I have owned my 365 for 10 years and have sailed launched and sailed it in Canada, USA and Bahamas - every time I have the boat hauled or lifted using a travel-lift, the correct location for the aft strap becomes an issue. I recently sustained about $5000.00 damage to the prop, shaft and strut when having the boat hauled in Florida. This is not the first time that the shaft has been damaged or bent. When the boat was in it's home port in Canada, the water was clear and the lifting strap was visible. My home port yard placed the aft strap at a strange angle catching the keel at a point just below where the shaft enters the hull - the boat is then lifted at a strange angle to prevent the strap from sliding up and catching the shaft, more than once the strap has been in contact with the shaft and the boat must be lowered and the strap lifting point adjusted, hopefully with no damage to the shaft. This rather imperfect lifting technique was used by several yards in the Canada, USA and the Bahamas and the shaft was damage twice and had to be straightened, not expensive but painful to watch nevertheless.
However, three years ago when I moved the boat to Florida the yard decided that it would be better to lift the boat by inserting the aft strap forward of the rudder, hopefully missing the prop up to a point just behind the strut. This works well when launching the boat as the lift point is easy to locate, however when pulling the boat from the water this is a very tricky procedure. The water at the marina is river water and is very muddy, zero visibility so the strap location is pure guess work and the last time the boat was lifted the strap caught the prop, bending the shaft, strut and is now in for repairs (very expensive !) In order to prevent this happening again I would like to know how other 365 owners lift go about lifting their boats and the preferred strap location etc.
Richard Walls
World Spectator
I would suggest the following...
1) Use a section of non floating line with one person on either side of the boat . Work the line under the aft section while keeping it tight to the bottom of the hull. You can feel when you are on the rudder and as you work the line back and forth you will feel when the line slides from the rudder to the hull into the area between the rudder skeg and the prop skeg.
2) Keep the line tight to the hull (cleat it off on both sides of the boat) and tie one end of the line to one end of the travel lift strap.
3) Use the line to pull the travel lift strap under the hull. Keep tension on the line and strap at all times.
4) Keep tension on the travel lift strap to keep it in position and against the hull. And reconnect the strap to the travel lift.
5) Keep the strap tight to the hull until the travel lift tensions the strap.
6) As the travel lift applies tension, go below and turn the drive shaft by hand. If there is any drag or it will not turn (put transmission in neutral) the strap is on the prop or shaft. If so... try again.
I have found that most travel lift straps are far too stiff to work them where they have to be. Even brand new straps are far too stiff.
I hope this help...
Good sailing, Dale Tanski
World Spectator, The lifting reference points I use are the aft ports the ones that are over chart table and stove.I have the aft edge of the strap lined with the aft end of the ports.Forward strap placed just forward the keel.I always put a safety line to make sure the straps don't try to separate.This works for me I haven't had any damage yet.Allen
I found two pictures on my 365 when she was hauled for the survey in 2001. the yard used a single point crane with an overhead bridle. The yard was very familiar with this boat and slipped the strap between the rudder blade and the hull. They did not use a restraining strap between the forward strap to prevent the aft strap from slipping out but this worked for them.
The reason I found this topic is my friend recently had his 365 hauled and had shaft and strut damage. He was not present at the haulout and cannot protest the damage, possibly caused by strap location during the lifting process. I helped move the boat to the yard the day prior and there was no vibration during the three hours we motored.
If one uses the strap behind the rudder post, I would certainly have some method of keeping the strap from sliding out and dropping the boat. I would be present during the haulout process with a camera at the ready.