Size: To determine the proper Brownell Boat Stands to use, you first must realize the boat stands are to stabilize your boat and the keel blocking supports the boats weight. A simple method would be to take the draft of the boat (in inches), add the height of the blocking pile, and subtract about six inches. Base your decision on keeping a minimum amount of thread exposed on the top.

Number Required: A minimum of four boat stands should be used with powerboats and a minimum of five boat stands should be used with sailboats. One exception: a full keel sailboat may not require a bow stand. Use a pair of boat stands, one placed port and one placed starboard, for approximately each 8 feet of the boat's length. If you are going to be stored in an extremely windy area or leaving a sailboat mast stepped, extra boat stands should be used in addition to our minimum requirements.

Liability: Because the performance and safety of boat stands is dependent on the way they are used, the manufacturer assumes no liability beyond the purchase price of the boat stands.

 

Bow and/or Stern: Most sailboats require a bow stand with a Vee top to prevent the bow from dropping forward. The exception to the rule might be a full keel sailboat that is not "bow heavy". Any excessive overhang in the stern requires two additional boat stands port and starboard on the after portion of the boat.

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 Blocking: We always recommend a minimum of 2 blocking piles placed on hard, stable ground to carry the boat's weight. Each blocking pile consists of 3 blocks, i.e. two base blocks facing fore and aft running parallel to each other, and one block 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 2 of our B-8 (8"x8"x22") pine blocks for the base blocks and 1 of our B-6 (6"x6"x22") pine plocks placed across the base blocks. Higher or lower blocking piles can be used depending on how the boat drains, however, the lower to the ground, the better. More blocking piles should be added as necessary depending on the condition and length of the keel