Lifting boat a few inches on trailer

[Napa Scott]

I just got a 21' trailerable (swing keel) sailboat. The keel is extremely rusted and I would like to lift the boat enough while on the trailer to drop the keel about 1 foot so I can grind, sand & paint it. I'm thinking of using a jack to lift the boat and then wedge 4"x4" blocks between the boat and the trailer bunk boards. Sound feasible? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Lifting boat a few inches on trailer

absolutely, I've done it several times. I put a small cushion on the jack to not cause any damage to the hull, then blocked with wood.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Lifting boat a few inches on trailer

Do you have to lift the boat to get the clearance on the keel? It doesn't just stick down in the middle of the trailer?

Seems like it would be a lot easier just to jack up the trailer and put some jackstands under the trailer to get the extra foot you need .......

 

[Napa Scott]

Re: Lifting boat a few inches on trailer

The keel swings up into the hull about 5", so I must lift the entire boat off of the trailer (keel too) to lower the keel.
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Napa Scott]

Re: Lifting boat a few inches on trailer

I tried the process of using the trailer tongue jack to lift the boat. I built a support to put just in front of the keel then lowered the tongue and the boat raised above the bunk boards on the front. I then used 2x4's to keep that space. I repeated the process and wedged it up some more. At that point the keel was still sitting on the trailer but the hull was really starting to flatten out at the wedge points. I stopped raising the boat. I think the keel is just too heavy to be raised and the hull will crack under the weight. I've decided to have the boat lifted off of the trailer by a boatyard so I can sand and paint the keel.
Thanks anyway, I think this would only work on a power boat that is lighter.
Napa Scott
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Life's too short to drink cheap wine......