Lifting a Drift Boat Up

[Trout Guy]

Ok so I bought a Clackacraft from a member on this forum a couple months back. Since it's march already, I wanna get it in the shop so I can fix a few things, clean the bottom and possibly repaint it.

I'm just wondering if anybody here has any experience or suggestions on how to lift the boat up, and keep it suspended so I can get underneath it to clean it and paint the bottom.

 

[Pete]

If it's a one-time project, and you don't want to invest in slings, & elaborate rigging equipment...
Is turning it upside down, and putting it on two (or more) saw horses a possibility?

 

[lightenup]

Flip it over, have MAC crawl underneath it and start talking...the hot air he spews will cause it to magically levitate..

 

[Trout Nazi]

Ok so I bought a Clackacraft from a member on this forum a couple months back. Since it's march already, I wanna get it in the shop so I can fix a few things, clean the bottom and possibly repaint it.

I'm just wondering if anybody here has any experience or suggestions on how to lift the boat up, and keep it suspended so I can get underneath it to clean it and paint the bottom.

I thought you had to re-gel coat, not paint, no? I've seen pictures of the re-gel coating process on line, they have the boat flipped over on what appears to saw-horse like stands.

So when we float'in? I had to at least try to mooch a drift before the Beetle ruins it for everyone.

 

[MACFLY]

TG

No real magic here. You tip it over and place it on saw horses. You will likely need 3 or 4 guys to lift it and get it into position. Here is one link to how to repair. It all depends on what you are trying to do.


How to Repair a Fiberglass Drift Boat | eHow

 

[MACFLY]

Heres is a link to a youtube video on the subject.

Fiberglass Boat Repair - YouTube

 

[Trout Guy]

I thought you had to re-gel coat, not paint, no? I've seen pictures of the re-gel coating process on line, they have the boat flipped over on what appears to saw-horse like stands.

So when we float'in? I had to at least try to mooch a drift before the Beetle ruins it for everyone.

Yea I'm gonna gel coat the bottom and repaint the upper half. Flipping it and usung saw horses sounds like a good way to do it, I was actually thinking about putting 2x4's under the channeling on the edges and using our car lift to lift it in the air. But I'm kinda worried that the weight would crack it along the channeling.


I'm trying to float asap. But I'll only float people for the price of a LARGE coffee, so GB has to save his pennies..

 

[CTobias]

TG

No real magic here. You tip it over and place it on saw horses. You will likely need 3 or 4 guys to lift it and get it into position. Here is one link to how to repair. It all depends on what you are trying to do.


How to Repair a Fiberglass Drift Boat | eHow

3-4 Guys if you're weak like Mac. Two normal adult males who aren't limp wristed can easily turn it over by themselves.

 

[CTobias]

I'm trying to float asap. But I'll only float people for the price of a LARGE coffee, so GB has to save his pennies..

What about $2 and a HJ?

 

[tomfly]

When my father was alive, he had an of shore sport fisher. I can tell you from experience Gel coat will F### you up. My brother and filled some deep scratches on the under side of the hull. We did know at the time how sick that stuff can make you. We used the common dust masks while we applied it and during the sanding process. TG do yourself a favor and splurge on a quality respirator and minimize the skin contact with the uncured coating.

 

[Trout Guy]

What about $2 and a HJ?

Make it $3 and you got yer self a deal!

 

[Trout Guy]

When my father was alive, he had an of shore sport fisher. I can tell you from experience Gel coat will F### you up. My brother and filled some deep scratches on the under side of the hull. We did know at the time how sick that stuff can make you. We used the common dust masks while we applied it and during the sanding process. TG do yourself a favor and splurge on a quality respirator and minimize the skin contact with the uncured coating.

Haha! Yea I bet it did!

I paint cars at work, so yea I'll be using my respirator.

 

[MACFLY]

3-4 Guys if you're weak like Mac. Two normal adult males who aren't limp wristed can easily turn it over by themselves.

By the looks of your old boat I would stick with 3 to 4 you boob

 

[CTobias]

By the looks of your old boat I would stick with 3 to 4 you boob

That all happened while it was upright, floating down a river, at a high rate of speed you boob.

 

[MACFLY]

That all happened while it was upright, floating down a river, at a high rate of speed you boob.

I know it was because you couldnt see over the top right.

 

[Joe D]

Take the seats out, remove the oar locks, get some help and flip it over onto some sturdy saw horses or racks.

I know a guy who does an excellent job of redoing drift boat bottoms with a material that beats gelcoating it. He smooths the bottom, repairs any nicks & dings prior to resurfacing. Comes out real professional, like it was built that way from the start. I think he's at $500 a boat now. Send me a PM if you want his contact info.

 

[CTobias]

I know it was because you couldnt see over the top right.

It sure was.

If you ever float anything besides the Delaware you will see what it's like to really have to row, you boob.

If you float the SR, just be careful of the can openers that start below sportsman and end after you get to the black hole. Can openers are where the slate pinches together. They like to catch chines and rip them open.