Jacking the boat off the trailer.

[Boats-A-lots]

I need to replace my bunk boards, and rollers on my trailer. I have a 20ft SeaSwirl cuddy and wondering if any one knew where are the best point to jack it off the trailer, and brace it up? Its a deep V and not a lot of flat surface.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

You lift and support it on its keel and hard chines.

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

This is how I do mine,
1st I jack trailer with boat to height required.
2nd support boat at stern close to transom.
3rd jack up fwd end and support.
4th lower trailer away from boat.

The fwd support is under a bulkhead and is really very lightly loaded.

Since I took these photos I have replaced both jacks and now do not need the wooden blocks to gain the extra height and it is safer.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

I need to replace my bunk boards, and rollers on my trailer. I have a 20ft SeaSwirl cuddy and wondering if any one knew where are the best point to jack it off the trailer, and brace it up? Its a deep V and not a lot of flat surface.

I wouldn't be jacking it up at all. Find a sturdy tree and tie a rope much like a ski bridle to the transom. Pull your trailer out from under the boat. When you are finished working on the trailer back it up to the bow of the boat and use the trailer winch to pull the boat up on the trailer.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Gee that is a pretty heavy boat to suspend from a tree. I recommend cement blocks under the stern corners. Use two blocks for each course and a single on top and pad with wood. Wiggle the boat to make sure it is blocked solidly. Now jack up the bow keel with a hydraulic jack and put a couple of cement blocks padded with wood, there as well. You may work on the trailer at this point, but I do not recommend you go under the suspended boat, for safety reasons.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

I will definitely use the trailer lift method from dypcdiver next time when I replace the rest of the bunks, good way to inspect and clean the hull also, good stuff.

I recently had a bunk "go bad" and would not have been able to re-load the boat after launching until it was replaced. I found a Marina close by that has a private ramp and dock, so I paid the $5 and took the boat off the trailer so I could get at the bunks easier. I had one bad bunk that I knew about, the others were ok after inspection, and it was 109 degrees that day so I just replaced the one bunk, re-used the old but adequate carpet then reloaded and went home. I am now anxious to replace the others and put on new bunk carpets or slides, and inspect and clean the hull bottom.

This forum is just great, that's all there is to it

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

This is how I do mine,
1st I jack trailer with boat to height required.
2nd support boat at stern close to transom.
3rd jack up fwd end and support.
4th lower trailer away from boat.

The fwd support is under a bulkhead and is really very lightly loaded.

Since I took these photos I have replaced both jacks and now do not need the wooden blocks to gain the extra height and it is safer.


View attachment 160236View attachment 160235View attachment 160234

THAT IS AN AWESOME IDEA! Thank you! The only real flat spot on the bottom of the boat is where the bunk boards are now. Last night I was thinking about making a cradle like with 2x6's. Tie one side to the other so the weight of the boat at the angle it rests would be less. (um.. does that make sense)? Haha. In other words, the left and right supports would be joined together.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Gee that is a pretty heavy boat to suspend from a tree. I recommend cement blocks under the stern corners. Use two blocks for each course and a single on top and pad with wood. Wiggle the boat to make sure it is blocked solidly. Now jack up the bow keel with a hydraulic jack and put a couple of cement blocks padded with wood, there as well. You may work on the trailer at this point, but I do not recommend you go under the suspended boat, for safety reasons.

I wouldn't be jacking it up at all. Find a sturdy tree and tie a rope much like a ski bridle to the transom. Pull your trailer out from under the boat. When you are finished working on the trailer back it up to the bow of the boat and use the trailer winch to pull the boat up on the trailer.

Um, yeah.. that's not going to happen. 1. no big trees close by. 2. I could imagine the pictures in the news paper.. Some one leaves boat hanging from tree.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Um, yeah.. that's not going to happen. 1. no big trees close by. 2. I could imagine the pictures in the news paper.. Some one leaves boat hanging from tree.

