Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

[scjakester]

Hello everyone, I am in a little bit of a pickle and I am hoping someone has some ideas for me. I am restoring a 21' pontoon boat and I've had it sitting on a friends trailer for about a month now. I really need to get his trailer back to him (he's been nice about it, but I don't want to wear out the welcome if you know what I mean). It's currently parked about 5' from the water's edge on a private concrete boat ramp. The boat ramp is mine so I can leave it there as long as I need to leave it, it's not a problem having it block the ramp. The slope of the ramp itself isn't too awfully steep, but its enough that if you don't block the wheels your boat trailer will easily roll backwards down the ramp on its own. Anyone have any ideas on how I can pull the boat (without a trailer) completely onto the boat ramp without damaging the pontoons? I was thinking about going to Lowe's and purchasing some round wooden fence posts and trying to slowly pull it from the water onto the boat ramp a few feet. I was thinking I might could do it with maybe 6 or 8 round fence posts and let them roll along as I go and then secure the boat so is doesn't roll back.

I only really have 3 priorities:
------------------------------

1. I don't want to damage the boat!

2. I need to get it far enough out of the water that we can walk completely around it.

3. I don't want to get it stuck and not be able to get it back down the ramp into the water!

Any (cheap) ideas on how I can do it?

-Jake

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

You've given this some thought, obviously. How/what is your plan for the pullin....it's gonna be a heavier (feeling) load to pull up the incline.

 

[scjakester]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

I have pretty heavy duty eye-loops on the front of each pontoon for hooking it to the boat lift. I was thinking I might could hook a tow strap to them and wrap it over the hitch on my truck.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

I've moved some pretty heavy stuff with pieces of ABS pipe as rollers.
If you use 1- 1/2", you can substitute pieces of 2"x4" once it is where you want it. The 2x4s don't roll well.

As long as that ramp is not steep enough that the 'toon will slide, you are OK.

 

[scjakester]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

That's a good idea. You don't think they would crush on the way? -Jake

P.S. Sorry if I put this in the wrong folder, it was moved for some reason.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

I assume you're goping to launch it then bring it up the ramp.

I've moved a lot of small boats on log rollers in my day. In your case, the challenge is that they have to be so long to reach both pontoons at once. You will need helpers to keep them straight. use three, when one rolls out the back, run it around front. You can build pyramids that way.

Why not take it off the trailer on land?

Or lay plywood down and just drag it up?

Get 4 furniture dollies--they are cheap--and roll up on them?

Suggest you have either a motor hoist or a floor jack for lifting, unless you can lift one end by hand.

 

[scjakester]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

Hey Bubba & Home Cookin, that's freaking brilliant! Thank you.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

As you have your own private ramp, may I suggest a more permanent method to put the pontoon in and out of the water for very little money. I have to move mine only about 1000' twice a year. A stripped down frame from an old RV trailer ( suggest a 26' model) makes for an easy conversion for pontoon and extremely inexpensive to acquire and modify. Usually will come complete with tandem axles, brakes, heavy duty tongue and lights.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

I have a friend with a toon that lives on a lake with a private dock in his backyard. He puts it in the water in spring and pulls it in the fall. He just Pays a guy on the lake a few bucks each time to pull it and put it back in. During the winter he sets it on blocks in his driveway. I'd think if your buddy is willing to let you have his trailer for a month he wouldn't object to you borrowing it for an afternoon every once and a while when you need to put the boat in or out of the water.

 

[rschap1]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

I just got mine back into the water.
Last fall I pulled it up onto my sandy beack by hooking tow straps to each toon and the hitch on my truck.
I used long straps in order to keep forward pull, not "pinching" the toon towards one another.
I used 5 ten foot long pieces of 3" diameter pvc pipe to roll it on.
I had seen alot of my neighbors do same.
Coming out showed me that the boat was a little larger and heavier than I was thinking, but just a little more throttle in the truck and it came out fine.

A few weeks ago, spring time, was a bit different...
Due to the steep slope at the water's edge boat did fine for a few feet into water then sort of a backwards wheelie.
Angle had it digging in with the rear of the toon as son and I pushed it in.
I had 2 x 6s under the pvc pipes and tried keeping those lined up under the toons but it was difficult.
4 neighbors came along and added enough muscle, lifting, tugging, and pulling to get it floating within 20 minutes.
THANKS to them of course

But in your case I wonder if you couldn't use pvc rollers to pull it up onto your cement ramp.
Block somehow, maybe cinder blocks, to keep it from rolling back in until ready to launch again.
Then use pipe rollers to get it bake in the drink.
Rotate the pipes from back to front as you pull it up and out.
Do reverse, from front to back as you put it back in water...

Not perfect but the 3" pvc did get the job done for me. I think the cement would make it even easier in your situation.
BTW: 10 foot long 3" diameter pvc was just under $9 each at my local Lowes. $45...

GOOD LUCK!

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

You could rent the furniture dollies, or for just a little more you buy some at HF.

http://www.harborfreight.com/movers-dolly-93888.html

 

[scjakester]

Re: Temporary Solution to Store Pontoon on Boat Ramp - any Ideas?

Hey folks, thanks for all the replies, this has to be my favorite forum on the Internet. I appreciate the ideas for a more permanent solution, but I have a boat lift to keep it on down by the dock and my service marina is right around the cove. The lift is on one side of the dock, so 3 sides are always facing water. I just need it on ground for a few more weeks so we can walk all the way around it while we're fixing it back up. It is a very neglected (practically abused) 2003 Triton Pontoon boat that ended up being more of a project than I first thought. We replaced all the fencing/skirting (whatever the aluminum side stuff is called) last week and I'm waiting for the new decal set to come so I can redo all that stuff before we stick it out on the lift. It's taken longer than I thought it would, but it has been a fun project, new motor, new harnesses, lots of wiring, new fencing, new transom, some minor welding, new gauges, and LOTS and LOTS of cleaning! ... I'll post some progress pics when I get it done.

Another thought crossed my mind last night. I might could just block it where it sits and ask him to bring his trailer back over one morning (just a couple of hours) to stick it back into the water when it's all finished??? But I really dig the furniture dolly idea... No more being a dang bum! Ha! -- either way, I really appreciate (sincerely) all the feedback from everyone. -Jake