Bob mentioned about sling placement when hauling out and he shows a picture of his underbody to the lift folks. It brought to mind an incident that I had years ago. On our boat, I chiseled in, and painted a contrasting color, arrowheads on the sides of the wood rubrail, fore and aft to indicate the furthest placement of slings. During haul-outs, even though I pointed these 'marks' out to the lift operator, the driver would often climb down and double check the sling's placement, as well as double check with me. I couldn't understand why as I thought it was all quite clear. Then, one year, as the lift operator was "double checking", as an aside he mentioned that it would make better sense if the marks where on top of the rubrail where he could see them from his perch. Oh man, so obvious... once he said it. Since then, when I'd place 'marks' on boats to indicate sling placement, I make sure, as much as possible, that they can be seen from both the operator's perch, as well as from those standing on land. *Rudy & Jill Sechez * *BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler * *Anchoring Consultants-trawlertrainingabc.com* *850-832-7748 * *Beaufort SC northbound- Chesapeake* <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

>Bob mentioned about sling placement when hauling out and he shows a picture >of his underbody to the lift folks. It brought to mind an incident that I >had years ago. Ditto...We had stuffing box issues in Alaska one summer and decided to do a four hour haul out and change the packing. We planned to hang in the Travel Lift straps and do the work. I always carry a picture of us in the slings and I gave it to the operator. We pulled into the slings and he adjusted them forward and back and I got busy closing thru hulls and it all seemed perfect. I came back to the wheel house where the cook and dog were waiting and all of a sudden it felt like we hit a big wave. We all three stared at each other. "What the...just happened." The Travel Lift operator came running and said: "Lemme see that picture again!" Yep, he dropped us. All 110 tons. The forward strap slipped off the bow. The boat was not fully out of the water so we just fell back in. No big deal. No damage. Some scratches which are still there. Major shock and disbelief and thankful it was not worse. It happens... Why do the ears of the chocolate bunnies taste the best and get eaten first? Eric Thoman Abyssinia

Eric, are you implying that the rest of the bunny is eatable? *Rudy & Jill Sechez * *BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler * *Anchoring Consultants-trawlertrainingabc.com* *850-832-7748 * *Beaufort SC northbound- Chesapeake* > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>