Boat hoist around Palacios Tx?

[craiglaforce]

I moved to houston a few months ago and have the boat down at Palacios.

Before I moved, someone here replied as to someone that had a rig setup of some sort that could lift a 26X for a bottom job.
But can't find the old post.

The local boat yard down there wants $300 to lift the boat which seems out of line to me.

Thanks
Craig

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Craig,

JonBill is in Palacios also, and he used a metal "A" frame set up that I have stored on my farm near Houston. His "M" bottom job went well. I also used the same system to do the bottom job on my "X". If you would be interested in the use of the equipment, youre most welcome to borrow it.

You will need a trailer to retrieve the boat, and then use the "jack" system on the trailer to position the boat on aft blocks, and then raise the front onto the metal "A" frame. The trailer will pull out clear of the boat in order to do the bottom job. You could do the bottom job there in Palacios, and simply haul the equipment to a work site near your slip. If you have a pick up, all the stuff will fit well for hauling. The metal "A" frame comes apart, and is easily assembled.

Anyway, youre welcome to borrow this stuff. If you see JonBill, he can further explain how the equipment is set up (he has his "M" slipped at Serendipity Marina in Palacios).

Louis

[craiglaforce]

Thanks Louis,

I guess since I only have a couple days off to do this, In the interest of not killing myself, I will probably pay the boat yard to put me up in the air.
Mainly I need to drop the centerboard to paint and inspect it. might not get the height with the A frame thing you mention, plus not sure if I have access to any land down there to do the work. Hate to get chased off half way through the job.

By the way, they opened a Harbor Freight store near my house and I saw a dandy hoist in there. On rollers with 2 vertical adjustable uprights that adjust up to 10 feet high, massive angle bracing, and a horizontal I beam that the hoist rides on. Under $700 (excluded the hoist I think. ) The only catch is that it is about 4 inches less than 8 feet across, but a person handy with welding could remove the horizontal beam and put a longer one up there and you could practically start a boat hoisting business.

If I didn't live in a fussy neighborhood I would have it in my yard already.

[dvideohd]

My wife wants one of those hoists for Christmas... I expect that she will get a motor & Bimini instead.

what is the weather like during Dec - Jan in Palacios? We are considering trying to come down during winter with our Mac.

Daysaiilng - Marina tie up... stay in the hotel over night for a few days time....

thanks....

--jerry

[craiglaforce]

Well, I have lived in Houston since July and have only been to Palacios a couple of times to find a slip and storage location, rescue the boat from IKE, and return it again.

As far as I know, the weather in the winter can range from beautiful 70-80 degree days to ice storms and howling north winds. Just depends on the day.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

what is the weather like during Dec - Jan in Palacios? We are considering trying to come down during winter with our Mac.

Daysaiilng - Marina tie up... stay in the hotel over night for a few days time....

thanks....

--jerry

Jerry -- you ought to schedule a trip in this direction (South) when weather predictions are clear. Dec. & Jan. weather can have a few weeks of really nice conditions (cold, but nice). Most marinas have "transient" accomodations...electricity, showers, rec. rooms, etc. So, actually, staying on the boat is more fun than wasting money on a motel. We've been on our Mac when ice was on the deck, but a small elec. heater on low thermostat works just fine.

Palacios is a nice place. We presently have our boat in Kemah, Tex. (which is a little more crowded but with much more concerning sights to see). Palacios & Kemah are nice places to vacation, anytime of the year.

Serendipity Marina in Palacios, Tex. is real nice.
Watergate, Legend Point, Blue Dolphin, and many others are available in Kemah, Tex.
They all have web-sites.

Louis

[Gary K]

Bringing this thread back to the surface -- Craig, I'm curious if you are still at Palacios. I also live in Houston and am looking at keeping the boat on Matagorda Bay (and environs) rather than Galveston Bay/Clear Lake. I'd be interested in knowing how this arrangement has worked for you. Is the drive worth it? I understand that the City of Palacios did not renew the lease on the only boatyard and that the nearest yard is Rockport. Gary