Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

[FJER20]

This seems a silly question, but i need to turn my 14' fibreglass speed boat upside down to paint it and i'm not really sure of the best way to go about it. Any recommendations?

I would role it but it's on gravel and i don't want to damage the joinging seams.

Thanks

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

There are lots of ways to do it but it really depends on the weight of the boat and how many helpers you can scrounge up to assist. I have done it alone and the best way I found was to hang it by the bow eye with a hoist and then lower it down on wood 2X4's and let it slowly slide back on the wood until it is flat. The biggest problem of course is finding a hoist tall enough to hang it straight up...I used a large tree with a sturdy limb to hang the hoist from.

If you don't have a hoist, having 4-6 people you can do it rotisserie style from the transom and bow and roll it.

 

[rbh]

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

the two best backyard methods for apply paint to a hull that Ive heard of are by blocking up the hull using wood blocks "not concrete", and totaly removing the trailer.
or brace one side and remove the bunk, paint to the keel let dry then do the otherside.
good luck
rob

 

[grahamh]

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

Just get some guys.

We were able to simply lift my friends 16' off the trailer and set it on the grass. Then we just picked one side up to turn it over. It took four guys to get if off the trailer, you just need to move it back enough to set the transom on the ground, and then lift up the bow and have someone pull the trailer out.

 

[ramster]

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

Come on now, the egyptians built the pyramids by hand, with only occasional assistance from aliens to do the math and survey work. A 14 ft'er should be no problem.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

roll it. Put plywood down or carpet.
When I had a 16' bowrider (aluminum) we couldn't roll it due to windshieds, but every spring we'd take it off the trailer in the yard (roll the stern off, lift the bow) and then prop one side up with boards to paint half the bottom, then the other side. Then crank it back on the trailer same way. You never have to lift the heavy part that way.
Once I was doing this, I was about 14 so I got my older cousin and his friends over; we pushed and pushed to get it off the trailer untill Pop! goes the stern tie downs (1/4" line). They were mad at me!

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?

Pics from another site I'm a member of.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=8247

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: Best way to turn a fibreglass boat upside down?