Removing a boat from a trailer

[John Taylor]

A couple of days ago "newbie125" asked about removing a heavy boat from a trailer. My boat is not as heavy as his, but I still need to remove mine for some trailer repair. I cannot figure out how to block the boat up and get the trailer out from under it. My trailer is wider than my boat. I definitely cannot afford a crane to lift the thing. It is a 1969 Fiberform and I would estimate its weight at around 2500 to 3000#. I am sure some of the boat restoration guys must have done this before. Any suggestions? All help is appreciated.

 

[uscboy]

Re: Removing a boat from a trailer

Trailer repair as in it's not able to move?

If it can move and you just want to work on it, find a marina that will let you
park your boat in an unused slip for a few days for a charge.

 

[FreeBayliner4Us]

Re: Removing a boat from a trailer

We need more info.

What kind of repair are you trying to do?

What kind of trailer do you have?

Bunk or roller?

Can you raise your motor or sterndrive enough to be flat across the botom?

I helped a friend with a roller trailer gently unload his boat in his yard and later after replacing some rollers reload quite simply. He did have a power winch and an outboard that cleared the bottom of the hull by a foot and change though. You could use large block of wood to elevate the stern if needed. and place a few more as the trailer clears the hull. Just make sure to brace side to side as well. If you have bunks this could be doable but obviously much harder.

If you try it with bunks make sure to wet them down generously first. We straped his stern eyes to a large tree in his yard and braced it side to side with logs and some 2x10's. It wasn't pretty but it worked. We were about a 3 hr drive from anywhere we could put-in so that didn't seem like a great option for a 1hr repair.

I have replaced a bunk before with the boat still on the trailer. It took 2 floor jacks and some blocks of wood with a bath mat between them and the hull(don't tell my wife). I just jacked the boat high enough to unbolt the bunk and slide it out the back.

Just make sure the trailer can't move when trying any of the above ideas so you don't have any shifting. I recomend leaving the trailer hooked to the tow vehicle.

Good Luck!