Loading the Scooters

A number of people have asked us how we get our scooters on and off the boat, so I thought I should photograph the process as we prepare to depart Guana Cay. Our dockmaster, McKenzie, was kind enough to help steady the load while I shot pix.



We lift the scooters with the same crane that we use to load and unload the zodiac dinghy, which is also stored on the flybridge deck.

We start with the cargo net spread flat on the dock. The scooter is driven into the center of the net. Then the four corners are gathered in the center above the scooter, and attached to the lift hook with four carabiners.


The 8'x8' cargo net is made of a very heavy polyethelyne weave, reinforced on all 4 sides with 3/4 inch line. It is rated for lifting several tons. Our scooters weigh only 150 lbs. each.


Once the scooter is level and slightly above the flybridge deck, the lift is rotated toward the center of the deck. The winch is then lowered, the cargo net is removed, and the scooter is rolled to its tie-down spot on deck.

The cargo netting was Susan's brainstorm, and it has worked absolutely beautifully. We can manage the unloading and reloading by ourselves, and only needed help today so I could take photographs. It was a bit windy, so it wouldn't have been prudent to just let them swing in the breeze while I stepped away to use the camera.