Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

[KeyWestBoater]

I am thinking to install smart tabs but no matter where I put them the bunks are in the way. They stick out about a foot behind the transom. I need to cut them in a way so I can wrap the carpet around the bare end and staple it. Not a big deal but I can't do it with the boat on there. It's not practical for me to put the boat in the water and then work on the trailer. What should I do?

Thanks,

KWB

 

[bigb2008]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

Can you jack the back of the boat up, so it's off the bunks a few inches, then use a circular saw, or something to trim the bunks back?

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

I really don't have any kind of jack except maybe the scsissors jack that came with my truck. I'm not sure of a good lifiting point. I'm afraid to damage the hull...

 

[JustJason]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

You need more than a scissor jack.
I jack up smaller boats all the time. You need a floor jack and a 4x4. Put the 4X on the outer chine and jack it up a few inches. Be carefull that the jack doesn't roll, if it does it will shoot the 4x out and the boat will fall. After you lift it slide in 2 or 3 pieces of 2x8 in between the hull and the bunks, lower the boats onto the 2x8's and then cut your bunks.

DO NOT work on the boat on the jack alone, make sure you use those 2x8's as "jackstands"

 

[Rwebber77]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

I usually jack up the aft corners only a couple inches above the trailer, block each corner, and then let the air out of the tires. It's a good 6 inches of workspace.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

You don't need any jacks. Lower the tongue jack as low as it will go. This causes the stern of the boat to rise. Placing blocking under the keel (which happens to be the strongest part of the boat) and pad it with old carpet or even a towel. Raise the tongue jack and as the tongue comes up the stern goes down until it hits the blocking and begins to lift off the bunks. Reverse the process to get the blocking out again.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

It might also be possible to move the boat forward on the trailer by moving the bow stop/winch forward.

 

[badbird]

Re: Cut the bunks...but boat's still on trailer!

you don't need any jacks. Lower the tongue jack as low as it will go. This causes the stern of the boat to rise. Placing blocking under the keel (which happens to be the strongest part of the boat) and pad it with old carpet or even a towel. Raise the tongue jack and as the tongue comes up the stern goes down until it hits the blocking and begins to lift off the bunks. Reverse the process to get the blocking out again.

x 2 and this is probably the safest way to do it also