probably about 300 - 400 kg. In preparation for this I erected to posts 15' a part near its middle. My question is how should I make the beam (gantry) from which I plan to hang a block and tackle?

Here is a picture of it. You can just see one of the posts on the other side of the boat.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/lcasambre/SB18/CopyofIMG_1071.jpg

I'm thinking 4 pieces of 3/16" x 2" x 2" angle bars spaced 1-1/2' a part with 45 degree webbing ... but I not a structural engineer.

[timber715]

can' help you much here bro, but that is a nice looking build. is that a catamaran? more pictures naman... goodluck on the build.

[guad]

Whether or not it winds up being DIY, it might be interesting to get a quote and maybe even truss design from Matimco (TrussWood). They claim to be able to do 'simple to complex' designs, so what could be simpler than a single truss.

[bbn]

@guad

Thanks for the tip. It will surely come in handy if not for this project then some other ... a bigger workshop :).

@timber

Thanks bro there are whole bunch of pictures at our boatbuilding forum but to be perfectly honest I believe a woodworker would scoff at my builds which are more functional than aesthetic. I do eventually plan to build one that looks like furniture but that's probably for when I finally retire so I keep a "foot" here to watch your's and other guys builds.

The boat in the picture is a monohull. I still have not picked a catamaran to build but there is a good chance I eventually will build one. Catamarans seem to be more suited to our country and my always lacking time.

This is our current boat. It is a 13 footer. It took me about 2 years to build. I'm especially proud of the wooden mast that was quite a woodworking challenge.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/lcasambre/CR13/DSC_0297.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/lcasambre/CR13/P9070293.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/lcasambre/CR13/P9070310.jpg

[bbn]

We're also building two small boats for our kids. This is one them which is about 50% finished:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/lcasambre/KOpti/IMG_1035.jpg

All of the boats above can capsize which is ok but I wouldn't want that to happen if we were say going to Puerto Galera which is why I'm building the 18-footer. The 18-footer can also capsize but because it is ballasted it is also self-righting meaning it will flip back up by itself.

Oh I also build a canoe to go fishing in.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g227/lcasambre/Muskoka/IMGA3638.jpg

Hey this thread is off-topic .... I really need a way to lift and flip my boats the red boat takes 4 people and the new boat will probably take 10 or more.

[bbn]

After I posted my reply I went back and reread Timber's query ... hahaha he was only asking about the 18-footer ... and I replied with 4 other boats. Sorry guys I get carried away when asked about boats :).

[timber715]

Oh I also build a canoe to go fishing in.

thats ok as long as you invite us to go fishing with you... I'm an avid angler if you didn't know...
keep the work coming and goodluck on the lift.

[bbn]

That's great to hear Timber. Actually, I got into boat building because I wanted to rekindle my fishing. I do fish every so often, the most recent was a 2-day fishing/camping trip at Lake Lumot. Yes, lets go fishing one of these days ... definitely once I finish this one:

http://www.bateau.com/boats/GV17/slides/GV17_from_bow.jpg
http://www.bateau.com/boats/GV17/slides/GV17_beached.jpg

I already have the motor and plans, all I need is the space.