Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

[NolaZach]

Okay my trailer needs work. First off I need to do $100+ dollars on it so I can register it a homebuilt ( as per crazy LA laws). Secondly, the trailer needs this work anyway.

The worst thing is so far, the fact that I have no trailer guides. I have to get out into the water to get the boat centered and not on top of the fenders. That is a quick fix. Of course I don't want to spend $100+ just for two 2x4s on a bracket, so does anyone here have any idea how to build these from scratch. I have an idea how to build the 5' pvc trailer guides at the rear of the trailer, but help with those would be very appreciated. I cannot see the trailer at all when there is no boat on it (but I am adding a rear view camera).

Then all my rollers look like hell, my boards are cracked, the winch is bad, I already replaced the lights and wiring, and it has rust. So yeah it needs work.
I have no title to it and I need one so after this work I should be able to register it as a homebuilt. (as per our laws).

So what I REALLY need to know is how do I take my boat off the trailer at home? I have a two car garage that I could use the joists to hold the boat, though access to my garage has been blocked for three years because of this FEMA trailer, that they won't come get (seriously I wish someone would steal it, they have been telling me since Dec 06 that they would be here any day, they even took the keys and changed the locks, I have a 30' obstruction that I can't budge)

So because of them I can't get into my garage to lift the boat so I need a redneck or how we say a coon-as way of doing this.

I also need to paint my boat.

My dad told me to dock my boat and let my friends use it for a few hours and then drive home and work on it, but I don't like the idea of letting someone use it without me around. Anyway i rambled too much.

Thanks for any help.

I need:

Way to separate boat and trailer and good ways to build trailer guides.

Also if someone wants to come by my house and tell me they work for FEMA, they can take this 30' pop out monster that has my garage hostage.

 

[109jb]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

I did it once with my old boat with advice from a buddy. First get the trailer and boat where you want the boat to sit during this. Block the wheels and lower the trailer tongue as low as it will go. Then block the transom, or like I did build a support to go under the transom at that height. Now raise the trailer tongue as high as it will go and support the boat by the keel near the front with a stable jack. Lower the tongue a bit and roll the trailer forward until a cross brace gets in the way. Jack the keel behind the problem brace long enough to roll the trailer a bit more. Keep doing this until the trailer is clear. Then block the keel so that the boat sits very stable.

Hope it helps.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

Getting Boat Off Trailer

you don't need stands.

1/you can lower the tongue to the ground. i would get some 6x6 or old railroad crossties cut the +- 12 inches, now block up the transom. 2/

Raise the tongue of the trailer the back of trailer will drop away from trailer. this is the tricky part. between the cross braces of the trailer block the keel lower trailer, boat will be suspended on the blocks.

3/ pull forward, lift bow again, and reblock i a different place. repeat until trailer is out from under the boat.

4/ to reload, just reverse the procedure.

if you were just working on the bunks, or painting the bottom. you could just do the first 2 steps.

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

So because of them I can't get into my garage to lift the boat so I need a redneck or how we say a coon-as way of doing this.

Just so you know, thats a derogitory term and can be seen as quite offensive.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

that is a colloquial term for a person from LA. and most are proud of their heritage. Sylvia sure is.

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

Its actually a derogatory term for black people in slavery days, claiming they were like raccoons. They were dehumanized and called lazy and good for nothing. Its a pretty old term and didn't survive as long as other more infamous terms.

 

[109jb]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

I wound up taking my boat off its trailer last night too. I used a variation of the method I described earlier. Here is how I did it last night.

1. Lowered tongue all the way down

2. jacked up rear of trailer with 2 floor jacks about another 2 inches

3. Built stand from 2x4's and plywood to go under transom. You don't need to build stands, but to me it is easier than trying to find railroad ties or enough wood to block up the boat. I had a bunch of 2x4's and plywood already anyway.

4. lowered floor jacks that were under the trailer. Transom now supported by the stand I built

5. raise front of trailer all the way

6. Lifted boat by keel between trailer cross braces with floor jack with a short piece of 2x8 between jack pad and keel. I placed the jack just behind where the curve of the bow straightens out on the bottom.

7. Lower trailer tongue a bit and pull trailer forward until another cross brace interferes with jack.

8. Placed a wood stand under keel directly behind the interfering cross brace and lowered boat onto stand.

9. Removed jack and pulled trailer forward until another cross brace interfered with the wood stand.

10. Lifted with floor jack in original spot.

11. Repeated steps 7 through 10 until trailer was clear of boat.

I'll take some picture of my stands a little later and post them. The boat I have now was really easy to build a transom stand for because there is actually a flat spot directly under the transom. The previous one I did was a bit harder because the hull came to a vee under the transom. On that one I just made sure it was stable and supported under the transom.

Pictures to come.

John B.

 

[109jb]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

Here are the pictures of the stands I built to support my boat. Make sure that whatever you use is stable side to side and front to back.

 

[jaywiz]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

got a better one take boat to water, drop in, pull trailer out,borrow or rent a dock for the couple days it will take you to fix trailer.

