Available in portable or stationary models, Thern davit cranes come in a wide variety of sizes and capacities. Each crane is fitted with a Thern hand or power winch featuring a quick disconnect anchor, which allows operators to easily remove the cable from the crane while it is still hooked to the load. Adjustable booms provide different height and reach combinations for various size loads.
Thern recently supplied modified 5124 Davit Cranes with a 4WP-K power winch to service ski lift chairs at the Breckenridge Ski Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. The cranes have adjustable booms that can telescope to four different lengths and adjust in height for safe loading and unloading. The base model has a lift capacity of up to 2,000 lbs. The 4WP2-K utilizes a 115-volt, single-phase electric motor.
“Without the cranes, trying to move that kind of weight could cause the chair to roll one way or the other endangering our crewmembers,” said master lift mechanic Butch David.
Most of the work that David’s crew does is in the grip area (the grip is the part that connects the chair to the cable). For lift inspection and repair, each chair has to be removed from the parking rail down to the ground. In order to do this effectively Breckenridge had the plate mount for the cranes specially modified so the crane was able to fit on the top of an 18-inch tube about 18-feet in the air. The tube was the only solid point where they had access to anchor the crane and the only position where they could lower the chairs.
