I presume the boat was set up for a three point bridal so it would be stable while suspended.

We had a nylon lift strap made with a shackle for the strap on the keel bolts, up through the port to a point about 1-1/2 feet above the deck. There's a heavy steel ring on the top end of the main strap. Two smaller nylon straps come off that same ring and are sized to center the main strap in the port with the boat level. They have carabiners at the deck end and these clip to the toe rail outboard of the winches.

I cant see why a 6 inch port wouldn't work. Just remember there needs to be a clearance cutout on the front edge of the hatch for the port.

Bob Harvey

:: We just recently purchased an E27. Could anyone tell me
:: why the port for the hoisting strap doesn't align with
:: the strap. There must be some reason for this. I read an
:: earlier post discussing how two extra lines secured to
:: the toe line near the winches are required to center the
:: strap through the hole.

:: The former owner of this boat obviously did not realize
:: this as there is damage to the deck at the port.
::
:: I am planning on cutting out the damage and putting a
:: 6" port instead. Is there any reason I could not do
:: this?
::
:: Mark