Water Rat is sailed year-round in Mobile Bay. Keeping her bottom fresh and her running gear intact calls for a haulout every four to six months for a bottom wash plus new anodes. The club has a three-ton crane but no frame or slings to lift the boat in the normal way. The solution, arrived at in concert with Rob Mazza, a naval architect long with with C&C, was a bridle that uses two keel bolts as an attachment point for a lifting strap extended through the deck. Nylon strap was chosen because it was thought less abrasive if it rubbed on anything; it's also easier on hands than wire. Total cost was about US$100.00.

[Note that parts should be sourced from a reputable supplier who will provide quality North American or European fittings; this is not an application where "good enough" makes sense. See also Bargain Gear. - Admin]

"The C&C 27 Association working diagram locates the balance point 11.5 feet forward of the stern. This point falls between the two rear-most keel bolts. At Rob Mazza's suggestion, I used both keel bolts as attachment points. The rear bolt is 3/4 inch, the adjacent one is one inch. Attachment was with a 3/4" and one-inch eyenut (a nut that incorporates an eye over the threaded portion). There is enough bolt above the keel nuts that these do not have to be removed to attach the eyenuts.

"Using shackles, I attached two nylon webbings, one to each eyenut (each webbing is 2-inch, 6500-lb. capacity, 4.5-foot-long). Eyenuts were rated 5900-lb. and 7900-lb. respectively. The two inside straps were shackled to a 6-foot-long, 3-inch nylon webbing (8300-lb. capacity). This strap was led through a hole cut in the cabin overhead. The hole was cut under the sea hood, which is removable, and was capped with screw-in 4-inch ports inside and out. The 6-foot length of webbing attached to the hoist.

"She came out somewhat bow-down since the supposed balance point was not exact, but a line from the hoist hook to the bow cleat leveled everything out. On land, she was lowered until the keel just rested on a board."

– Richard McCall, Water Rat, 1974 Mk II, Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, Alabama