Carver Owners Forum

I am trying to figure out how to remove the arch on a 380 Santego for transport... I really figured me and a buddy would be able to do it.... You guys got me second guessing myself.

I think me and a buddy should be able to do it with one of these:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Sumn ... /309450521

Now this was some time ago so my memory of it might be a little sketchy. I think the Santego I removed an arch on was a little older, the arch was swept forward, and it was fiberglass with upper and lower halves. Removal was as I described above as far as unfastening but I don't remember using a crane to remove it, I think four of us managed to remove and install it without machinery. It was removed to paint and strengthen the inner structural support to accommodate more weight on top of it for radar, and sat domes. Turned into a much bigger job because of a bad core.

Have a friend who built his own fiberglass arch and install it on the boat while it was in the water. It was MUCH heavier than he anticipated, but they did get it done with four guys. If they could to that, I'm sure you could take that one off with four guys.

You could also built a temp "lifting device" on the bridge with a couple long 2x4's and some rope that would take the bulk of the weight out of the equation, especially when it's overhead. I've done that in the back of pickups to load heavy stuff by myself.

km1125 wrote:Qr Bbpost Have a friend who built his own fiberglass arch and install it on the boat while it was in the water. It was MUCH heavier than he anticipated, but they did get it done with four guys. If they could to that, I'm sure you could take that one off with four guys.

You could also built a temp "lifting device" on the bridge with a couple long 2x4's and some rope that would take the bulk of the weight out of the equation, especially when it's overhead. I've done that in the back of pickups to load heavy stuff by myself.

Honestly, to rent that lift for under $300 for a week is well worth it if it makes the job that much easier. We just moved up to this area of TX and I only got one buddy that I can rely on to help me. We both played college ball together and we both are still in the gym actively and each bench over 450lbs... So I'm thinking we got this.
Found the owners manual for this boat online and I've been studying it vigorously trying to take in all the information. This forum is great. Lots of good informative help, but I think the way I'm going learn most of this is just getting out there on the boat and experiencing it and going through a lot of the trial and error.
We're really excited about this boat. The spaciousness and open floor plan is awesome,.. and along with that large of a back deck to Striper fish off of is exactly what I wanted!

If you could get the use of one of those covered slips in the pic, that would make it way easier as you can use one of the trusses above to strap on
a small chain hoist.

for what it is worth: my two cents: it's not muscle power you need but the correct appliance of leverage and support. But that is or will get quite obvious when you have one guy fighting the weight while the other guy loosens the last bolt.

What you may want to consider - triggered by an earlier post in this thread - is to prepare a bit for the future. When mounting the construction at destination in due time, you may want to add not just some wiring but better: some wiring routing/ducting so that you can add/replace any cable when the need rises due to some new technology or standard that didn't exist when the boat was planned.

I've refitted some simple things like a floodlight, a radar, antenna's and spent way too much time on the cable routing because the through-wall-fittings/holes were too small and the cable had to be laid in an area hardly accessible (where a simple plastic duct would have saved lots of time.


Not saying that you'll be fitting it out with circus lighting, gadget camera's and whatnot but I didn't think so too one year ago and now I'm looking at rearview camera for the canals (and then of course, when it's all to be routed and installed anyway, some more camera's for docking.... and a non-wireless (always trouble) intercom to order - oohps - kindly request coffee to the flybridge thank you please.....

It is not so much the overall weight, it is the width and shape that creates the problem as it will try to rotate itself if you don't plan for it. Is yours aluminum or glass ?

There have been some good suggestions here, good luck with your move.

It would really be nice to have at least a third person.

Based on your description, you two might be able to take the weight. However, having someone else there to pull the last bolts out while you guys handle the weight might be a HUGE advantage. THAT person doesn't have to be muscular or large at all. You can loosen the bolts/nuts so that all they have to do is remove them when you two are ready.

Another thing you can do is tie a line to the center of the arch and run it to something up front, like a bow cleat. When you loosen the arch it's going to want to tilt back, and such a line will prevent it from doing so. When you lift it out, then you could pivot it 90 degrees, lower it so it's easier to handle, then remove that line.

You guys don't know how heavy the thing is. Get a forktruck, gantry crane, boom truck, something, but do not attempt to manhandle it. Once it's loose, it's loose. Don't hurt yourself. And not only are they heavy, they are awkward to move.