Crane maximum of 6000 pounds: Is 25' Too Heavy?

[BoatGuy]

I am considering the purchase of a C-Dory. Where I plan to launch, the crane has a maximum load of 6000 pounds. Since I want to fuel up before I launch, I am concerned that the 25' model with a full load of fuel and with typical gear might be too heavy.

Should I avoid getting a 25' model for this reason?

How much do your 25' boats weigh without the trailer, full of gear and fuel?

[Captains Cat]

Well, let's add them up.

Boat #3602 (according to C-Dory Specs) dry

Honda 150HP #478 (according to Honda website)

100 gallons of fuel #800 (max, maybe full of a lot of water)

Water/holding tank #400 max.

Beer #100

That makes #5380.

Leaves you about #600 for other stuff. How much is your stuff gonna weigh?

Most lifts have a safety factor of 150% built in. But it 's a SAFETY FACTOR and meant to keep you from breaking something important.

You gotta be the judge on this one.....Even if folks tell you what their boats weigh, you'd have to find out exactly what they had on them to make sure you didn't bust the weight budget.

I'd put a standard disclaimer here if I had one. Just make believe that I did!!

Charlie

[KenG]

unless I had the cash to junk one boat and buy another would I get within 10% of the stated load capacity of a crane (the so-called safety margin isn't yours to "spend"),

There must be somewhere else you can launch?

[AstoriaDave]

CC wrote: That makes #5380. Leaves you about #600 for other stuff. How much is your stuff gonna weigh?

Folks who operate log loaders and similar heavy lifters would be concerned. If the capacity of the crane really is 6000 lbs, and you load it with a 5990 lb boat, the crane will be able to hold it but not lift it very fast ... lifting adds dynamic load to the crane arm, and lifting faster increases the dynamic load. More than one log loader operator has tipped his rig over because of this. I bet Oldgrowth has seen this happen.

You can see evidence for this effect if you hang a 20 lb salmon on a spring scale and watch the reading (load) on the spring scale when you suddenly lift the scale and salmon. It is not hard to make the scale "weigh" 30 lbs. Similar physics involved in the feeling of extra weight on your feet when an elevator initially accelerates.

That said, I bet a rated lift capacity of 6000 lbs has a hefty margin for the effects of dynamic loading in it. Find a buddy with a 5500 lb boat and see how his does!!

[Sawdust]

There are several posts on here with actual scale weights of 25's. The factory numbers don't include all the extra stuff, and they add a bunch! Start at the bow and work aft -- anchor and rode, windlass, radar, heavy wiring, etc, etc.

You would be pushing the limit fer sure.

Dusty

[journey on]

Weighed the CD25 on a trailer, without the kicker, no gas (or as much as I could get out.)

9000# gross. Estimate/spec of 2000# for trailer gives ~7000# for the boat AS ABOVE. Got some agreement from another CD25.

I think the C-dory weight is just the bare hull. They add steering, stove, refrig, toilet and we add a lot, electronics, pots, pans, etc. I figure 7500# when it goes into the water.

Just asking, has anybody ever got 100 gal in a CD25 tank?

Boris

[Sea Skipper]

[Da Nag]

Your actual weight might not be your primary concern.

Rather, if the crane operator won't provide you service, it doesn't matter what the scales say. They may very well refuse service, knowing you could potentially weigh more than the lift capacity - whether you actually do or not. I seriously doubt they will weigh you each time, just to verify...

I wouldn't even bother looking into this further, until you get clearance from the lift operator.

[BoatGuy]

It sounds like I should concentrate on a 22' boat.

Thanks for the prompt responses. What a great group!