Lifting a boat off the trailer...

[nitsuj]

This is going to sound really stupid but it's bugging the heck out of me. Last time I loaded my boat it was dark and the water was rough. I have the boat maybe an inch or a little more over on the right. It's just not quite centered. It's causing no harm and it's still well supported on the rollers. But every time I see it, it drives me nuts. I was going to take the boat out tomorrow, but if I don't it may be sitting on it's trailer for a while. It's not feasible to haul it to the water just to reload it. I know, I should just not worry about it. So if that's your advice, don't bother. I need to fix this. It's going to drive me crazy. OCD I guess.

So my question. How would you jack the boat up and move it over an inch? I'm thinking if I get a floor jack and some padded wood blocks under the stern and get the back end up, I should (with help) be able to muscle it over a bit. Thoughts?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

I have moved them over a little using a floor jack and didn't have any problems.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

yes sir-just do it!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

NO NO NO Don't do that!!!-----Ok go ahead. Just make sure if you do lift it an ich or two use something to pad it too between the floor jack and boat, and just becarefull, slow and easy, you'll get it done and ease your mind.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

I just grin and bear it. But it drives me nuts too.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

I could barely drive home without crashing my truck. I could see the one side just slightly further over the fender than the other side. I couldn't stop looking in my mirrors. I'm weird like that. My garage workshop looks like a tornado went through. I can't even walk through my basement without tripping on motorcycle parts. But my boat being moved an inch to the right drives me up a wall. I need help.

 

[MRS]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

Get your jack stands 2x4's some padding (carpet pieces) folded over. Lower front of trailer with the trailer jack rear will raise set jack stands under transom raise front of trailer will sit on stands slide trailer to fit hull.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

is this just a one time thing, or does it always load a little off centred?

mine loads like that a little too, due to the weight of the battery and oil on the starboard side...

I have windboards, but they are 2 inches too far to do much in terms of alignment... mostly they are good just for getting her lined up...

But I take my rubber bumpers - hang one on each wind board and drape it in and tuck it on the frame when I back into the water... and I get a perfect retrieval every time...

I had a similar old problem with my old glastron long ago, and I used my hydraulic auto jack..... don't make a habit of it, don't wanna damage gel coat if not careful...

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

Well this time it's a one time thing. But it makes me wonder. The boat is always on the trailer. It has keel rollers and side rollers, no bunks or boards. I haven't owned this boat for long. I'm wondering now if maybe the boat had been sitting slightly off center on the rollers for quite a while before I bought it. Maybe the keel rollers sort of got mis-shaped and now it tries to load crooked. I may have to look at that.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

Get your jack stands 2x4's some padding (carpet pieces) folded over. Lower front of trailer with the trailer jack rear will raise set jack stands under transom raise front of trailer will sit on stands slide trailer to fit hull.

Believe it or not, this post makes sense and is a clever way to fix your situation. Let me try to grammar it up a bit... (I can't help it... I write manuals for a living)

Lower the front of the trailer. The rear will rise. Set jack stands tight against the hull bottom under the transom of the boat. Raise the front of trailer. The rear of the trailer will drop. The stern of the boat will now sit on the jack stands (and off of the trailer). Scoot the back of the trailer over a bit to fit the hull.

Now, do the reverse. Lower the front of the trailer again, to raise the rear of the trailer to the boat. Remove the jack stands, letting the stern of the boat rest on the trailer in the correct position. Raise the front of the trailer to the correct position.

(If the bow is also/still in the wrong position, raise the front of the trailer, prop up the bow of the boat, lower the front of the trailer, scoot the front of the trailer into the correct position, raise the front of the trailer to the boat, remove bow props, lower trailer front to storage position.

Now go reorganize your junk drawer.

Well this time it's a one time thing. But it makes me wonder. The boat is always on the trailer. It has keel rollers and side rollers, no bunks or boards. I haven't owned this boat for long. I'm wondering now if maybe the boat had been sitting slightly off center on the rollers for quite a while before I bought it. Maybe the keel rollers sort of got mis-shaped and now it tries to load crooked. I may have to look at that.

Don't worry about it. The rollers are not mis-shaped. Boats just seem to not like lining up the way you want them.

I used to go nuts trying to get my boat perfect on the boat lift, thinking something was wrong with the lift bunk adjustment. Nope. Boats just scoot around a bit when you try to set them straight.

