How can I flip my row boat on trailer for winter storage?

[jimwalt]

Just got my first row boat about 4 weeks ago. It's lightweight and only 12' long. I'm wondering how can I flip it over for winter so that it can sit on my trailer and not fall off. I'm located in Michigan were we get lots of snow that I don't want inside the boat. I've briefly seen where people use a 2'x4' covered with carpet across the back part sitting on the rollers between the tires, but since my trailer is a 4"x4" beam from front to back how can I pull this off? I don't even know what to Google or how to find some pictures. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Attached are some pictures of my boat and the trailer. Of course I will bring the engine in my house for winter. Thank you!

 

[roscoe]

how about you just put 2 2x4 on there ground and flip the boat onto them.
Looks like too much fuss to try and balance it on that trailer.

 

[GA_Boater]

A six pack and a couple of buddy's will do it. Take the motor off first.

The trailer doesn't look like it will hold her upside down without some support under the gunnels.

 

[fhhuber]

2X4 across the trailer a bit wider than the boat.
You can't drive with the boat supported that way, but tied to the trailer it will sit in your yard or driveway fine.

 

[82rude]

Hello neighbor Soo Ontario here.99.99999 percent of people i know that own a small boat like yours just flip them over on the ground with either sawhorses being employed or just plain old 2x4 placed on ground first.

 

[Silvertip]

A 2x4 across the rollers at the back of the trailer will work just fine. Another buddy can help you flip it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

me personally would get a canvas cover and a few cover bows and store the fuel tanks, etc inside it..... but then again, family has been doing that on small fishing boats for years in WI and MI

however if you want to flip it. the motor weighs about 70# and the boat weighs about #150

take both hands, pick up motor and set on ground

take both hands, disconnect winch from boat, go to back and pull off trailer. then when boat is sitting on ground, pull it along side trailer, grab gunwale and roll'er'over onto trailer

now pick up the motor and put on the motor stand in your garage or shed

 

[jimwalt]

I need to be able to store it on the trailer in the winter due to very limited space. Somehow I need to figure out how to get a 2x4 across the bow at the gunnels. I can also place a 2x4 across the rollers (between the tires) as well. It's just the front that will be the challenge.

I've seen these size boats flipped on trailers in the past. I just don't remember how they supported the front of the boat so that it wouldn't fall off the trailer (and since the winch isn't of any use when it's upside down.

Please keep the suggestions (and any pictures or web links) coming!

 

[roscoe]

Instead of trying to balance it, or rig up cross members of 2x4, just flip it onto the trailer, then place an upside down 5 gallon bucket under each side of the bow, just behind your registration stickers.

no buckets, use cinder blocks.
No blocks, use a couple pieces of log.
No logs, use 2 coolers.
No coolers, buy some, you'll need then to carry the fish you catch.


Keep it simple.

 

[fhhuber]

3 points is enough... The one board across the bunks/rollers and the nose of the boat sitting on the trailer tongue or cranked up with the winch clipped to the bow eye. Cargo strap around the boat and trailer close to the board... done.

The main advantage to having the boat inverted is zero possibility of accumulating leaves and trash which would plug the drain hole and then the boat fills up (which is bad)
A good tarp and support bows + checking occasionally does the job just fine too.

 

[JASinIL2006]

As easy as it would be to flip and support a 12' aluminum boat (2 normal adults should be able to handle it), there is no way I'd mess with installing bows and tarps and such. As fhhuber says, 3 points of contact would be plenty. A 20 minute job, if that.

 

[jimwalt]

I purchased a square corner U-bolt that I plan to use to attach a 2'x4' on the trailer near the front of the boat so that it can rest on the gunwales, Then I don't need to worry about it tipping to the right or left (while upside down) during the winter due to the weight of snow or wind. I'll be working on attaching it once I'm done with the boat for the season (probably in October) and will post pictures of my set up then. I'm still open to suggestions though!!! Thank you.

 

[Grub54891]

Flip the boat, end for end it on the trailer, transom by the winch. It'll sit there nicely. Done it myself.

 

[ahicks]

That trailer is very likely older than many (most?) of the people reading this!

 

[jimwalt]

That trailer is very likely older than many (most?) of the people reading this!

No rust on it though, so it must have been stored inside and taken care of well.

 

[ahicks]

Not knocking it at all! It does look like it's well maintained. I was just noting you don't see many of those around any more!

 

[gm280]

I purchased a square corner U-bolt that I plan to use to attach a 2'x4' on the trailer near the front of the boat so that it can rest on the gunwales, Then I don't need to worry about it tipping to the right or left (while upside down) during the winter due to the weight of snow or wind. I'll be working on attaching it once I'm done with the boat for the season (probably in October) and will post pictures of my set up then. I'm still open to suggestions though!!! Thank you.

I think you bought the best option with the square bolt setup. Use that with a 2 x 4 and easy peasy with no worries. But make sure wind can't get up under it and flip it off the trailer as well. So tie it secure to the trailer for more added weight. But I think you got it all figured out perfectly now. :thumb:

 

[gordo9742000]

Get some friends and flip boat onto some blocks in the driveway and then use the same friends to pick up trailer and place it upside down on boat.

 

[jimwalt]

Not knocking it at all! It does look like it's well maintained. I was just noting you don't see many of those around any more!

Yes you are right.

 

[jimwalt]

I think you bought the best option with the square bolt setup. Use that with a 2 x 4 and easy peasy with no worries. But make sure wind can't get up under it and flip it off the trailer as well. So tie it secure to the trailer for more added weight. But I think you got it all figured out perfectly now. :thumb:

Yes I'll use the same red ratchet strap I use to hold it to the trailer when I drive it down the road.