Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

[salmonee]

I need some comments, strategies, and any kind of ideas on how I'm going to get a Wellcraft 180 Fisherman to fit into my garage. I'm going to see the boat tomorrow to take some detail measurements and photos. In the meantime, here's the problem. My garage is 6'11" in height but the garage is two car deep. I'm guessing the boat on trailer is about 8' from the top of the windshield to the ground. To play with the numbers, I can lower the trailer jack all the way down and maybe get about 3-4"? I can change tires to get 1-2". Another option is to completely remove the windshield before stowing the boat into the garage. I spoke with the owner and apparently the windshield is bolted down. I'm going to take pictures of this tomorrow and look at things closer. I'm willing to have some professional slice the windshield down and am even considering slicing my house now to get a 9' garage door. The garage ceiling is 10'. Damm cheap ***** builder. I didn't realize this until I started looking at boats. All the boats I'm interested in are too tall to fit into my garage. I'm desperate here, I really like this type of boat and the used price is really good compared at 30k for a new one. I'm willing to hear any thoughts you may have. Below are pictures of a similar boat. The one I'm interested in does not have a hard top.

EDIT: Any insights on how these type of windshield are installed on the boat? This is a first boat for me so I'm totally clueless. I'd like to know how to remove it besides using a chain saw!

 

[Geo2008]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Try putting it in the dryer and may it will shrink

Sorry I could not resist, I am no help at all....good luck!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

On one of the windshield pictures there appears to be a screw in the black band at the bottom of the 'screen. Since that plexiglas discolors, cracks, or becomes damaged it should just unscrew for replacement. There should be rubber bushings with stainless flat washers as part of the hardware. All that should be able to be unscrewed. Ditto with the stainless 'screen surround/grab handle. That looks as if it may gain you at least a foot. Smaller tires on that double axle trailer will compromise the weight load of the trailer. Probably not an option.
As far as the house, that precast or poured lentil forming the top of the garage door opening is all engineered for that opening. Can't you imagine what a contractor would have to go thru to raise that? Permits, city,county, etc....... And all they might gain is one course of block or roughly +/- 8".

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

post a picture of the garage. the windshield can be removed, and you could run with out it. but a PITA, and removing an installing is another PITA. i'm a retired building contractor.

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

I need some comments, strategies, and any kind of ideas on how I'm going to get a Wellcraft 180 Fisherman to fit into my garage. I'm going to see the boat tomorrow to take some detail measurements and photos. In the meantime, here's the problem. My garage is 6'11" in height but the garage is two car deep. I'm guessing the boat on trailer is about 8' from the top of the windshield to the ground. To play with the numbers, I can lower the trailer jack all the way down and maybe get about 3-4"? I can change tires to get 1-2". Another option is to completely remove the windshield before stowing the boat into the garage. I spoke with the owner and apparently the windshield is bolted down. I'm going to take pictures of this tomorrow and look at things closer. I'm willing to have some professional slice the windshield down and am even considering slicing my house now to get a 9' garage door. The garage ceiling is 10'. Damm cheap ***** builder. I didn't realize this until I started looking at boats. All the boats I'm interested in are too tall to fit into my garage. I'm desperate here, I really like this type of boat and the used price is really good compared at 30k for a new one. I'm willing to hear any thoughts you may have. Below are pictures of a similar boat. The one I'm interested in does not have a hard top.

EDIT: Any insights on how these type of windshield are installed on the boat? This is a first boat for me so I'm totally clueless. I'd like to know how to remove it besides using a chain saw!

A keg of beer, 4 or 5 friends and a quality sawz all....

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

This sounds like a neighboring department that I know of that bought a brand new aerial with all the bells and whistles that you could think of. They found out how to pay for it, the manner in which it would be placed on alarms, etc. The one thing that they did not do was measure the bay that it was being put into. When they brought it to the station it was 12" too tall to go in so it sat outside for six months while the header was moved up.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Should be easy enough to hinge the base of the windshield (or either the "roll bar" that goes around it) so that it would fold down, but be easily raised and clamped into place. Maybe kind of like the foldable wakeboard towers. Couple of hours with a milling machine, lathe, and TIG welder should fix it right up!

 

[salmonee]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Should be easy enough to hinge the base of the windshield (or either the "roll bar" that goes around it) so that it would fold down, but be easily raised and clamped into place. Maybe kind of like the foldable wakeboard towers. Couple of hours with a milling machine, lathe, and TIG welder should fix it right up!

