Repair and Maintenance of a Drascombe Lugger

A method of removing the Lugger centreplate:
Building a Wooden Hoisting Frame

Building the hoisting frame

The Lugger centreplate weighs in at between 31-35 Kg (70-77 lb), and is unwieldy to manhandle in the confines of a boat on its trailer. Having painful experience of straining my back through lifting heavy items I decided to play this one safe and build a hoisting frame.

This was constructed from planks of softwood the whole structure bolted together with 8 mm diameter bolts. After construction and a test assembly in the garden, the frame was dismantled and packed in the car for transport to the barn where the boat was in store for the winter.

Photo of hoisting frame packed in car Figure. 3 Hoisting frame packed in car.

The hoisting frame was constructed from softwood and designed to be dismantled for packing in the back of the family car!

(Click picture for larger view)

Making the hoist

The following sequence of photographs illustrates the use of the frame to extract the centreplate.

Photo of assembled hoisting frame Figure. 4 Photograph of assembled hoisting frame.

This photograph shows the hoisting frame bolted together. It was assembled on its side and consists of two 'A' frames joined together by six cross pieces. Note the blocks (mainsheet block and double block), and the mainsheeet which have been attached to the top crossbeam and which will be used for hoisting out the centreplate.

(Click picture for larger view)

Photo of righted hoisting frame with Lugger underneath

Figure. 5 Getting ready for the hoist

The frame (which is relatively lightweight), has been righted and positioned ready for the boat. The boat has been manouvred on its trailer so that the front end of the centreplate arm is beneath the cross-beam of the frame. A rope from the two blocks (mainsheet block plus a double block), can then be attached to a shackle in the forward arm of the centreplate and the hoist can commence.

(Click picture for larger view)

Photo of centreplate in the process of being extracted Figure. 6 Hoisting in progress - 1

The wooden centreplate capping has been removed as has the centreplate pivot. The mainsheet block has been attached to the shackle on the arm of the centreplate. An additional safety rope has also been attached in case one of the blocks or the mainsheet should fail. Note also how the slot in the top of the centreplate casing has been extended aft by about ten inches.

(Click picture for larger view)

Photo showing centreplate fully hoisted Figure. 7 Hoisting in progress - 2

The plate is now fully hoisted and clear of the boat.

(Click picture for larger view)

Photo showing removal completed Figure. 8 Extraction completed!

With the plate fully hoisted, the boat is simply pushed out on its trailer from beneath the frame. The centreplate can then be gently lowered on to the ground.

(Click picture for larger view)


Project started and completed, February 2002

[Back to page 1, General Notes]