Pontoon Storage Pulley System

[topdawg47]

Hey everyone -

Wanted to post and see if anyone had any ideas for a good set up on storing their pontoon in a garage?

I have been looking around for a pulley system, then I went to Home Depot yesterday and the staff person told me to maybe check out a bike shop.

I'm simply going to drill the pulley into my drywall and get some rope, that can handle my ponton weight, etc and see how that works..

Anyone have good tips/ideas for good set up to store my pontoon.

Thanks

[Amx]

nope won't work

drywall isn't strong enough. over time the eyebolt will most likely come out. i personaly wouldn't even come close to putting anything into dry wall that will hold any weight.

drill in a 2x4 or other piece of wood in/on the wall/rafters.

[FishingFool]

we are talking about those small inflatable type of pontoons right??

If so, you'll want to bolt the harness with lag bolts to the rafters/beams.

[Amx]

Are you going to hang it from the rafters? Or are you going to tilt it up against the wall kinda like a ladder would be? Still the eye bolts should be in wood, not drywall.

[tnj8222]

My buddy keeps my big pontoon In his garage with a pulley on the rafter. Works great. He also has about 12 feet to work with so its up high out of the way. No bumping the nogin on it lol

[Marc Martyn]

Hanging it from the ceiling depends on how strong the roof support system is and the weight of the boat. If it is a full sized pontoon without anything added to it, it will weigh about 50-75#. Using one pulley you are going to have to pull fairly hard. Here is some information as to how to rig pulleys to reduce the pull weight.

http://www.edinformatics.com/math_scien ... pulley.htm

Another way of storing it is to hang it on a wall. Home Depot has some large "L" hooks that can be screwed into the studs. Deflate the pontoons about half way, and hang the frame of the boat on the hooks. I have a friend that stores his that way and it works pretty good.

[Bodofish]

here ya go.

Harbor Freight

Not really getting where the dry wall comes in but.......

[Marc Martyn]

Ya know, I used to laugh at Harbor Freight, but you got to hand it to them, they are always thinking when it comes to introducing unusual products. I have found several useful things their at a descent price. Just the other day I picked up a hitch adapter (2" > 1 1/2") for half the price Lowe's wanted. Good enough for a bicycle rack.

The system Bodo pointed out is an interesting concept. I looked into it further and the weight capacity on it is only 45 lbs. You may be able to pattern a system off of their setup though.

When you come up with a storage solution, take a couple of pictures and post it on this thread. New ideas are always interesting and helpful.

[Gringo Pescador]

here ya go.
Harbor Freight
Not really getting where the dry wall comes in but.......

That is exactly what I have, except I got em at Ace Hardware. I've got 4 of em in my garage - 2 for bicycles, 1 for a car topper and 1 for my pontoon. You can't make one for less than the $10 that you can get these for, they work great and are easy enough to raise and lower stuff a kid could do it.

It took me about an hour to set each one up. Here are some pointers..

• Make sure you attach it to rafters and make sure you distribute the weight. Do to this, I attached a 2x4 to the ceiling long enough to span several rafters (use deck screws into each rafter, not nails), then attached the pulley to the 2x4.

• Make sure the pulleys are directly above where the hooks are going to hang.

• Make sure your weight is as evenly distributed as possible between the two hooks. If they are not, when you raise your pontoon, the light end will raise 1st and you will have to keep leveling it by hand. I ended up piling my anchor, vest, & flippers on one end to level out the weight on mine (make sure to attach the stuff so it doesn't fall of onto someone's head!).

Here are some pics of my setups. I have a 10' ceiling in my garage, so I can hang all my stuff high enough to be out of the way of heads, cars, etc.

My pontoon is only a 5'-er but I think, if you plan it right and distribute the weight out, if would work fine for a bigger one.

I think my next one is going to hang my extension ladder...

[tnj8222]

We have been using one pulley and just.muscle it up there. I like that setup gringo. Gonna have to stop by harbor freight.

