Hauling a 1989 Bayfield 25

[john w]

Can any one answer this question?
Below the floor board in the main cabin, there are a pair of "lifting rings" cast into the keel, they appear to be about 1/2" to 5/8" thick - 38" center to center. Can the boat be hauled using these, or where they there for lifting the ballast during construction of the boat.

Thanks, John

[PAR]

They are "casting eyes" and not for lifting the boat. If you had "steamer eyes", which do permit the whole boat to be lifted, they would be much farther apart and an obvious passage to the deck for the lifting bridle would be available. Most steamer eyes will be mounted on the deck with through bolt connections to the keel. Sometimes they are lower in the boat, but a bridle can be used to attach to a crane's lift hook.