Now go reorganize your closets. They're a mess.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

Believe it or not, this post makes sense and is a clever way to fix your situation. Let me try to grammar it up a bit...

Thanks. It is a good suggestion, and I did get the gist. But heres the deal. My trailer doesn't work like that. I don't know if it's common, or if theres a name for the type of trailer I have, but the jack doesn't lift or lower the front of the trailer. The Johnson trailer uses a weird system. The jack lifts and lowers the tongue. I'm not sure I can describe it. You might be able to see what I mean if you look at this picture.

It's a nice system for hooking up to the truck. Since you're not lifting the weight of the boat with the jack, it cranks easily. Once you're hooked up, you crank it up and retract the wheel then lower the trailer down to rest on the tongue. I could possibly use the method described, but it would have to be hooked up to my truck to use the jack to raise the boat up. And my driveway isn't long enough to do this while it's hooked to the truck. So I'm stuck with the floor jack method.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

I opt for leaving it alone, the weight of the boat will be put on the miniscule tips of the jack or jack stands /per square inch that is a quantum leap in pressure on the the gel-coat and structure at that point for WHAT, UNNECCESARY.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

best method "hey honey, we have to go launch the boat again so it sits properly on the trailer after" gives you a reason to go out, and a chance to just put it on the trailer correctly! your boat stays on the trailer too long!

 

[BAproject]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

Interesting question and I have one of my own.

I need to do work on my trailer, boat is not seaworthy yet so I can't launch it.

How do I get the boat of the trailer in a barn, any thoughts?

20' Bayliner, appx. 2804lbs

-BAproject

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

Interesting question and I have one of my own.

I need to do work on my trailer, boat is not seaworthy yet so I can't launch it.

How do I get the boat of the trailer in a barn, any thoughts?

20' Bayliner, appx. 2804lbs

-BAproject

YEP, as long as it's a single axle trailer do what they're describing above with dropping the tongue...there by lifting the stern. Block up the stern ( I like using cinder blocks topped off with 2 X 10 then using smaller pieces to make a tighter fit outboard.
Now, lift the tongue and slowly remove the trailer. I usually stop and blok the keel up every 4 to 6 feet and block it outboard again about 2/3 s the length of the boat. I also try to elevate the bow slightly so any condensation , or cleaning solvent runs aft.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

When you say to scoot the back of the trailer, is that easier said than done? One day last year, while I was walking to the 4Runner to get the trailer so load the boat at the ramp, I walked behind the trailer and tried to lift the rear end. Couldn't do it. Not sure how much the trailer weights, but I'm guessing it's 500+ lbs.

So, how does one go about scooting the trailer over after the boat has been lifted off? Thanks. -Ken

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

My trailer is a big heavy duty thing. Tandem axles and made out of big I-beams. No way I'm lifting it. I'm hoping I can lift the boat, then move the boat itself since it will be on a jack with wheels.

BAproject, to answer your question: I saw a method used once to remove a boat from a trailer. I never tried this, so I can't vouch for it, but it worked for the guy I watched do it. He had a bunch of old tires to set the boat on. He started by hooking the stern of the boat to a sturdy tree. Then he took a garden hose and wet the bunks so the boat would slide easier. He had his truck hooked to the trailer. He pulled the trailer out from under the boat. He's pull forward a bit, then jump out and put tires under the hull of the boat. Then pull forward a bit more, then more tires. I wasn't there to see how he got it back on the trailer. But I assume he winched it up.

 

[BAproject]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

that makes sense, but getting it back on the trailer....woah....that wouldn't be much fun!

-BAproject

 

[JimKW]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

We had the boat on the trailer off just a little one time too. My son in law said put the tie down on the back real tight on the high side and a little loose on the low side then hit a bump on the way home so it will bounce the boat into place. It didn't work. Just adding a little humor to the conversation.

 

[gene8084]

Re: Lifting a boat off the trailer...

I have 3 boats, a couple smaller sail boats (13 & 18) and my Formula 180.​

I really wanted a way to get them off the trailer.​

I have a large barn, so I built a lift by gluing and bolting 2x6's and using doubled 2 x 4's for vertical supports. My dad's an engineer, so I confirm my lifting capacity ~4000-5000 lbs.​