Cheap block and tackle?

[MushCreek]

I need a way to hoist a light (150 lb.) boat up to the ceiling of my shop. I'm going to store it that way to keep it out of the weather, but it needs to be handy for when I want to use the boat. I've been looking at cheap ($25) block and tackles on ebay. They're rated at 4000 lbs., which is a joke, because the 3/8" poly rope is only rated at 300 lbs. or so. Still, it's plenty for my intended purpose. I'm going to use two hoists, so each one will only be about 75 lbs. The ratio is 7:1, which is way overkill, but I don't need to use all of the pulleys. Anyone ever seen or used a cheap block and tackle like this? BTW- I'm going to run a rope under each end of the boat as a 'safety' so if the hoist fails, the boat won't drop on me or my Miata.

 

[theoldwizard1]

You might consider a locking ratchet pulley at the end. The problem with them is releasing them and letting the load down slowly.

If you are going to replace the rope, triple strand nylon is good. Double braided nylon is better, just make sure the core is also braided nylon.

 

[rlitman]

I use a $20 "1/2 ton" trailer hand winch to hoist up my lawn mower out of the way above my garage door for the winter.
Hoisting up is easy, because it ratchets. Lowering it is ok, but be VERY careful not to let the handle slip from your fingers, because it will get away from you before you can react, and grabbing a rapidly spinning thwacker hurts.



I should probably make a secondary brake for it out of wood.

 

[mcj115]

Would a come along work for your application instead of a block and tackle? Come alongs lock up and down, they are also ~$25 or so on fleebay. Maybe you need to install one pulley to have easy access to the ratchet handle.

 

[GeoBruin]

For the weight you're talking, almost anything will work. Inspect it for significant defects before putting in to service but it's a simple mechanism. Not a lot to go wrong. Good luck.

 

[cvairwerks]

I use a $20 "1/2 ton" trailer hand winch to hoist up my lawn mower out of the way above my garage door for the winter.
Hoisting up is easy, because it ratchets. Lowering it is ok, but be VERY careful not to let the handle slip from your fingers, because it will get away from you before you can react, and grabbing a rapidly spinning thwacker hurts.

I should probably make a secondary brake for it out of wood.

Switch to a worm gear drive winch and that problem goes away....

 

[RTM]

I have this for hoisting a bike. One way latch to keep it from falling while you switch hands lifting it. Maybe you can find a supersized version.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PEURIQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Don’t plan on using as is, the cord is horribly light weight.

 

[MushCreek]

Eventually, I may make a more elaborate set-up using an electric winch. I figured the block and tackle would get me by for the short term. I plan to run the rope over to the side, through a pulley, and down through a cam cleat with a fairlead. I'll tie it off as well once I get it up there. I'll be lifting it about 10' or so.

 

[M635_Guy]

For that weight, pullies are really what you need vs. block and tackle.

 

[Wolley]

I have 2 of those ebay block and tackles. I use them to lift the an 8 foot bed off my truck. Makes it an easy one man job. The rope started to fall apart after a couple seasons outside. I'd hang the boat with a short piece of chain once you get it up to height.

 

[mike93lx]

I have this for hoisting a bike. One way latch to keep it from falling while you switch hands lifting it. Maybe you can find a supersized version.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PEURIQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Don’t plan on using as is, the cord is horribly light weight.

I have basically the same setup but with loops for my canoes.

Weight rating aside, I wouldn't use it for this much weight. The ropes are not easy to get a grip on and the locks can be kind of fiddly.

 

[MushCreek]

The block and tackle sets are cheaper than buying individual pulleys. As I said, I don't need to use the full 7:1. 2:1 would probably be enough. Hanging from a chain wouldn't be easy, as it's a 12' ceiling. I'm going to run a loop of rope under on each end, snugged up and secured to take most of the load off of the block and tackle.

 

[rlitman]

Switch to a worm gear drive winch and that problem goes away....

True, but the free-wheeling winch saves a lot of crank time when I'm just lowering the cable from the storage. And it isn't like it's difficult to hold onto. My one time it escaped was when my forearm banged into a nearby rototiller handle. I won't make that mistake again.

Anyway, never allow anyone under a moving load.

I have this for hoisting a bike. One way latch to keep it from falling while you switch hands lifting it. Maybe you can find a supersized version.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PEURIQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Don’t plan on using as is, the cord is horribly light weight.

I have several of these, and use them often with my bikes. They're fine for a bike, but I'd say the hardware has a hard limit of 50lbs or so.

Life-experience tip: Measure down from the ceiling to as high as you can reach and tie a knot in the string this far from the end. While the load of a bicycle creates enough tension to activate the stop, I once had the pulley alone run up the rope until it got pulled through and dropped the moving pulley. The knot stops this.