"Steve B" wrote in message
...
I was given two gear drive (manual) basketball goal lifters. They consist
of two gears, one on a drive spindle and one on the drum. These look
substantial, and came with 1/4" wire rope cable. They are Aalco A3 K500
hand winches.

http://www.aalcomfg.com/basketball5.html

I want to use the two of them as a boat lift for my 16' aluminum boat and
motor. I would estimate it at 1500-1700#, if that much.

I am going to basket rig it, deadmanning the hoist, going through two
pulleys, one at each end of a spreader bar, then up to a deadman on the
lifting beam. Under the spreader bar will be a 3" (approx.) nylon ratchet
strap that will cradle the underside of the boat front and rear. I want
to lift it just enough, about 6-12" so I can pull the trailer out and
paint it, work on the trailer, and do some work on the underside of the
boat.

I have looked at these closely, and see no load rating. Went to their
site and requested a catalog that might have this info.

Is anyone familiar with these?
Steve

I have a PEC 020 worm geared strap hoist rated for 1500 Lbs, which is so
inefficient that it takes at least 3x the effort as a Jet lever chain hoist
the same size. Part of it is the need to apply full force all the way
around. It's even difficult to turn to lower the load. Naturally I
disassembled and greased it, which helped a little.
http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_pn...3670-00001.png

Personally I would spring for a chain hoist. I've had good results from a 2
ton Chinese one like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-chain-hoist-631.html

At 30 lbs it's about the max I want to maneuver on or off an overhead eye
with one hand, while the chains are swinging and I'm holding the ladder with
the other hand.

It's good for more than vertical hoisting. Its last use was winching out the
trunk of a ~20" diameter oak that had fallen against another and jammed.
Unlike a lever chain hoist you can operate them without having your feet
under a large suspended load.

jsw