blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

[HighLineCBR]

I have a 23' cuddy cuddy boat. I had the bottom soda blasted and now need to seal and repaint the bottom.

I would rather not do this on the trailer but instead block the boat which woulod allow me easier access.

First i planned to block the boat using cinder blocks. Then someone told me that cinder blocks may crack easily and that this would not be a safe sollution for the boat or for me working under it.

Then i decided to build stands from wood. But now I am being told not to attempt removing the boat from the trailer in my driveway. Its dangerous and if i make a mistake, the boat may easilly fall off the stands and cause a disaster.

what are your oppinions on this issue? SHould i just do the work on the trialer, its no easy task but i guess i could move the boat back and forth on the rollers to ge to all the areas...

thanks,

Luke

 

[Bondo]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

SHould i just do the work on the trialer, its no easy task but i guess i could move the boat back and forth on the rollers to ge to all the areas...

Ayuh,... That's exactly what I do...

 

[HighLineCBR]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

I think i might just block the trailer to lift it off the ground along with the boat. That should give me some more ground clearance for better access...

 

[e-coast mike]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

There's lots of threads on this, nut shell is there's no easy way other than paying someone else with a sling lift to do it, or perhaps renting the use of one, good luck with that this time of year. Its tough getting under a trailer to do that, and sliding it off is no picknick. You can use cement blocks, place them in a way that all (4) parimeter walls are being used for support, not the other way and with wooden blocks on top. You'll also need (4) boat stands for lateral support (can't skimp on that), and they are expensive.
If you loose the boat your insurance company may not cover due to neglagence. Dosn't sound like fun does it.

Also, you mentioned having a roller trailer, that paint is soft, might want to float the boat off when the time comes.
Good luck.

 

[PeteyDaMan]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

When I repainted the bottom of my old sea ray, I would leave the front attached to the winch, then jack up the back of the boat with a bottle jack, put 4x4 supports against the bottom ribs, then unbolted the back roller arms from the trailer to get access to half the bottom. I would then do the opposite to get to the front half. I still had to lie on my back under the boat and between the struts of the trailer, but it was a lot easier and safer then trying to get it off the trailer.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

then unbolted the back roller arms from the trailer to get access to half the bottom. .

You have bolts on your trailer that you can take off??? I have bolts on my trailer that dont even look like bolts anymore!

 

[TBTOsterman]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

I had my trailer powder coated last spring and did a lot of research on the idea of removing my boat from the trailer.

I was lucky enough to have a car-port available that was built with steel trusses. I backed the trailer in the port, lowered the front, jacked the rear of the boat using jacks and jack stands, large wooden blocks (similar to cinder blocks) and some large rubber wheel chocks from the local tractor supply. The wheel chocks worked out great as they form a triangle and the underside is hollow. The hollow area fit neatly on top of my jack stands protecting the boat from the stands.

I then jacked the front, supported it with a chain on the overhead truss, pulled the trailer, and blocked the front with more wood and carpet. It worked great with my 3000# Caravelle.

Several other posters have said they just supported the bow from the ground and had to re-set the jack(s) to clear the cross members of the trailer.

I was very easy. I had my father help for the removal, but I was able to put the boat back on by myself. I would not hesitate to do it again and would never pay for the removal and dry storage while I work on the trailer - or underside of the boat.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

Check out my thread. I built some cool roll around stands for my boat and even made a video on how to make them.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: blocking the boat - safe trailer removal

Put a 25' express cruiser on and off a trailer a few times. Took about an hour and a half with boat stands. Going to do it Wednesday with my 27' express!!