Get boat off trailer

[crazyshady08884]

I want to take my boat off of the trailer to paint etc. How can I Jack the boat off of it to pull the trailer out? Boat 16 foot bow rider with 100 hp evinrude. About 2500 pounds. <br />Thanks in advance!

 

[JB]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Chain the stern of the boat to a tree. Pull the trailer a few feet forward; put supports under boat. Repeat until the boat is off.<br /><br />To put her back on later back the trailer up to the bow. Unhitch it. Winch the trailer back under the boat, removing the supports as you go.<br /><br />Good luck, and welcome to iboats.

 

[Omega-1]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Shady1950,<br />There is another way which involves suspending the hull by the bow eye and transom eyes. You will need adequate overhead supports or winches for this.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Get boat off trailer

I would like to point out a couple of items here.<br /><br />A little nervous about chaining it to a tree and pulling. But if you do, make sure to wet down the bunks so it will slide a lot easier.<br /><br />Also not 100% comforatable with suspending by the bow and transom eyes. Will they hold?<br /><br />Might want to think about jacking up the boat so it clears the trailer, then pull the trailer forward as far as you can. Move the jacks and move trailer again. Repeat as needed.

 

[reddog349]

Re: Get boat off trailer

SHADY- while im no expert on boat repair ive seem friends who are do what JB is saying . Just remember there is never too much support and take your time!

 

[crazyshady08884]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Thanks all for your input. Jacking sounds the safest. Besides dont have a tree behind the boat!

 

[flips]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Have done it heaps of times, Tie back of boat off<br />to tree or put stake in ground. I use old car tires for boat to sit on and just pull tralier out and place tires under it as you go.Boat comes off very easy and as JB says just winch back on after. I also have seen some big holes made when people dont jack right and they slip <br /> :eek<br />Cheers

 

[Linc33]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Been thinking about how to do that myself. What are some other items to use as supports? Flips suggested old tires, what else could one use to support the boat using JB's method?<br /><br />Would it be possible to just use this method without supports? and just lay the boat in the back/front yard? My concern here is getting the boat back on the trailer... would the winch be strong enough to pull it back up?<br /><br />Here is a shot of my setup, 15 foot open bow runabout with a 1974 65 HP Outboard, not sure of weight, sitting on a bunk/roller trailer (two bunks along the rear of the trailer w/ keel rollers from back to front).<br /><br />

<br /><br />Thanks for any additional info.<br /><br />--Linc33

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Linc, why do you need the boat off the trailer?

 

[Omega-1]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Linc33,<br />If large styrafoam blocks are available to you, these can be used to support your boat. If you are going to reduce your work and effort in getting the boat hull back on the trailer, you need to have the hull up off the ground high enough for the bow to engage the end roller on the trailer when you winch it back on. If your bow eye and transom eyes are bolted through and have back up plates or washers, they should hold the weight of your empty hull when it is lifted off the trailer. Another way to get the boat off the trailer is to go to a marina where they have a boat yard and have them lift your boat off and place it on jacks; then when you are ready to reposition it on the trailer have them lift it back on the trailer. This will save you a lot of strain and effort. Good luck, be safe!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Unless the boat is at a height of approximately 1/2 the height of the trailer or more, attempting to pull the boat back onto the trailer results in a very steep keel angle. Ive see keels broken attempting this. I've also seen aluminum boats bent doing this. Your boat is not very big, nor is it terribly heavy. Lower the tongue as low as it will go. Block the back of the boat (tires, barrels, blocks of wood, whatever you can round up. Support it at the transom. Raise the tongue which lowers the back of the boat and essentially causes the boat to lift off the trailer. Place a steel bar through the bow eye and with a few buddies to do the lifting, remove enough pressure on the bow to slide the trailer out. As the bow clears the keel roller, gently low the bow onto a tire or two. If you have a garage with a sturdy header over the door, post back for another technique.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Get boat off trailer

The easiest and safest way to do it is to put the boat in the water while you are working on the trailer. Perhaps you can borrow an unused trailer and switch your boat to it at a boat ramp if you can't leave it in the water.<br /><br />2500lb is nothing for the inexperienced to be lifting, jacking, etc. One mistake or slip and you could have a big problem.