[Bodofish]

Ya know, I used to laugh at Harbor Freight, but you got to hand it to them, they are always thinking when it comes to introducing unusual products. I have found several useful things their at a descent price. Just the other day I picked up a hitch adapter (2" > 1 1/2") for half the price Lowe's wanted. Good enough for a bicycle rack.

The system Bodo pointed out is an interesting concept. I looked into it further and the weight capacity on it is only 45 lbs. You may be able to pattern a system off of their setup though.

When you come up with a storage solution, take a couple of pictures and post it on this thread. New ideas are always interesting and helpful.

Ya know, I'm a huge Harbor Freight fan. You do need to pick and choose carefully but for the most part they're tools are great. Are most of the tools professional quality? Not on your life. Will they fit the bill for the guy that uses them a few times a year? You bet.
Drill presses, band saws, disk and belt sanders, air tools and welding bits, all mechanically top notch but about two notches down on the cosmetics. They've all been well tested in manufacturing and have justified their use over the name brands.

[Lotech Joe]

I may have to visit Harbor Freight myself. I'm looking for a way to store my toon cause it's getting tougher and tougher for me to use it. I might even be considering selling.

[ruthven78]

Ya know, I used to laugh at Harbor Freight, but you got to hand it to them, they are always thinking when it comes to introducing unusual products. I have found several useful things their at a descent price. Just the other day I picked up a hitch adapter (2" > 1 1/2") for half the price Lowe's wanted. Good enough for a bicycle rack.

The system Bodo pointed out is an interesting concept. I looked into it further and the weight capacity on it is only 45 lbs. You may be able to pattern a system off of their setup though.

When you come up with a storage solution, take a couple of pictures and post it on this thread. New ideas are always interesting and helpful.

Mark, if you used two do you think it would work? My rafters are close enough that I think two of these might work well, one to hold each side. Tie the ends of each line to one rope to pull them up in unison.

[Gringo Pescador]

I just did a Google search. This one is rated at 120# for $60
http://www.bikerackshops.com/SS40030.html

[Gringo Pescador]

I may have to visit Harbor Freight myself. I'm looking for a way to store my toon cause it's getting tougher and tougher for me to use it. I might even be considering selling.

The nice thing about this type of system (if you have the right space for it) it that you can hang the thing from the ceiling, park your rig (or trailer) underneath it and lower it right onto the rig/trailer. That is what I do with the car topper, I never have to lift it, just pull the car under it and lower it down.

[Marc Martyn]

Mark, if you used two do you think it would work? My rafters are close enough that I think two of these might work well, one to hold each side. Tie the ends of each line to one rope to pull them up in unison.

Your boat weights 77 lbs. with the oars and wheel. Remove those from the boat and you may come in at about 50 lbs. I know that wheel is heavy. Weigh the oars and the wheel and subtract that from the total.

Two may work, the only trick would be bringing them up even and locking them.

I would suggest looking at the 50# set up at Harbor Freight. If the pulleys look like they are built well with good materials, you may be able to get by with one. I bought my wheels and casters for my pontoon cart from Harbor Freight and they were really heavy duty and were much cheaper that the big box stores.

When installed, do a load test before you hang your boat. Take two 5 gal buckets with 35 lbs. of sand in each. If that works, your pontoon would also.

[ruthven78]

Post to end all posts

RAD Easy Rail Mount Aluminum Bike and Ladder Lift 75lbs capacity, $28.95 (you can adjust where the pulleys will be)

Same Item, different brand at Home Depot 75lbs capacity, $56.96

Block & Tackle system 440lbs, $9.99 (harbor frieght) but would probably need two to make it level. unless you are like me and have the spare room for it to hang by one end.

deluxe hoist system 120lbs capactiy, $44 Sears. (I might go for this one)

Garage Gator Manual System 125lbs, $69.97 Home Depot.

Unsure about this one due to the low price
125lb Heavy Duty Garage Utility Canoe and Kayak Lift Hoist Pulley Storage $19.99 + shipping, Amazon.com (16 available)

Gear Up Up And Away Deluxe Bicycle Storage Hoist $44.99, amazon.com