Question about using a lift bag for salvage vs. just rigging and winching

On a job in the Columbia River last fall, we had to move a 3-ton piece of machinery. The crew wanted to rig it and use the surface winch, but I pushed to use a 5000-lb lift bag to get it off the bottom first. Everyone said it was slower and risked losing control. We did it my way, and it actually made the final lift way smoother with less strain on the rigging. Has anyone else tried this on a mid-sized salvage job?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_smith106d ago

Totally get it. Did the same thing with a sunken outboard. Lift bag took the weight off, winch just guided it in. Made everything way easier.

keith1646d ago

Remember when my buddy tried to winch his boat trailer up a slick ramp? The truck just spun its tires until he floated the boat off first, then it pulled right up.

sullivan.quinn6d ago

See the logic in that, @jesse_smith10. Taking the weight off first is the real trick. The winch just finishes the job.