 

[Linc33]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Thanks Omega-1.<br />fishingdan,<br /><br />I want to get the boat off to replace bunks, possibly some rollers, and paint.<br /><br />One of my concerns was grinding/sanding old paint/rust off the trailer with the boat sitting on it getting 'sprayed' w/ the abrasive off-cast from the grinder/sander etc.<br /><br />And I don't see a way to replace rollers/bunks with the boat on or mostly on the trailer.<br /><br />Upinsmoke,<br />The raising/lowering toungue seems do-able. I just have a standard 2 car suburbia garage, you can see some of it in the posted pic. I don't think I'd be comfortable judging the sturdiness of the header. It looks nice and thick/sturdy, but who knows.<br /><br />--Linc33

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Well -- lets do a little "structural engineering". <br />1) Head to the hardware store and buy the very largest barn door hinge you can find and three 2-1/2 inch long 3/8 diamter lag bolts. Rent a cable type "come along" (a form of hoist) or a small chain hoist.<br />2) Drill a 1/2 inch diameter hole in one end of the hinge.<br />3) Open the garage door and back the boat into the garage as close to one side of the door as possible.<br />4) Position the bow eye of the boat directly under the header.<br />5) Lag bolt the hinge to the header with the 1/2 inch hole downward, in direct alignment with the bow eye.<br />6) Remove every loose item from the front of the boat (battery, cushions, gear, anchor, etc.) to lighten the front of the boat as much as possible.<br />7) Get the back end of the boat raised and blocked using my method, or a floor jack and blocks.<br />8) Nail two 2x4's together and then cut them about 1/4 inch longer than the distance from the floor to the header. Wedge that beam into place on the other side of the boat. Make sure you have room to pull out the trailer.<br />9) Attach one end of the hoist to the hinge and the other end to the bow eye. <br />10) Lift the bow and extract the trailer. <br />WARNING: Keep pets and kids out of the area. And make sure the bow eye is secure. If its weak or the bow is not in good shape, don't do this.<br />I've been chewed on for suggesting this technique before and I can tell you it works. I've switched trailers several times this way. You simply need to exercise caution and common sense. Dont get under the darned thing.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Now that's one way to do it. I can jack the stern and put it on jack stands, but couldnt figure out how to raise the front. But then my boat won't fit in the garage, so i can't use the header. Last option is to build a stand for the hoist and then raise the bow.

 

[flips]

Re: Get boat off trailer

You can do it on the lawn, as i have mostly done.<br />Its soft on the boat.I use the tyres to stop boat from tilting, as far as winching it back on it is very easy, trailer slides back under as you winch better than you think.I do it myself but you should get some mates to help first time out.My boat is much the same as yours 16.5 with 135 Johnston a bit more wieght than yours.

 

[crazyshady08884]

Re: Get boat off trailer

How about when winching it back on you put a rope completely around the boat? Dont have to worry about pulling anything loose then. Maybe some vegetable oil on rails so it slides easier? Just some thoughts

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Get boat off trailer

when I worked on my trailer earlier this summer, I launched the boat and let my wife stay with it while I worked on the trailer rollers in the parking lot- hoisting and everything else mentioned seemed too much for me to tackle.<br /><br />I plan on doing the same thing near the end of this season to work on some rust on the trailer, should work even better then, less people on the water!<br /><br />Joe

 

[woosterken]

Re: Get boat off trailer

go to a tire shop that deals in semi tires get 6 semi tire tubes,put about 20/30 lbs air in them.<br />take transom tie downs off loosen winch strap and push boat back(hook trailer to your tow vehicle)<br />put two tubes under transom,pull trailer forward,<br />(use two tent pegs and transom tie downs to hold boat)put two tubes in mid ship and pull trailer forward,SLOWLY,put remaining two tubes under bow <br />as boat comes to end of trailer.To put boat back on trailer push trailer up to bow (by hand)lift up front of trailer to start it under bow,hook up winch. <br />coat bunks with Pam cooking oil.crank winch it will pull trailer under boat,you are pulling the trailer not the boat (trailer weight is less than boat).<br />then when your done you have 6 tubes to pull the crew on.<br /><br />ken

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Get boat off trailer

Do any of you guys use break-back trailers?<br />They simplify this whole process - particularly the job of getting the boat back on the trailer.<br /><br />I like Joe Loizzo's method best - except you need very fast drying paint!