Paddleboard Storage

Paddleboard Lifting System – Simple, Space-Saving, and Ready to Use

I designed this lifting system to be simple to store, save space, and be ready to use at any time. Inspired by my bike lift mechanism, the system consists of a series of pulleys and a girder (equalizer) to ensure smooth and balanced lifting.

My first design revealed a tilting issue that made the paddleboard unstable. After identifying the problem, I optimized the system by replacing the fixed point with an additional pulley, ensuring equal lifting forces on both sides.

The final design features eight pulleys, a strong and stable girder, and a well-secured saddle to keep the paddleboard level while lifting. This solution makes it easy to store my paddleboard overhead, saving valuable garage space while keeping it safe and accessible. 🚀

First Design

I designed the system similarly to the lifting mechanism for my bike. This setup consists of three fixed pulleys on the ceiling, one fixed point on the right, and a pulling mechanism on the left. Additionally, two mobile pulleys are attached to the girder (equalizer). I added an extra pulley on the left to keep the pulling side away from the paddleboard area, preventing the rope from touching the paddleboard.

First Design Components:

6 pulleys: 4 on the ceiling and 2 on the girder (equalizer).
3 connection plates:

Left: One pulley for the pulling side.
Middle: Two pulleys.
Right: One pulley and a fixed point (rope dead end).

1 girder (equalizer): Includes two pulleys, one on the left and one on the right.
Saddle: Sitting area for the paddleboard.

Issue with the First Design

Issue with the First Design:

During the first test, I encountered a major problem. The lifting system functioned like a bike lift, where the left side—closer to the pulling side—rose first, causing the entire system to tilt.

When I pulled the rope downward, the left side started lifting first. As soon as the left mobile pulley hit the fixed pulley at the top, the girder tilted approximately 45 degrees before the right side began to rise.

For a bike lifting system, tilting isn’t a big issue because the bike is secured with hooks. However, for a paddleboard, maintaining balance is crucial. If the saddle tilts, the paddleboard can easily slip, fall, and get damaged. To solve this, I modified the design.

Identifying the Problem:

The issue was with the fixed point. If that point exerts a pulling force instead of being fixed, equal pulling forces will act on both sides of the girder. This ensures both sides rise simultaneously without tilting, achieving a proper equalizer.

To address this, I replaced the fixed eye screw with a pulley on the right side and added another pulley on the left.

Bike Lifting system

Pulley

3 connection plates

Girder (equalizer)

Final Design Components:

8 pulleys: 6 on the ceiling and 2 on the girder (equalizer).
3 connection plates:

Left: Two pulleys for two pulling sides.
Middle: Two pulleys.
Right: Two pulleys.

1 girder (equalizer): Includes two pulleys, one on the left and one on the right.
Saddle: Sitting area for the paddleboard.
Rope: For lifting and securing the system.

Lifting System Breakdown

The system consists of three main parts:

1. Connection Plates

There are three base plates (left, middle, and right) that connect the fixed pulleys to the ceiling.

Each base plate is secured to two ceiling beams using six #10 x 3.5” screws.

Mark the left and right connection plates (both ends) at 88 cm from the wall (center of the paddleboard) to determine the correct middle pulley position.

Use a string between the two points to align the middle connection plate. This ensures that all three pulleys are perfectly in line.

2. Girder (Equalizer)

This mobile part moves up and down. It is made from a 2x4 – 8 ft lumber, cut to 2 meters, with additional material on both sides to prevent slipping from the strap.

Two mobile pulleys are attached to this part, with a center-to-center distance of 1140 mm.

The safety factor for this component is 5.

3. Saddle

The sitting area for the paddleboard, connected by two straps to the girder.

Made from two parallel 1x4x8 ft lumber with three internal connections and two bridges for strap attachment.

This new design ensures a balanced, stable, and safe lifting system for the paddleboard. 🚀