Folding Arch on 58TC

[Freebird]

I enjoyed a beautiful day yesterday on the lake with friends on the dock and then on the boat. Everyone is anxious to see ole' FREEBIRD come cruising in from down south.

One friend brought up a question that I quite frankly had not even considered. "Will that thing fit under the bridge coming in to the marina?", whoops, I forgot about that low bridge. He went on to tell me that a previous marina resident kept an older 53' Hatteras there during my absense from the marina (bought a house on the lake and kept my boat there). This Hatt owner couldn't make it under the bridge without lowering his arch. Apparently this fellow was real handy with designing various gadgets, and he designed a system that would allow him to lower his arch hydraulically from the comfort of his helm seat.

Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions on this? I haven't gotten up close and personal with the mounting hardware on my arch, but I do know it is of the bolt-on variety. I don't know that I would go the hydraulic route, but I was wondering if there is a pre-fab hinge set up for such a dilemma?

 

[questover]

I've had that done twice once on a 53c. And this last time on a 87- 58' You will have to take your boat to this yard. Contactl Dan Darling @ Darling
Yachts 3732 Utica Pike, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130. Phone 812 288 8997.

Russ

 

[Freebird]

Thanks for the reply, but Indiana is a little too far away for me to take advantage of your source. Maybe I'll contact your guy to see if he has a mail order solution to my problem. Again, thanks anyway!

 

[Freebird]

I've had that done twice once on a 53c. And this last time on a 87- 58' You will have to take your boat to this yard. Contactl Dan Darling @ Darling
Yachts 3732 Utica Pike, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130. Phone 812 288 8997.

Russ

Russ,

I called Dan at your suggestion. No luck with a pre-fab "kit" for a hydraulic set-up. Too bad your 58 wasn't a TC like mine. Maybe he would have been able to provide a kit for me based on the work he did for you (he remembered you by the way). Thanks again for the info, I suppose I'll keep on looking.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Randy,

Call me tonight I have an Idea that may work.

 

[DeeRow]

Randy,
These folks may be able to supply you with components, http://www.thepatricklevel.com/Custom.asp My local dealer for these systems says that they use trim tab hydraulics. Not sure if it would be strong enough for your radar arch, but give them a call.

Mark

 

[Nonchalant1]

Hatteras had one available as an option. Bear has a hydraulic automatic arch on his 61MY (Strategic Plan) and he has the original $28K option invoice from Hatteras. I've seen it work, it's slick. Maybe you can find a sunk or totaled Hatt that has one you can cannnibalize?

I have to lower my arch every time I go to the Great Lakes (19 ft. bridge). It has a fairly standard but sturdy stainless hinge on the aft sides with 2 through-bolts in the middle and a latch on the front. Problem was, it weighs about 200 lbs with the radar and sattelite tracking dish on it.

I solved the problem by rigging a removable chain and pulley from the front of the flybridge and then I run the cable from the dinghy davit in the back of the flybridge up front, through the pulley and back up to a nylon strap around the top of the arch. Then I use the power of the davit to help raise and lower the arch.

Doug

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Hatteras had one available as an option. Bear has a hydraulic automatic arch on his 61MY (Strategic Plan) and he has the original $28K option invoice from Hatteras. I've seen it work, it's slick.
Doug

Wow,
I'd like to see that. My arch is stationary like Randy's. If I ever decide to come and visit you Doug, I will be in trouble. I was wondering about retrofitting it with the hinges that you have, but even that looks to be quite a job.

I assume that you crewed on Strategic Plan for part of the trip with Bear. I bet you guys had fun sharing Hatt stories.

 

[Freebird]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. A $28k folding arch huh? I could probably get the Roane County Highway Department to install a hinge on that low bridge for less than that! That arch would be a great match to the $90k european platform (see thread: Adeamo) that I'm trying to get State Farm to spring for as a replacement for the teak platform I had damaged (Maiden Voyage From Hell) at a marina! I'll track down these leads and let you know the end result. Thanks again.

 

[Freebird]

I solved the problem by rigging a removable chain and pulley from the front of the flybridge and then I run the cable from the dinghy davit in the back of the flybridge up front, through the pulley and back up to a nylon strap around the top of the arch. Then I use the power of the davit to help raise and lower the arch.

Doug

Dang Doug, that's a helluva idea. Ever been to safe moving school? Moving 2,000lbs safes into people's houses by myself has taught me some pretty neat tricks pertaining to leverage and Egyptian techniques of using rollers. I'd like to think I would have sooner or later thought of the idea of using the electric winch on my davit to handle lowering and raising the arch. But now that you've done that for me, I can concentrate on bigger tasks such as getting FREEBIRD back home to TN in one piece!

 

[StratPlan61]

Hey guys, remember my Marquipt-installed hydraulic RADAR arch was $28k back in 1984 - not sure what it might cost today, it scares me to think about it. It is nice and it does work great. Yes, Doug and I enjoyed a few laughs and he and his wife were great guides and help on my recent trip north. They are extrmely knowledgeable and a delight to be with!!
Doug's pulley/windlass arrangement for his arch is great and much more reasonable than a hydraulic alternative.
I believe Marquipt still builds these hydraulic arch mechanisms, visit their website or call them up. I find them very helpful over the telephone!
If anyone (Skye) wants to look at mine, I am in Cheboygan at Duncan Bay Boat Club writing my book. Call me and come over - I'll provide the drinks!!

