Getting a boat off the trailer

[2ndtry]

I know I've seen this before but I can't find it by search. If anybody has a link to old threads that discuss this that would be great.

Anyway, I am looking at a boat that is nice and cheap, but doesn't come with a trailer. I have a trailer I can make work, but how to swap them out? (the "new" boat is currently on a trailer the seller wants to keep).

The nearest body of water with a ramp is pretty far, and I would rather not have to spend several hours to do this on top of three hour drive to get the boat (I plan on going alone to look at the boat).

I've seen threads in which you lower the tongue, block up the back, raise the tongue, reblock, and slowly move the trailer out. I just feel like I am missing something, and I can't find those threads.

Any help would be much appreciated, either with the method I described (albeit poorly) or any other method you think might work.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

iv'e done this before it's a lot easer then it sound does take some time though like a few hours or less. You will need a lot of blocks diffrent sizes too. probally about 40-50 that may be over kill but i used 30 for my boat and its small so. you want to drop the front of the boat on the jack low as you can go. then block up the back. at this time the back should rise off the trailer you block up the middle of the keel. then pull it foward till you get to a beam in the trailer. then block it up in the other side of the keel take about the blocks from infront of the beam and move foward more. the back blocks should be on each corner. then keep doing that till it's off then just reverse the prosese. you always want to keep a block in on the keel. if its a rolling trailer you can roll it for the last part. just went the boat and roll it. if bunk you have to do it till it's fully on the trailer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

how big a boat? we used to paint the bottoms of a 13' and a 16', and just "launch" them in the yard. Get a couple of people to lift up the bow, slide the trailer out. replace by lifting the bow and sliding the trailer under, do some winching and lifting. Works on a roller trailer.
With a power winch (or maybe a substitute) you might be able to pull it on if you get the bow started.

Or

"rent" the trailer from the seller, take it home and launch/swap, return the trailer

Or

do you plan to test drive the boat? if so, you have to launch it; swap it then.

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

how big a boat? [/QUOTE]

19'

do you plan to test drive the boat? if so, you have to launch it; swap it then.

nope, motor is blown.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

you have to do it the way i sayed then its the only way. look on you tube for better deatial but thats your best bet.

 

[Ross72]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

I've done this several times in the past. It can be done with a roller or bunk trailer. If you have a tilt trailer it quite easy, if not it can still be done just takes a little longer. First, you'll need a couple of old tires without rims. Also, you might want a come-a-long if your winch is not rated for the weight of the boat. Here is how I do it.

1. Chain the boat (that's on his trailer) to an immovable object such as a tree, truck, or what ever you have.
2. Slowly pull the trailer out and place a tire under the stern on each side the boat will set on them.
3. Continue to pull the trailer out and put 2 tires close to the bow, so the bow is higher than the stern.
4. Pull the trailer completely out and move yours into position.
5. If you have a tilt trailer drop it down, if not back your trailer til it touchs the bow.
6. Hook up your winch and put your vehicle in neutral (less drag on the winch).
7. If your winch is strong enough, slowly crank it up. If not use the come-a-long to start winching, but attach winch cable also for safety.
8. If you have a tilt trailer, it if "flop" down when the boat is about half way on, which will lift the stern off the ground.
8a.If no tilt trailer start cranking or come-a-long, it will be a little harder but will work.
9. Crank the boat all the way up and secure.
10.Pick up your tires and go home.

I picked up a Chris Craft Scorpion 182 with a 470 Mercuiser with this method. You will get tired of cranking, just take your time. it should take less than an hour beginning to end.

 

[halas]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

Takes some maneuvering but I swapped trailers like this:

I remember that it was easier to push the new trailer under the boat.

 

[df909]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

You won't break the eye off of the boat doing this? I need to do the same thing but my trailer just has 2x6 bunks on them & no rollers.

 

[halas]

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

That aluminum boat weighs less in the front. You must be sure on your situation before trying something like this.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Getting a boat off the trailer

an eye shouldn't break off; they are supposed to handle a lot of stress, like when you power winch a boat onto a trailer than isn't sunk. But it's scary, especially with old ones--no telling what is behind it. I had an eye pull out once b/c the nuts inside rusted away; no way for me to know their condition until I found my boat about a foot back on the trailer, and the bow eye dangling from the winch clip AND the safety chain!

Use back up and be careful. Try not to have the boat hanging more than an inch or so at any time, so if it falls, it won't be catastrophic. use a pole or something to move your supports around under the boat; don't reach under there.