launching boat onto lawn

[ILLaViTaR]

hey guys I've got 2 boats 2 trailers and I'm about to swap the trailers I was just wondering if it's safe to launch them straight onto the lawn as I don't have any tyres or anything? I have an engine crane and car stands but no wooden blocks I'm afraid they'll put a hole through the floor of the boats.

They
re both pretty light ones a 145ft aluminium tinny (300kg) and the other is a 15ft fibreglass that is also rather light and on a tilt trailer.

Should I be ok to drop them down onto the grass as I would with water? I'mthinking it's similar to a beach launch, would it be best to winch the boat down until the transom hits the grass and then drive the trailer out forwards? I'm hoping the boats will sit on the grass evenly and not tip over?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! cheers

 

[rallyart]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

Just don't start the engine unless you need to rototill anyway.
I'd do it. Once you have it down then brace it so it won't rock around. You can use the crane to lit the front to help load if needed.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

Once you have it down then brace it so it won't rock around. You can use the crane to lit the front to help load if needed.

Solid suggestion. I would try to get the bow high enough to get the end of the trailer under it. Also raise the tongue of the trailer so the back of the trailer is on the ground. Connect the winch and walk then together. With the tilt trailer just use that tilt function the same way.

 

[roscoe]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

Anything you can put under the bow to keep it 12-18" off the ground will help in loading when the time comes.


Disconnect the trailer from tow vehicle and put in place.
Winch boat back onto trailer. Actually, you will be pulling the trailer under the boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: launching boat onto lawn

no probem and it will be especially easy with the tilt trailer. We used to do that all the time to paint the bottoms.

 

[Grandad]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

The most critical part of the process may be when you're unloading. As the center of gravity shifts behind the tipping point of your wheels, she'll want to spit the trailer out forward and suddenly drop the stern on the ground, unless you can manage this with the trailer still hitched to your tow vehicle (not likely). I'd keep the winch strap connected to the bow eye, paying out the strap at a controlled rate. - Grandad

 

[bonz_d]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

Looks like everyone is on the same page with the same idea!

Just be careful and go slow. Oh, and check you cable or winch strap before hand that there is no tears in the strap or broken wires in the cable. Had a cable snap once doing this same thing with a heavy wood boat. Sent me to the hospital for 2 days.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

Leave trailer hooked to vehicle ... Click the link below

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topic...-your-small-boat-ground-5-minutes-527592.html

 

[ILLaViTaR]

Re: launching boat onto lawn

cheers guys I just did it before I didn't anchor the stern so it took ages the boat got stuck and I had to tilt the trailer extremely high to get it off but was rather easy in the end just took time!! Thanks again