Getting a 18' trihull off the trailer?

[Matthew_B]

I would like to start a cleanup and paint-job on my boat trailer, but I have no idea how to get the boat off the trailer.
The boat is a Glaspar 18' tri-hull.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Getting a 18' trihull off the trailer?

Unstrap it, go backward really really fast and hit the brakes.

Okay, for putting it on, you can get nice foam blocks for free from any place that sells utility trailers. They ship them on them. Being that your boat is an 18 footer, and probably more than 2000 pounds, (just a guess, I am only around smaller aluminum boats) it is gonna be to hard to just push off. So, you will probably wanna tie the stern to a tree, or something that is big/ heavy, and won't move (MIL maybe).
Then, pull the trailer forward to where about two feet are hanging off the stern. Put a block under the stern with enough shims to make it within a couple inches of the hull. Keep pulling forward and adding blocks. You will probably want someone to keep on the winch, and back it off by hand, so it doesn't want to quickly exit off the back. When you get up to the front, put the last block under, and keep backing off with the winch until the trailer is completely free. Trust me, that is when it will want to leap free. Now, you are free from the trailer. To put back on, just work the opposite, and you don't need a vehicle attached to the trailer, as if it is attached to tree you can pull the trailer under the boat using the winch. Just take out blocks as the crossbar gets near them.

 

[Matthew_B]

Re: Getting a 18' trihull off the trailer?

Thank's bassboy,

I'll have to visit a utility trailer place and get the blocks. I'm not sure how much I want to drag the boat though since the sponsons are on carpet runners. The keel is on rollers. I'm not sure of the weight distribution so it might be a little hard on the boat to drag it on the runners.

What I may try is to jack the trailer up, put the foam under the back of the boat in front of the last crossbar, and lower the trailer. I can then pull forward a little, leaving the back of the boat hanging out. I can then repeat the jacking and put foam under the rear. Then I'll pull forward a little at a time, adding foam as I go. That way most of the weight should be off the runners. Sound good?

BTW, the boat weight is around 3200 lbs.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Getting a 18' trihull off the trailer?

I use a similar technique for moving my boat off the trailer. You can use the tongue jack or a bottle jack.

Jack up the rear, place it on stands, jack the front so the boat's off the trailer, then move the trailer partway out. Lower the trailer onto another stand, move the jack past the crossbar, and pull out some more. Repeat as needed.

Be VERY careful with jack placement and the placement of the support blocks. Your boat weighs about as much as mine, and if it falls at the very least it'll be loud and expensive. It may be fatal.

Erik