The tree is just an anchor point.
The boat is NOT suspended from the tree.
The Rope at the transom goes from the Stern Eyes HORIZONTALLY to the tree, NOT Vertically!
The idea is to pull the boat off of the back of the trailer, except you do it by pulling the trailer out from under the boat!
Think of the tree as a 100,000lb skier. When you pull the trailer forward the boat stays behind!
If you don't have a well placed tree, use a temporarily placed truck!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Um, put the boat on the water for a day while you repair the trailer.

Yes, I agree. A cordless drill, hand saw and the new bunks (pre-cut and carpeted) at the boat ramp would be the easiest at this time of the season................ and you get to go boating too!!!

 

[Maclin]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

I went for a cruise before I reloaded, worked out great. You have to have portable tools and junk all charged up and ready. I had hacksaw, bolt cutters, portable drill and bits, hand saw, hammers, bolts, nuts, washers, catch pan for old bolts, liquid nails, staple gun, staples, clamps, duct tape, tool box with other tools, tie wraps, square, marking pencil, air tank, knee cushion, sitting stool, charged phone, cooler with ice and lunch and WATER bottles. I drank 7 liters that day, 109 record high.

I also want to be able to get at the hull and clean and inspect, so the trailer jacking method is perfect for that, the trailer is the best cradle to use and it is "free".

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

The tree is just an anchor point.
The boat is NOT suspended from the tree.
The Rope at the transom goes from the Stern Eyes HORIZONTALLY to the tree, NOT Vertically!
The idea is to pull the boat off of the back of the trailer, except you do it by pulling the trailer out from under the boat!
Think of the tree as a 100,000lb skier. When you pull the trailer forward the boat stays behind!
If you don't have a well placed tree, use a temporarily placed truck!

+1. The tree trick works great. Although, the thought of someone hanging their boat from a tree is kinda funny It be the world's biggest and weirdest pinata.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Um, put the boat on the water for a day while you repair the trailer.

Actually, that is a good idea, but my projects are never as easy as they are suppose to be.. Maybe ending up having the boat tied up at the dock over night.

The tree is just an anchor point.
The boat is NOT suspended from the tree.
The Rope at the transom goes from the Stern Eyes HORIZONTALLY to the tree, NOT Vertically!
The idea is to pull the boat off of the back of the trailer, except you do it by pulling the trailer out from under the boat!
Think of the tree as a 100,000lb skier. When you pull the trailer forward the boat stays behind!
If you don't have a well placed tree, use a temporarily placed truck!

Okay, now I understand.. !! My first thought was hang it from a tree..

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

I went for a cruise before I reloaded, worked out great. You have to have portable tools and junk all charged up and ready. I had hacksaw, bolt cutters, portable drill and bits, hand saw, hammers, bolts, nuts, washers, catch pan for old bolts, liquid nails, staple gun, staples, clamps, duct tape, tool box with other tools, tie wraps, square, marking pencil, air tank, knee cushion, sitting stool, charged phone, cooler with ice and lunch and WATER bottles. I drank 7 liters that day, 109 record high.

I also want to be able to get at the hull and clean and inspect, so the trailer jacking method is perfect for that, the trailer is the best cradle to use and it is "free".

Thats funny... sounds like my projects. Every time I start something I end up using tools I would have never thought I needed for the job I started.

+1. The tree trick works great. Although, the thought of someone hanging their boat from a tree is kinda funny It be the world's biggest and weirdest pinata.

(laughing)

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Speaking of inspecting the hull.. Here are some pics of a 33 ft boat where the owner said "he THOUGHT he bottomed out". But he tied it to the dock and left it over night. You can see the boat sitting on the bottom. We were camping at the marina and watched this unfold for 3 days. Coast Guard, oil spill team clean up, and divers. They used air bags to bring it up. The Port of Newport said the fines were over $12,000!! Insurance wont cover the fines. (oil spills are serious lately).

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

You can see it a little better in this pic..

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

They put the booms over the area that oil and gas was coming up. By the next day they had booms going 5 boats down each direction.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Jacking the boat off the trailer.

Yikers!!!! little hole= big trouble!