 

[superpop]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

If it was me, I would go buy a Sawzall and about 30 demolition blades and use the FEMA trailer to build me some really nice stands, then haul the remaining material to the dump.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

If it was me, I would go buy a Sawzall and about 30 demolition blades and use the FEMA trailer to build me some really nice stands, then haul the remaining material to the dump.

Me, I'd get some friend with a big truck and tow the trailer to the nearest Walmart, park it in their lot, then call FEMA and tell 'em where it is. They don't want it anyhow, and will probably junk it, like they did a bunch of brand new ones they never put anywhere.

Or...go rent one of the 24' Uhaul trucks for the day. They have Class 4 or 5 hitches on the back of them. Hook up and drag it somewhere. But, tell FEMA where you put it.

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

If it was me, I would go buy a Sawzall and about 30 demolition blades and use the FEMA trailer to build me some really nice stands, then haul the remaining material to the dump.

I like that idea alot lol. I bet you could make a really nice boat lift out of it... even use some hydrolic rams to lift the boat right off the trailer and pull it out.

 

[NolaZach]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

Just so you know, thats a derogitory term and can be seen as quite offensive.

Are you from South Louisiana?

Why do you feel the need to try and enlighten me?

Look us coon-asses like the term, I can care less about those who don't. The other states have red-necks we have coon-asses. Now "coon" is a derogatory term against a black person, or roadside cuisine in Baton Rouge. If you felt by me saying "I need a red-neck or coon-as way of doing this" that I was making fun of my fellow brethren from the state, then you don't have a clue.
I was looking for a backwoods method, such as lifting the boat using a tree. I was not looking into "knocking" my fellow Louisianans. I love my state and its people.


I meant no offense, I consider myself one and I have cajun in my family.

 

[NolaZach]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

Thanks for the help.

As for the FEMA trailer, I talked to them yesterday. They said they are coming anyday now. I need at least an hours notice though, because I have my project mustang and my wrecked Acura on side of it and like three other cars in the driveway and my boat all have to be moved.

I don't know hoe they got it back there, but there is no way I could back a truck up to the hitch. At one point they were going to sell it to me for $4500, then the Formayldihide thing stopped that, even though I have one of the nice ones. Funny thing is the "fema" workers are just subcontractors, a different one every time. So the people sayinmg they are comming now are not the same ones who inspected it last. Its a pain. I'm so tired of anything katrina. Then my city is suing anyone with a trailer still, but told me I wasn't a priority because mine is in the back yard. PITA <rant off>



Thanks for the help I am going to de-boat my trailer today and start the restoration, will post pics in that thread.

 

[jaywiz]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

holy crap 109 i can't believe thats all you got holding that thing off the ground! my luck someone would lean on it and over it would go.

 

[jaywiz]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

we picked a boston waler off the ground one time with a couple of a frames(to pull car engines) and tow straps with chain falls,rolled a trailer under it and sat it right down.How big is your boat?
Or you could use acme hover boards from wiley and float it off the trailer!lol

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

Couple of suggestions here.

Take the boat off just like TS suggest, it is really easy. Just take off a little bit at a time.

I just registered my boat as homebuilt, but it was built from scratch. The DWF officers just wanted to see receipts for materials, make sure to keep those receipts.

As far as guide on bunks I plan on using galv. U bolts to attach PT 2x4's to the frame and then building the rest of the guide on from PT 2x4's attached to the 2x4's bolted to the frame. In 10yrs when they begin to get a little soft, just replace.

I built bunks out of PT 2x6's and marine carpet bought at lowes. Used a stapler with stainless staples to attach the carpet to the 2x6.

 

[NolaZach]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

I got if off by using a vatiation on what previous posters have said.

My boat is a 17' john with a 70 Rude. I lowered the trailer to the ground and put cinderblocks and 2x4s under the stern. Then I put a 2 2x4s under the middle of the boat and raised the bow up high and then rested it on ther boards on top of jackstands. Then I walked the trailer out. Then I added a 4x4 on jack stands closer to the bow. After that I used tie straps to attach the boards to the boat. Then I used a tree to anchor the boat in place.

I will probably support it better when I get back from Nashville. I need to overhaul both my trailer and the boat.

 

[stephen.s1]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

22' Boston Whaler. Tie aft end to tree. Put timbers under keel If necessary. In my case, I had a soft lawn. Drive ahead and let boat come off trailer.... slowly!

Reloading: Back trailer to bow of boat. Hook winch cable to still tied down boat. Leave tow vehicle in neutural..Winch boat onto trailer... Done!

Notes: my winch is a power winch... had no problems moving the trailer under the boat.

G'luck

 

[NolaZach]

Re: Safely removing boat from trailer with no water involved?

My winch strap already snapped on me pulling the boat out the water while it was half flaoting, so I couldn't use it here. (yes I am going to replace winch)

So this is what I meant when I said I was looking for a coon-as way of doing it:

I have it srapped down to a tree and then I put four stakes in the ground and strapped the boat down to the ground. The set-up looks crappy, but its pretty stable. I am going to paint the boat like this and do most of the repair work before putting it back on the trailer.
The trailer is going to get new bunks, rollers, winch, wheels and trailer jack. Then belive it or not it will qualify as a home-built and I can register it.