Boat too tall

[Barfly42]

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/Barfly42/89Smokercraft.jpg

I'm thinking about purchasing a Smokercraft Titan, which is a 19' Aluminum Cuddy and I don't think it will fit under my standard 7' garage door. I was wondering if maybe I can somehow hinge the windshield to fold down? Has anybody ever tried something like this? The boat looks like most aluminum cuddies, ie; Starcraft Islander, etc. I'm trying to submit a picture, but...
Thanks,
Richard

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Boat too tall

Hinging the windshield will be a ton of trouble... it's actually attached very solidly with a bunch of screws and rivets, and it's probably quite heavy.

If you have a lot of time to spend and access to a very good hardware store, it may be possible.

Otherwise, I can suggest a couple of things.

First, consider keeping the boat outside most of the time, and putting it in the garage for winter. Once a year you could take the windshield off for this. You could even re-do the fastenings for the windshield to be removable, using wingnuts and bolts instead of the stainless screws that are probably there now.

Second, you could replace the windshield with a lower profile unit, or even with a pair of smaller windshields (like a dual console boat) that could be hinged more easily than a full windshield.

Third, you could replace the windshield with a soft top that has a clear forward panel. This would let you fold it down to put the boat in the garage.

Fourth, raise the garage

I have the same trouble with my 7 foot garage and my 21 foot boat. For the winter I ended up taking the windshield off and lowering the trailer, and I still messed up my upholstery and broke off my horns. Now that I've rebuilt the trailer it won't fit in any more. The most serious solution I've considered is re-roofing the garage after adding 4 foot "short wall" extensions on top of the existing walls. 7 feet is too short for a decent garage anyway

Erik

 

[mthieme]

Re: Boat too tall

Looks to me like that pad is crying out for one of those metal corrogated pole shelters.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat too tall

has anyone taken any measurements. let's find out if there really is a problem. putting the tongue on a furniture dolly, could very easily get you the clearance you need.

 

[Barfly42]

Re: Boat too tall

The photo isn't my house, it's the sellers. Raising the garage door at my house is not an option. Believe me, I've thought about it. The boat I had before this was a 20' center console and was also too tall. I modified the windshield on that boat so that it folded down and made the grab rail removable. I fish alot, 60-80 trips out a season, and I never had a problem. It just became part of the routine.
I don't really want to shorten this windshield because it has the canvas top that snaps onto it.
Couldn't I use some kind of piano hinge at the base of the windshield and change out the rear supports with some kind of hydraulic lift (like on the back hatch of my car)? I know it's not, but it seems like it would be simple?
I'll get the actual height of the boat today. It's about 3 1/2 hours away so I can't just run over there with a tape measure.
You guys are awesome...keep the ideas coming.
Richard

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat too tall

i understand that, get him to measure it with the tongue on the ground, and on the hitch.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boat too tall

If TD's solution does not work, then make the windshield removable. Because it looks to be V shaped, it will not hinge well. Look at adding some L brackets at the ends and middle of the W/S that are screwed/rivited to the frame, and then attach to the boat with thumb screws or regular screws. That should make it easy to remove in a pinch. But hinging a V windshield will be difficult at best.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat too tall

agree with Mark. the windshield is held by screws, under the black rubber trim strip across the bottom of the windshield. if there is not a head liner under it, it would be easily removed and reinstalled with bolts and thumb nuts.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Boat too tall

I had the same issue with my boat and fortunately, I'm able to raise the garage door one more panel so that will be done this spring. However, to get the boat into the garage, i bought a couple of 8-inch trailer wheels (no tires). I remove the wheels from the trailer, install the 8-inchers, and use 2x4s as a track. I hitch the rig to my tractor and in she goes. Pain in the butt if you have to resort to that every time you want to use the boat but it is a solution. Incidentally, the 8-inch wheels do not fit the hubs unless they are installed backwards. But since you are moving all of about 20 feet or so its not an issue.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Boat too tall

The 7' garage height (6'11" actual clearance) is also a problem for my boat search. I might be able to fit a 19'6" open bow max depending on hull design. My neighbor could fit a 20+ supra in his 7' garage but his boat hull is shallow. I'd like a 20-22' if I can get the thing to fit. I would be very interested in seeing what your solution is.