Getting her off the trailer to do some hull work?

[BlewByYou88]

Gents,

Has anyone or dose anyone have ideas how to get the a vessel off a trailer, and on to blocks without a crane? Looking to clean up some gouges on the underside of the hull as well as rework the trailer (Bunks, Carpet, Paint ect.)

I understand this is a risky project, but if someone has some good info I would appreciate it.

-Stace

 

[Bt Doctur]

27ft ,I would hire a hydrolic trailer guy instead of using a bunk. roller would be easier but your transom is around 10-12 inches of the ground that way . and at 8k or 9K I would certainly want it properly blocked if I was going to be under it for repairs.

 

[Lazy Daze]

What materials do you have for blocking and what is the ground like where it will be blocked?

 

[BlewByYou88]

Materials: 20 Ton Hydrualic Jacks, Solid Slump Block Caps for building up and foundation support along keel and Chine of the hull. and 4x6 pieces of wood for an insulator between the cap blocks and hull. Bear in mind, these blocks are not like cinder, they are essentially solid concrete.

The best way I can see at this point would be to lift the boat little by little and pull the trailer forward, then set a second set of blocks to hold while resetting jacks, then pull foward more with trailer and repeat.

Would be performing this project on packed gravel. Everything will be checked for levelness.

Shoot, down in florida, I have seen boats 40' just sitting on wood blocks in the sand.

 

[Summer Fun II]

You start out by lowering the tongue jack down to get the stern high enough as needed.

Then you block it and work your way forward. :thumbsup:

 

[Lazy Daze]

Keep in mind that it's going to be YOU working underneath it. If it starts to go, it's unlikely you'll get a second chance at life.

Set your blocks on 2' squares of 3/4" ply.

Get the stern keel and chines up and off the trailer. If there's no room, you'll first have to slide the boat backwards a bit. Either loosen the winch strap about 6" at a time and stop hard in reverse, or tie the stern eyes to another vehicle or tree and pull away with your truck. Once you've got the stern set, lift the bow keel (about as far forward as you can go on the chine before it starts turning up) and pull the trailer out until a crossmember gets close to the jack. Set the boat down, move jack to other side of crossmember and keep going like that. Get AT LEAST one more foundation set under the keel - and preferably 3 - and one more set of supports under the chine (near windshield area - try to get it set where there is a bulkhead or tap for sound).

Boat stands are IDEAL for the chine support as they are not only very supportive and stable, but easily adjusted for height.

There's plenty of examples of boats being blocked with less - but is this really an area you want to take a chance?

 

[BlewByYou88]

If there's no room, you'll first have to slide the boat backwards a bit. Either loosen the winch strap about 6" at a time and stop hard in reverse, ?

LMAO! ABSOLUTELY NO! on that idea.^^^^


The rest sounds pretty good. I will be over doing it on support. I was hoping someone had pictures or successfuly had done this with a larger boat. I have no doubt that I can handle this, just wanted some useful info to make sure there wasn't anything I had missed when going through it in my head....will be a winter project. ALready looking at all the crap that needs to get done for next season.

 

[Lazy Daze]

LMAO! ABSOLUTELY NO! on that idea.^^^^

Believe it or not, it is actually pretty safe to do it that way. I've done it on my own boat (bunks - with slides) and PLENTY of other boats, both rollers and bunks. Sounds weird, but it works well - just remember to only do a few inches at a time. No, you don't have to worry about it coming completely off the trailer (which is probably what you're imagining). You won't be able to stop nearly as fast as you think since you don't have (1) The trailer brakes helping you and (2) Your trucks front brakes (which normally do the majority of your braking) won't be giving as much help as they normally do. But, if you're unsure - then absolutely don't do it - you won't hurt my feelings. :smt001

The one thing I'll add is in reference to a bottle jack. If you have access to a decent floor jack, I'd prefer to use that as it's more stable.

 

[MonacoMike]

Any chance you could borrow a set of boat lift jacks for an afternoon to lift it properly then block it up? Then borrow again to put it back on? Rent?

MM

 

[Tonka Boater]

..loosen the winch strap about 6" at a time and stop hard in reverse...

This isn't exactly the same but my friend and I do this the opposite way with his ski boat to get it tight on the trailer. With carpeted bunks there's no way to get it tight with the winch if we don't it tight when we drive it onto the trailer. In these situations we slam on the brakes when we're going 20-30mph and it will push it up those last 2" -- just need to get out an tighten the winch strap and all is good.