For Immediate Release

Contact: Rick Thomas
rthomas@nautical-structures.com

St. Petersburg, Nautical Structures has completed what may be its most ambitious project to date, a unique tender handling system which includes an 8000 pound (3636 Kgs) capacity Knuckle-Boom, Boom-extending Hydraulic Deck Crane. With a maximum outreach of 31’-6” (9.60 meters) at full rated capacity this 250,000 foot-pound capacity deck crane is the largest and most sophisticated ever produced by Nautical Structures.

The EZ-8000 Deck Crane was installed at the Rybovich Spencer service yard in West Palm Beach, Florida as part of a major refit project on a 172’ (52.4 meter) CRN motor yacht. Nautical Structures also provided a large (32’ x 11’ [9.75M x 3.35M]) aluminum hydraulic deck hatch which provides access from above into a specially constructed tender store room for a custom 28’ (8.54M) tender to be carried by the yacht. Weighing in at just over 3 tons, the hydraulic hatch opens just over center to allow the Knuckle Boom Crane access to the tender from the deck above. When closed, nine hydraulic dogging cylinders extend from the hatch to secure the structure for all anticipated weather conditions.

The EZ-8000 Hydraulic Knuckle-Boom Deck Crane was produced as a true yacht crane, with its primary construction 5086 aluminum alloy marine plate. The rotation pins are produced from high tensile 17-4 PH stainless steel and bushed with high-load composite bushings. The knuckle joint was water-cut from solid 3” (76mm) 316 stainless steel forging. All hydraulic fittings and hose-ends used are stainless steel Swagelok, ported through an aluminum manifold. As in all Nautical Structures Deck Cranes, a 4:1 ratio hydraulic linear winch with an ultimate hoisting capacity of 10,000 pounds (4545 Kgs) was installed in the boom-extension section of the crane. Spectra 12 Plus fiber line was used in lieu of more conventional wire rope as the material of choice for hoisting this load. The benefits of the Spectra line include easy maintenance and serviceability, non-corrosive properties, soft supple handling qualities, light weight and high strength properties. Both the hatch and Crane were Lloyds approved.

The EZ-8000 “Robo-Crane”, Knuckle Boom Crane is function with a walk-around joystick operated proportional control system which allows the operator to function up to three functions simultaneously. In this particular project this level of control is critical. When launching or retrieving the 28 foot tender from the tender store room there is only one inch (26mm) total clearance side to side! The Crane is capable of launching any of the vessel’s three tenders from either side of the yacht, with plenty of clearance when needed in less than calm seas. A pair of halogen flood lights are fit to the knuckled boom section for use during night launching operations.