Size of I Beam needed
Size of I Beam needed
(OP)
I must move my 58' steel sailboat from my backyard to a
commercial site 1 mile away. I have movers who can move it but they will require one I beam on either end of the boat to support the lifting of the hull onto the trailer. WHAT SIZE OF I BEAM SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR TO SUPPORT A 20 TON LOAD CENTERED ON A 16' SPAN???
commercial site 1 mile away. I have movers who can move it but they will require one I beam on either end of the boat to support the lifting of the hull onto the trailer. WHAT SIZE OF I BEAM SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR TO SUPPORT A 20 TON LOAD CENTERED ON A 16' SPAN???






RE: Size of I Beam needed
The simple answer is that no-one can design the beams without knowing the angle of the slings that your movers propose. ie, what will be the distance from your beam to the hook(s) above? (That will control what compression force is going to be applied, coincident with the vertical plane bending).
Having said that, I would not recommend simple I-beams anyway. Those who know, who have done research on buckling of crane-suspended beams, state "the classical buckling solutions do not apply". (Very helpful that, don't you think
For some years now, my practice has been to insist that lifting beams for your sort of usage are of a section which cannot exhibit lateral-torsional buckling. ie use tubes of some sort, either circular or square, (or possibly H column sections, bent about their axis of minimum strength).
Once you know the full geometry of the sling arrangements, then we may be able to help you further.
RE: Size of I Beam needed
Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated as I am being forced by a court order to move my boat (those city lawyers just don't have any sense of humor)
thanks
RE: Size of I Beam needed
In any case and since you are risking your boat, why not ask the services of a professional engineer?