Bear'
1984 61' MY Strategic Plan

 

[Nonchalant1]

Dang Doug, that's a helluva idea. Ever been to safe moving school? Moving 2,000lbs safes into people's houses by myself has taught me some pretty neat tricks pertaining to leverage and Egyptian techniques of using rollers. I'd like to think I would have sooner or later thought of the idea of using the electric winch on my davit to handle lowering and raising the arch. But now that you've done that for me, I can concentrate on bigger tasks such as getting FREEBIRD back home to TN in one piece!

Randy,

Just remember that you can create huge amounts of pull on that cable with the leverage when the arch is lower than 1/2 way down. To lift it, I hold the winch button in my hand while I push up to help it lift the arch those first 2 feet. After it's 1/2 up, I don't need to help and when it's full up, the winch holds it up while I bolt it back together.

BTW - I looked at your website....while you're concentrating on other stuff, maybe look at fixing those dead links on your safes website. Two of your three product lines lead to nothing....dead links.

Good luck with your (eventual) trip home.

Doug

 

[Freebird]

Randy,

Just remember that you can create huge amounts of pull on that cable with the leverage when the arch is lower than 1/2 way down. To lift it, I hold the winch button in my hand while I push up to help it lift the arch those first 2 feet. After it's 1/2 up, I don't need to help and when it's full up, the winch holds it up while I bolt it back together.

BTW - I looked at your website....while you're concentrating on other stuff, maybe look at fixing those dead links on your safes website. Two of your three product lines lead to nothing....dead links.

Good luck with your (eventual) trip home.

Doug

Hey Doug,

Thanks for the disclaimer regarding your arch set-up. As for my website, yeah, I know there's a problem with two links. These manufacturers changed something recently, and my web guy has run off with the CD that I need to fix the problem. FYI you can still click on the home page links when the error messages pop up, they're highlighted in red. You need a safe, or were you just curious about me and lookin' up my skirt?

 

[Freebird]

Hey guys, remember my Marquipt-installed hydraulic RADAR arch was $28k back in 1984 - not sure what it might cost today.

Marquipt huh, that certainly explains the price tag! I've got a couple of their Sea Stairs and those boys sure are proud of their stuff. Of course it could be their hydraulic part wasn't all that expensive. If this was factory installed (which I believe someone said it was) you paid a pretty penny for labor for those Hatt boys to install this gizmo. I'm pretty handy with screwdrivers and big "boat" hammers, so maybe I could install it myself and save some $$$.

I'll check their website to see what they have to offer.

 

[Nonchalant1]

Hey Doug,

Thanks for the disclaimer regarding your arch set-up. As for my website, yeah, I know there's a problem with two links. These manufacturers changed something recently, and my web guy has run off with the CD that I need to fix the problem. FYI you can still click on the home page links when the error messages pop up, they're highlighted in red. You need a safe, or were you just curious about me and lookin' up my skirt?

I never knew you wear skirts.

Doug

 

[Freebird]

I never knew you wear skirts.

Doug

Kilts, Bubba, Kilts! They sure do feel good with a good ole' Southern breeze!

 

[Docs Holiday]

Nonchalant-can you post a picture of your pulley arch moving setup for us to see?

 

[Nonchalant1]

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it, and the next time I'm going to use it will be in June 2007 when we enter the Erie Canal from the Hudson river on our Great Circle Route cruise. Literally all it is is a strong chain and shackle, a big pulley for the chain and a strap to go around the top of the arch. I run the chain in a circle around the flybridge windshield railing at both center stanchions (about 2 ft. apart) and then out to the pulley. Then I put a PFD on the big fiberglass flybridge console top as a support pad for the davit arm. I point the davit to the rear towards the center of the flybridge where the pulley is and run the davit cable through the pulley and up to the webbing strap on the top of the arch.

Mostly, the davit holds the arch in place very well when it's up but unlatched and unbolted. The weak point of the assist system is obviously the 1 in. stainless steel windshield railing on the front of the flybridge. Even though it is very strong and I have checked every screw and setscrew, I'm sure I could bend it or pull it right off with the power of the davit if I tried to use it to really lift the arch from down to halfway up. From halfway up to full up, I do just use the davit power since most of the weight of the arch is then supported by the arch hinges. I lower the arch by hand taking most of the weight myself as I run the davit down. The hinged arch rests then on a 2X4 brace in the rear when it's down. When I lift it, I do the opposite, doing 90% of the lifting myself until it's halfway up, where the pull on the davit cable is not very strong. Again, the davit holds it up really well while I hitch the latches and bolt the bolts. Still, it would be easy to misuse the power of the davit and either break something or hurt yourself.

I originally designed one to really use the power of the davit, by setting up a 6 ft. 4X4 vertical post from the front flybridge deck with a cable going down to the big bow cleats on both sides. The Pulley would then be connected to the V bend of the bow cable at the top of the post. This would handle more pull from the davit, but it's too much hassle and too hard to store, so I just lift it by hand as explained with the davit as an assist. I've used this system about a dozen times and it takes me (solo) about 45 minutes either up or down, with most of that time just to get to and properly handle the big bolts in the arch base. I'll need it 7 times on the Great Circle Route cruise.

Doug

 

[Freebird]

Hey Guys,

I actually had a little time to take a closer look at the arch on FREEBIRD when I moved her to Riviera Dunes this past week-end.

Turns out this arch is held in place by only four bolts, two per side. I didn't try it, but it appears that the forward bolts can be removed, and this should allow the arch to fold down within the bracket the arch bolts to.

Also got some interesting news about my davit yesterday from a fellow at Pipewelders. Turns out it's one of theirs, and based on the description I gave him, he told me it is likely one of their 1,000lb models! He told me where to look for a SN to verify, but it's a pretty safe bet that I have more than enough capacity to handle the 625lb Whaler I bought to keep FREEBIRD company.