How to Make a Marine Railway: A 1954 Haul-Out Project
Hi Sibley's 1954 plan for a marine railway with pipe track, cradle and hand winch, for hauling your boat out at home.
A marine railway lets you haul a boat out of the water without a crane or a boatyard visit. Hi Sibley's 1954 plan uses a pipe track, a cradle that holds the hull and a hand winch to pull everything up the slope. It is a practical project for lakefront and riverside owners who want to keep their boat safe from storms, ice and winter weather.
How to Make a Marine Railway at a glance
| Detail | How to Make a Marine Railway |
|---|---|
| Type | Boat-handling project |
| Construction | Pipe track, cradle and hand winch |
| Designer | Hi Sibley |
| First published | Sports Afield Boatbuilding Annual, 1954, pp. 38–41 |
| Plan sheets | 3 |
Why build a railway
Hauling out at home saves time and fees, and protects the hull from long periods in the water. A pipe track and cradle keep the boat supported as it moves. A hand winch gives steady, controllable pulling power without electricity. Three sheets lay out the track, cradle and winch setup.
The original plan sheets
These are the 3 original sheets from 1954, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
Hi Sibley drew this marine railway for the Sports Afield Boatbuilding Annual of 1954, pages 38 to 41. The three sheets show the pipe track, cradle and hand winch. It is a practical project for any waterfront.
Before you build
- Anchor the pipe track firmly so it cannot shift under load.
- Shape the cradle to support your boat's hull evenly, with padding where it bears.
- Never stand behind or below the boat while it is being winched up the track.
Download the plan
The 1954 marine railway plan in one file: three sheets ready to print or open on a tablet at the shore.
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