Hanging A Slow Boat To Nowhere

[BuckeyeDennis]

Hi Dennis, thanks for the tip. Can you clarify what you mean by "at each end of the sled"? If you imagine the 2x4 legs of the lift in the down position (touching the floor) and standing directly in front of it with the sled at or near the floor, are you talking about pulleys on the left and right sides of the sled (I think that's what you mean) or at the leading/trailing edges of the sled?

Yes, the left and right sides. That way, each side of the sled has to roll up the legs (really "trolley rails", as you are using them) at the same rate, and thus the sled can't twist and mis-track/bind on the rails.

Add side rails to the 2x4 so the wheels will not slip off the edge. Orrr add a rabbet.

I was envisioning some guide pins or plates that extend downward from the sled on each side of the wheels, "trapping" the 2x4's in between. Something of that sort will be necessary in order to keep the sled from "derailing". But those very guides are what I am concerned about binding against the 2x4 "rail", if the sled's yaw angle is not well controlled by the rope/pulley system. I think you'd have the same issue even if the guides were incorporated onto the wheel itself as a flange, like a rail-car wheel. Or if you ran an ordinary wheel in a groove in the "track".

[algale]

This is what I envision:

IMG_2841.JPG (230.45 KiB) Viewed 1871 times

I really must learn sketchup some day.

Actually the overall length as well as the length of the cut out will be shorter. 36" is the maximum beam of the canoe at the middle. These sled plates will be 4 feet or so from the end of the canoe where it is probably closer to 24" wide; the cut out will match the width of the canoe at that point.

[BuckeyeDennis]

That's pretty much what I was thinking of for the wheels/guides. So IIUC, the wheelbase would be about 2.5 feet, and the wheel "track" width would be about 8 feet?

Wheelbase_and_Track.png (36.25 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

[algale]

That's pretty much what I was thinking of for the wheels/guides. So IIUC, the wheelbase would be about 2.5 feet, and the wheel "track" width would be about 8 feet?

Wheelbase_and_Track.png

Yes; although I am also contemplating 6 foot spacing between the legs/tracks. Not sure which (6' vs. 8' spacing), if either, is better in terms of minimizing stress on the canoe.

[rpd]

Have you seen how Jimmy DiResta stores his (made by Nick Offerman) cedar strip canoe.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtXib0K9g74[/youtube]
Start at the 9:00 minute mark.

[algale]

Have you seen how Jimmy DiResta stores his (made by Nick Offerman) cedar strip canoe.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtXib0K9g74[/youtube]
Start at the 9:00 minute mark.

That's great! There's also ZERO chance my spouse will approve of such an arrangement.

[jsburger]

That's pretty much what I was thinking of for the wheels/guides. So IIUC, the wheelbase would be about 2.5 feet, and the wheel "track" width would be about 8 feet?

Wheelbase_and_Track.png

Yes; although I am also contemplating 6 foot spacing between the legs/tracks. Not sure which (6' vs. 8' spacing), if either, is better in terms of minimizing stress on the canoe.

Al,

I understand your issue with wanting to put the canoe over the stair well. I think everyone is over thinking this.

Two barn door rails attached to the ceiling, barn door hanger skates with ratchet pulleys attached. What ever length of track you need and whatever track width to clear the light. 8' light, 16' canoe ??? perfect spacing for a sling. Track long enough to reach out to the the garage floor. Make a sling, put the canoe in it, raise it up to the ceiling and push it over the stair well. Piece of cake.

It MIGHT/b] be a little more expensive than all the other suggestions but so what. I am sure it will be a lot less than you spent building that canoe. It will provide a perfect storage place for one of the most beautiful canoes I have ever seen. Easy to store with minimal chance of damage during the storage process.

I still would love to paddle that canoe. What a beautiful job you did.

[algale]

Al,

I understand your issue with wanting to put the canoe over the stair well. I think everyone is over thinking this.

Two barn door rails attached to the ceiling, barn door hanger skates with ratchet pulleys attached. What ever length of track you need and whatever track width to clear the light. 8' light, 16' canoe ??? perfect spacing for a sling. Track long enough to reach out to the the garage floor. Make a sling, put the canoe in it, raise it up to the ceiling and push it over the stair well. Piece of cake.

It MIGHT/b] be a little more expensive than all the other suggestions but so what. I am sure it will be a lot less than you spent building that canoe. It will provide a perfect storage place for one of the most beautiful canoes I have ever seen. Easy to store with minimal chance of damage during the storage process.

I still would love to paddle that canoe. What a beautiful job you did.

First things first: Thanks for the kind words about the canoe. C'mon east this Spring or Summer and we'll go paddling (sorry, no moose to my knowledge in Maryland)!

Now, as to storage systems, you may be right about the barn door rails. A rail system in conjunction with a hoist of some kind was my first intuition and I'm still open to it. But all the hardware you mention is stuff I know less than nothing about, including where to source it. When I started researching what hardware I needed and where to get it, I got very intimidated, very quickly. Hence, I fell back on designing something in wood. Feel free to provide further education!

Thanks again!

Al

[ERLover]

Algale,
the only place I would hang that piece of art work canoe is above my fire place mantel or above my bed head board!!!!

[algale]

Algale,
the only place I would hang that piece of art work canoe is above my fire place mantel or above my bed head board!!!!

If I were single or wanted to become single in a hurry, that would be an option.