PORT/STARBOARD SIDES: When ready to use Brownell Boat Stands you must choose an area to store the boat that offers hard, stable ground to prevent the sinking of keel blocking and boat stands. Boat stands should be placed outboard on the hull for stability. The boat stand tops should have minimum thread exposed.

 

BOW STANDS: Sailboats require a bow stand with a Vee top to prevent the bow from dropping forward.

 

 

 

SAFETY CHAINS: When using safety chain for sailboat stands, the port (or starboard whichever comes first) boat stand is placed in position with the boat stand top snug against the hull. A 3/16" chain is placed in the safety chain notch of this boat stand and the chain is passed athwartship either before, after or under the keel to the starboard, or opposite boat stand chain notch. The starboard boat stand is placed in its approximate position but not snugged tight against the hull at-first; the chain is pulled tight and placed in the starboard boat stand chain notch. Once snug in the chain notch, pull the starboard boat stand outboard until the chain is snug. Tighten the boat stand top, making sure the rear legs of both boat stands are parallel to the hull. Use safety chains and repeat this procedure for all side sailboat stands to prevent the boat stands from sliding up a boat's hull.

 

KEEL SUPPORT: 

Keel Stands: We always recommend at least two keel stands placed on hard stable ground to carry the boat’s weight. Keel stands are quick to install and are adjustable utilizing the acme threaded rod, thus reducing labor and saving money. One keel stand is recommended for each 10,000 lbs./ 4,550kg of vessel weight. Keel stands are available in two sizes; K-3 (24”-30”/61cm-76cm) and K-4 (16”-24”/40cm-61cm). Our #KP-1 keel stand plate can be utilized under the keel stands to provide additional stability.

Keel Bench: We always recommend a minimum of at least two keel benches placed on hard stable ground to carry the boat’s weight. Keel benches are quick to install and provide a wide surface area (24”/61cm) to support boat with larger and sometime hollow keels. We recommend one keel bench for each 20,000lbs/9,100kg of vessel weight. Keel benches are available in two heights BRB (28”/71cm) and BRB16 (16”/41cm). Our #KP-1 keel stand plate can be utilized under the keel stands to provide additional stability.

Wood Blocking: We always recommend a minimum of two blocking piles placed on hard, stable ground to carry the boat's weight. Each blocking pile consists of four blocks, i.e. 2 base blocks facing fore and aft running parallel to each other, and two blocks placed across the two base blocks for the keel to rest on. This method has proven to reduce sinking of the blocks. For each blocking pile we suggest two of our B-8 (8"x8"x22"/20cmx20cmx56cm) pine blocks for the base blocks and two more B-8 pine blocks placed across the base blocks. Higher or lower blocking piles can be used depending on how the boat drains.

 

 

MAINTENANCE: Boat stands and blocks should be checked on a regular basis while your boat is being stored. Make sure the boat stands are snug against the hull and the keel blocks are supporting the keel and not sinking into the ground. Also check the blocks for rotting or splitting. Do not tie tarps to the boat stands. During windy conditions, check more frequently for proper boat shoring and security of our boat stands while they are stabilizing your boat. When not in use, we recommend lubricating the threaded rod section of our tops (WD40 or axle grease may be used). Our nestable and stackable boat stand bases should be kept painted with rust preventative paint. Replace any badly rusted boat stands or rotted blocks.

 

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DO'S & DON'TS

The following list of actions you should and should not take while using your BROWNELL BOAT STAND SYSTEM. This list will help ensure that safety is never compromised. This list should not be construed as universal to all users of boat stands, due to the infinite variables in application. Rather, it should be used in addition to safety precautions already taken.

Please realize the boat stands are to stabilize the boat and the keel blocking supports the boat's weight.


DO:

• Use Keel Stands or 16"blocking along centerline of boat to rest weight on; always check blocks for rotting or splitting
• Use safety chains on all side sailboat stands, chaining pairs together from port to starboard
• Use pairs of boat stands, one placed to port and one to starboard
• Use a minimum of four stands per boat, and one set every 10 feet for longer vessels
• Use a V-stand under the bow of all fin keel or bow-heavy sailboats
• Use a V-stand under stern of fin keel or stern-heavy sailboats
• Use boat stands on firm, sable ground; use plywood under stands if ground is soft
• In windy areas, remove masts when boats are on stands; if mast must be left in, use extra stands
• Replace any damaged or badly rusted stand
• Keep screws greased
• If a stand must be removed from under a boat, place another stand beside it first
• If boats are left on stands for long periods of time, they should be frequently checked for safety and security

DO NOT:

• Allow anyone other than qualified, experienced, or authorized persons to move or adjust boat stands when in use
• Use boat stands to suspend a boat in mid-air
• Allow anything (such as canvas) to be tied to boat stands
• Weld or modify boat stands or tops
• Use boat stands to perform jobs for which they are not intended
• Place blocks on top of boat stands or underneath legs of boat stands to increase their reach
• DO:
  Use keel stands or 16" blocking along centerline of boat to rest weight on; always check blocks for rotting or splitting.
  Use safety chains on all side sailboat stands, chaining pairs together from port to starboard
   
   
  USE KEEL STANDS OR 16" BLOCKING ALONG CENTERLINE OF BOAT TO REST WEIGHT ON; ALWAYS CHECK BLOCKS FOR ROTTING OR SPLITTING
  USE SAFETY CHAINS ON ALL SIDE SAILBOAT STANDS, CHAINING PAIRS TOGETHER FROM PORT TO STARBOARD
  USE PAIRS OF BOAT STANDS, ONE PLACED TO PORT AND ONE TO STARBOARD
  USE A MINIMUM OF FOUR STANDS PER BOAT, AND ONE SET EVERY 10’ FEET FOR LONGER VESSELS
  USE A V-STAND UNDER THE BOW OF ALL FIN KEEL OR BOW-HEAVY SAILBOATS
  USE A V-STAND UNDER STERN OF FIN KEEL OR STERN-HEAVY SAILBOATS
  USE BOAT STANDS ON FIRM, STABLE GROUND; USE PLYWOOD UNDER STANDS IF GROUND IS SOFT
  IN WINDY AREAS, REMOVE MASTS WHEN BOATS ARE ON STANDS; IF MAST MUST BE LEFT IN, USE EXTRA STANDS
  REPLACE ANY DAMAGED OR BADLY RUSTED STAND
  KEEP SCREWS GREASED
  IF A STAND MUST BE REMOVED FROM UNDER A BOAT, PLACE ANOTHER STAND BESIDE IT FIRST
  IF BOATS ARE LEFT ON STANDS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THEY SHOULD BE FREQUENTLY CHECKED FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY
   
  DO NOT:
   
  ALLOW ANYONE OTHER THAN QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED, OR AUTHORIZED PERSONS TO MOVE OR ADJUST BOAT STANDS WHEN IN USE
  USE BOAT STANDS TO SUSPEND A BOAT IN MID-AIR
  ALLOW ANYTHING (SUCH AS CANVAS) TO BE TIED TO BOAT STANDS
  WELD OR MODIFY BOAT STANDS OR TOPS
  USE BOAT STANDS TO PERFORM JOBS FOR WHICH THEY ARE NOT INTENDED
  PLACE BLOCKS ON TOP OF BOAT STANDS OR UNDERNEATH LEGS OF BOAT STANDS TO INCREASE THEIR REACH