Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

[RogerBoat]

I guess the best way to ask your help with my task is to break it into two questions.

1. On each side of the bow deck of this 40 yr. old Mackinac cabin cruser, instead of "cleats" is what I believe are called straight chocks (according to a website that sells deck hardware) and in the center of the bow is a large chrome ring I think is called a "ring pad" (according to the website). I assume these are used together to manage dock lines.

Question: How are these properly used?. This is probably a dumb question for seasoned mariners, but I have yet to find anyone locally who can answer this and I don't find them on any other boats in the marina. Seems I should replace them with cleats which would be much more convinent.

2. I need to raise this 5000 lb. boat off the trailer so I can paint the hull. The ring described above is attached to a 1/2 inch diameter steel shaft about 3 feet long that goes through the deck and cabin floor, aparently secured to the keel.
Is it possible that this is designed to lift the boat with a hoist?

I am open to any advice to raise this boat off the trailer. My present plan is to put 2 blocks under the Transom that extends out from the trailer about 6- 8 inches, raise the front of the trailer,thereby shifting the boat weight onto the blocks, and then put a sling under the bow end of the boat with the sling connected to a hoist (that I must build) and hopefully pull the trailer out from under...I worry about damaging the fiberglass hull that is under the wood blocks.

Thanks for your help.

 

[wgl333]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

Can't help you with question #1, but, as far as #2 goes, do some searches in the forum and you will find many suggestions. I followed them when I had to change out my trailer last fall. I built some 4X4 stands for the each side of the stern, lowered the tongue of the trailer as low as possible....placed the stands, raised the tongue of the trailer and the stern floated off of the trailer supported by the stands....I then jacked and braced just behind the 1st crossmember, moved the trailer forward until the next crossmember approached the blocking, repeated until the trailer was out from under. Just reverse the process after you are done...see below.

 

[oops!]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

the above is how i take 10,000 lb boats off trailers....
a little tedious...but works great.

boats are made to be slung.....as in a sling is used under the keel and forward bulkhheads.

the ring you mentioned is not a lifting ring

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

If you are just going to bottom paint that boat, you only need to raise it a few inches off the trailer. I use the foam "hotdog" shaped rollers since they require an inch or two of clearance. Lower the trailer tongue, and put two double stacks of cement blocks, one under each corner of the transom. Use some wood to pad it and block it as close to the hull as possible. Now jack up the trailer tongue until the stern rises off the trailer. Now block the bow at the keel and lower the trailer tongue a bit until you have sufficient clearance everywhere. It is a bit awkward to paint, but much less work than removing it from the trailer as WG described.


BTW - I think those rings are for lifting the boat, however, I for one would not be under the boat while it hung from those. Also, since the boat is old, the attchment points may have deterioated.

 

[bobdec]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

Question #1 , had a 26 ft '66 Owens for a while with chocks and a small square center post on the bow used for docking and anchoring. Looped ends of the docking lines were placed over the center post then the line passed thru the chocks and tied to whatever on the dock. (the anchor used the same post with chocks on the front of the bow). Problem was you always had to insure the boat end of docking line was secured and in an accessible spot before exiting the boat to tie the dock ends. Similar design used on larger boats today. In your case looks like you have a ring to attach the line to. It may have had something to do with the manufactures wood gunnels physical design, not having enough mechanical strength for gunnel mounted cleats.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

Rogerboat : The ring you describe (attached to a 1/2 inch diameter steel shaft about 3 feet long that goes through the deck and cabin floor, aparently secured to the keel.) would be designed for actually lifting the boat. HOWEVER, she is a 40 yr old boat and I would not trust the ring at all with anyone under the boat. If everything were in good condition and you could accurately asses the attachment at the keel you could use the ring to lift the boat while properly supporting it from underneath, but with the expectation that things may let go at any second and come crashing down. This is a fine attachment point for dock lines, though not as convenient as a cleat.
Chocks are strictly to guide the mooring lines convieniently over the edge of the foredeck and reduce chafing of both the line and the deck edge. Ideally they should be used only while anchoring and not when tied up in a slip long term. (When tied up in a slip, the dock lines will typically not run straight (or nearly straight) from the cleat to the fastening point on the pier. When dock lines make a significant turn as they run through the chocks they will put a lot of stress on the chocks if & when the boat really starts bouncing around during blustery weather. Chocks are not designed or fastened for those kinds of forces and can rip out of the deck, which can leave a ragged deck edge that will cut through the dockline, ........yes, it can happen.)
Your plan for getting the boat off the trailer will work.

Bobdec : The square center post you describe on the foredeck is called a Samson post, and was traditionally very common / the norm for larger boats.

 

[RogerBoat]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

Wow!!! Thanks guys, This is my first attempt at using a forum. Everyone's input was useful and appreciated.

I am retired USAF farming grapes for a winery in Middle Tennessee where there is a lot of water, but little experienced mariners and boat savy people. Restoring this old abused boat didn't seem like a big deal....having all this farm machinery around to keep up, but boy was I wrong. I have had to work on virtually every component of this boat and shipping out parts out of state to get professional work done. Your time spent to answer my concerns was a boost to my confidence that was wearing thin. I look forward to overnight adventures on Center Hill lake this summer, and I thank you for your imput.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

Roger, Most lakes do not require antifouling paint. If you want to paint the bottom for appearance, you will need to take the boat off the trailer as was described by wgl or oops. Roll and tip is a good method to paint the boat for appearance, if you do not plan to spray it.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Deck hardware and raising a boat off a trailer

...Middle Tennessee where there is a lot of water, but little experienced mariners and boat savy people...

... easy there neighbor Welcome aboard!

I am retired USAF farming grapes for a winery in Middle Tennessee

Side note: Thanks for serving. USAF is near and dear as my family is an Air Guard family up in Michigan.

I look forward to overnight adventures on Center Hill lake this summer, and I thank you for your imput.

Bottom paint on Center Hill isn't going to help you much more than makin' her look good. Some of the deposits you can build up on our lakes (algae mostly) won't be helped by bottom paint - just gotta' scrub 'em.

We didn't get out on Center Hill once last year. We like making the run from Sligo to Fanchers Water fall.