Hi guys. I've got a 1989 292 sr1 which gets craned in & out when we use it.
I was told by the previous owner that the bow cleat/eye & the upper stern u-bolts can be used to attach the strops for lifting. Does anyone know if this is true or not? Thanks...Matt

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/matthew...tegory=formula

Just make sure that the rod is in there from the bow eye to the cleat and you should be fine to lift up the boat like that.

Jon

Thanks. Do you know anyone that has done it? I asked the factory as well and they said they don't lift them like that, they use slings. Just don't want to be a guinea pig in case I've missed anything important.
M

Personally, I wouldn't even consider lifting my 311 by the bow-eye/rear ubolts. These boats are heavy and they're not new anymore. Any flex in either area will result in injured gel coat at a minimum, structural damage at worst. Especially the rear upper ubolts. They are really there to attach the board to the hull and maybe pull other boats a bit. The boards can get quite "spongy" in that area. Makes my get the willies just thinking about lifting there, even after rebuilding my board, I wouldn't do it.

Use straps. Its the safest way to lift your boat, any boat for that matter.

I wouldn't do it to mine , but that's just my own opinion,
Just imagine one of those pulling out , particularly the bow since you're pulling up on the rod . Stern would be less likely to pull out , but like thirdbird said , you could still do some damage