This is my ultimate goal. Create some kind of hinged windshield using the grab bar. I just need to find a good machinist.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

I don't have any pictures but the wiindshield on my Alumacraft Navigator has four quarter-turn fasteners that allow removal of the windshield in a few seconds. Those fasteners and the receivers that go into the helm could be easily adapted to your windshield.

I have a similar problem with my pontoon. It is about 2-inches too high to clear the door (obviously with the bimini top removed). For winter storage I plan to buy another set of wheels but won't put tires on them. 2x4 tracks will allow the rig to be run into the garage without chewing up the pavement. No -- letting air out of the tires won't do it. These are 20.5x8x10 inch wheels with 10 ply tires. Don't want to ruin those by deflating to the point where they are essentially running flat.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

On one of the windshield pictures there appears to be a screw in the black band at the bottom of the 'screen. Since that plexiglas discolors, cracks, or becomes damaged it should just unscrew for replacement. There should be rubber bushings with stainless flat washers as part of the hardware. All that should be able to be unscrewed. Ditto with the stainless 'screen surround/grab handle. That looks as if it may gain you at least a foot. Smaller tires on that double axle trailer will compromise the weight load of the trailer. Probably not an option.
As far as the house, that precast or poured lentil forming the top of the garage door opening is all engineered for that opening. Can't you imagine what a contractor would have to go thru to raise that? Permits, city,county, etc....... And all they might gain is one course of block or roughly +/- 8".

Do you know how the grab handle is mounted onto the center console deck? This may be my biggest challenge as I don't see any ways to remove it. If you look at the fourth picture starting from the left, I don't see any kind of hardware mounting. I would guess this is where you comment about the rubber bushings and flat washers comes in? If so, how do start the removal process? I'm going to see tonight if I can get access to the inside of the console. I imagine there's got to be a opening hatch just below the steering wheel. Does anyone have an idea on how these rails are assembled onto a boat?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

they 99% are thru bolted from under the console.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Its a boat....boats are happy outdoors.....boats get wet....boats are happy when wet.....buy a cover,call it done

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Mine won't fit length wise or height wise,,,,,,,,12' from the steering wheel to the ground while on the trailer.........Does make it easy to get on my roof without using a ladder though..........SS

 

[Nandy]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

He probably has a reason not to want to have the boat outside. Why dont you just look at the glass closely? You should be able to make out how it is bolt. My windshield is screwed from the top to bottom but most boats windshields I have seen are bolted from the bottom. Is the windshield removal a season thing our will you be doing it every trip?

 

[Doneuald]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

if you have to you could take the wheels completely off and move the boat and trailer in on floor jacks by just jacking it up off the floor enough to keep the frame from scraping then when the highest part is through the frame (6' 11") jack it back up and put the wheels on ( ceiling 10') to roll it the rest of the way in Bob's your uncle it's Miller time!
Don

 

[salmonee]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

He probably has a reason not to want to have the boat outside. Why dont you just look at the glass closely? You should be able to make out how it is bolt. My windshield is screwed from the top to bottom but most boats windshields I have seen are bolted from the bottom. Is the windshield removal a season thing our will you be doing it every trip?

I live in a community and there are covenant restrictions (i.e no boats outside). I guess removing the windshield will be a every trip thing.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

if you have to you could take the wheels completely off and move the boat and trailer in on floor jacks by just jacking it up off the floor enough to keep the frame from scraping then when the highest part is through the frame (6' 11") jack it back up and put the wheels on ( ceiling 10') to roll it the rest of the way in Bob's your uncle it's Miller time!
Don

Can this be done? What type of jack are you referring to?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

the floor jack process sounds extremely dangerous, as those little wheel have a mind of their own.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Ok, you are in the same "boat" (sorry, could not help myself!) as I live in a HOA ruled comunity. Well, I would not do the jack thing because this will be something that you will do at least weekly during your boating season. Like I said before, jump in the boat, take a look at it. You might just take the windshield off this time but you might have to devise a system so you can just flip it like you would in a jeep. Welding shops can help you with that. If you take photos we can also give you plenty of ideas. By the way, that is a nice boat!! Good luck!

 

[dave11]

Re: Help!! The boat is too tall and won't fit in my garage!

Honey, now that I have my new boat, wouldn't you like a bigger house with a BIG garage?