I hope this doesn't offend anyone...

[DavidB.UK]

Hello to all,

I'm starting to investigate the realities of a permanent live-aboard.

and whilst musing the various pros and cons I wondered what people do for land going transport when they arrive in a new place and want to explore...?

Then I wondered if a small (lightweight) motorbike would be the answer, but as I'm not an Olympic power-lifter and I still can't buy a carbon-fibre bike this creates a problem of how would one lift the machine on and off the boat.

Then a flash of inspiration (this is the bit that might cause offence)
Could the bike (100kg ish) be lifted on and off by using the boom as a crane?

In theory at least I see no reason why this wouldn't work.

Has anybody done this?
How did it work out?

Also considering one of the new electric dirtbikes as an option which would be even lighter still (85kg ish)

[DavidB.UK]

96 views in 2 hours and nobody with a word to say?

Surely there must be some points of view, anecdotes, i've just joined this forum so even a hello would be nice.

Or have have I caused so much offence with my question that nobody wants to talk to me?

[tommays]

It's The weekend everybody is sailing

I would have no place below on my 29 ft for more than a well folded bicycle and could sure not move anything that heavy in and out of the cabin

[TQA]

On a biggish boat say something around 45 feet that should not be a problem.

Di Blasi make a folding M/C and I have seen people on Honda Monkey bikes and the Chinese mini m/cs usually in the V large marinas. I have seen a French man tooling around with a No Plate that read AXE A [yachtname]


Ins. Licence and plod agro might be a problem though.

[DavidB.UK]

Originally Posted by tommays

It's The weekend everybody is sailing

Thanks for posting Tommays.

Fair enough, hadn't thought of that.

At this point in time (without having purchased a boat yet) its purely theoretical.

Just curious to get some feedback from other members, particularly to see if this has been done before?

[SimonV]

Once on the boat where are you going to stow it.?

[NCC320]

Except on very small boats, I would think that the boom should be fine in lifting 100 kg. You might want to check the support for the boom. Topping lift or halyard should be looped around the boom instead of relying on an eye fitting on the boom that might just be screwed in. Use the halyard to support the boom, and a block and tackle (could be a boom vang) to attach to boom to do the lift (again with a strong loop over/around the boom). Boom alone might not have enough vertical travel to make the lift and mainsheet, fixed boom vang, etc. would have to be removed if much vertical movement is required, thus the suggestion about a block and tackle. Load should be applied to the end of the boom where the topping lift or halyard are attached, and not at mid boom. As with real life cranes, you have to make sure that you don't overload the crane system however. The ends of the various lines should be cleated off securely. Of course whether to attempt this will depend entirely on how strong and rugged the components are, and you will have to be the judge of that. Guess wrong and overloaded things will result in damage and possible injury, so take care.

As others have pointed out, storage will be perhaps the biggest problem.

[DavidB.UK]

Originally Posted by TQA

On a biggish boat say something around 45 feet that should not be a problem.

Ins. Licence and plod agro might be a problem though.

I'm looking at something between 36-42ft

Mainly (size-wise) because I want something that's big enough to be comfortable and small enough to be sailed single handed.

Insurance and plod agro shouldn't be a problem with the EU at least.
but I must admit isn't something i'd thought about, but certainly will need to be a consideration when travelling further afield. Thank you.

[DavidB.UK]

Thank you everybody for your comments.


storage.

Hmmm....

Yes that will no doubt be the clincher.
Just theoretical just now until I buy my boat.

Just curious to see what the community's feedback would be.

I have seen the little folding bikes DiBlasi etc
I really want a real bike rather than a folding one.

but yes finding a sensible storage solution will be a challenge for sure.

[dabnis]

A motor cycle with gas in it stored anywhere but on deck could present a hazard and maybe some concern on the part of your Insurance company?

Dabnis