What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

[saltymike]

Just wondering what you guys do with your boats when you're restoring or working on your trailer? I hope to have someone on the lake here with a dock that will be willing to allow me to tie my boat there for a week or two while I'm working on it. I would like to be able to keep it at my house somehow so I can keep an eye on it since the guy who is going to let me use his dock is a friend of a friends and i've yet to meet him. It's a 16' fiberglass bass boat, not sure of the exact weight, guessing around 1500 lbs...? Any ways to achieve this without spending a ton of money?

 

[wellsc1]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Hopefully someone will post a method to block it up and work the trailer out from under it, but a add a good dose of patience and methodical approach.

 

[j_martin]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

If it's a roller bunk trailer, you can dump the boat off onto a few junk tires, then winch it back onto the trailer when yer done. Sometimes I'll set a sturdy fence post behind the boat, tie the boat to the fence post, then pull the trailer out from under it while putting a few tires under the boat.

With a flat bunk trailer, you either have to float it off, or you can back it under a sturdy tree limb, jack the stern of the boat up a couple of inches and block it, then pick the bow up by the eye, or by a strap around it with a come-a-long.

hope it helps
John

 

[dwco5051]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Here is what not to do;

I once unloaded an 18' !/O runabout in the front yard onto a bunch of old truck tires. Took me a couple of hours to flip the trailer and weld new brackets to replace the springs and axles. Took me a day and a half to get the darn thing back on the trailer

If you want to try this at home first assemble the needed tools;

A lot of chain
Two come-alongs
A garden sprayer loaded with soapy water (Don't ask to borrow this from your wife, she is already mad enough at you)
Murphey's oil soap for on the bunks

Who could have imagined the coeffecient of friction between rubber tires and fiberglass was such a large number

 

[j_martin]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Here is what not to do;

I once unloaded an 18' !/O runabout in the front yard onto a bunch of old truck tires. Took me a couple of hours to flip the trailer and weld new brackets to replace the springs and axles. Took me a day and a half to get the darn thing back on the trailer

If you want to try this at home first assemble the needed tools;

A lot of chain
Two come-alongs
A garden sprayer loaded with soapy water (Don't ask to borrow this from your wife, she is already mad enough at you)
Murphey's oil soap for on the bunks

Who could have imagined the coeffecient of friction between rubber tires and fiberglass was such a large number

The trick is to unhook the trailer so it rolls backward under the boat. You can then pry down on the tongue of the trailer, lifting the boat off some of the tires. Remove them, relax the hold on the tongue, and work it back some more.

Lubing the bunks helps a lot.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Best and easiest thing is to dock it somewhere. Period !!!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

I just went through this - installed all new rollers, new axles, new hubs/bearings and new springs. Fortunately, I live a mile away from a boat launch that has a public use dock.

I just dropped the boat in the water in the morning, two days in a row. I did the rollers on the first day and the running gear the next.



???

 

[saltymike]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

I just went through this - installed all new rollers, new axles, new hubs/bearings and new springs. Fortunately, I live a mile away from a boat launch that has a public use dock.

I just dropped the boat in the water in the morning two days in a row. I did the rollers on the first day and the running gear the next.

Did you do the work at the ramp or leave the boat? I live about a mile away from a launch as well but I wouldn't leave it there unattended all day thats for sure.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

read this http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=287541&highlight=getting+boat+off+trailer

 

[rbh]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Go fishing and let someone else fix the trailer

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

I would leave at it your friend of a friends dock.....make sure to give him a case of beer! padlock the outboard...padlock the boat to dock if your worried, remove the depth-finder screen........ a day or 2 hard work is all it takes to replace all the components and paint it if your quick.

I just did a 18 ft trailer complete with automotive paint in 2 days with BOAT ON and that was no fun! and there was a couple spots that we couldn't access well boat off is the best way to go (we did the bunks at the ramp parking lot in 120 degree heat last season)

sounds like a big burn of extra time taking it off in your yard....plus risk of injury to you or your boat etc....

at Lake Mead, NV we can park overnight at the public dock for $20 a night which I think is exorborant! but thats where I plan on storing our 23' boat when we redo it's trailer. Trust thy neighbor!

 

[fishinpa]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

We dont go to all those lengths anymore.
Usually just back the boat into the garage
set the lift
raise the boat up
then drive out !

Also great to raise or lower boat for working on it !

A 10,000 lb lift and 14 foot ceilings are a plus lol..





fish

 

[captharv]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

I had a E Z loaderbttrailer which required a lot of work due to being 20 yrs old. The boat on it weighed out at about 6K+#.
I placed a 4X4 treated board under the boat at the chine, and used a mechanics floor jack between the wood and the trailer frame. lifted it just enough to do the work. I also had some safety stands under that side "just in case".
Once, the rear crossmember broke and there was no support for the boat. I put a 4X4 underbthe boat at the stern and under the keel area to get it home. Then, I jacked up boat sides with hydraulic jacks and 4X4s to change out the crossmember.
Please note: I was the safety guy at my last job. I had safety stands and extra jacks on this before getting under the boat. And, the trailer was attached to the tow vehicle for stability. Also have someone else there in case you need help. ( The only requisite for the helper is to call 911 if all else fails....)
With the proper equipment and aforethought, you can do this safely.

Now, for changing rollers and the bearing washers, I went to a local park with a ramp which allowed working on the trailer with the boat on the other side of their dock as the launch area. As long as you did not block other boaters access, they were cool about it.

 

[Seon]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Here's an alternate way of doing it.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Did you do the work at the ramp or leave the boat? I live about a mile away from a launch as well but I wouldn't leave it there unattended all day thats for sure.

I left the boat at the dock, but its a public facilty and I know the security and grounds maintenance people. They look out for me. I would not have left it there overnight, however.



???

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

I built two simple saw horses 1 ft. wide. One RR tie cut into blocks that I used for all kinds of stuff, and a few cender blocks I had around. Two ton bottle jack and I blocked it up. Had to reblock a couple times to get out from under it, but only took about a hour by myself. Also have put the boat in he water to adjust the bunks and install a new bow roller. I dont have overnight water options that I'm cooL with yet.

 

[shepster]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

With the roller trailer I have off loaded it onto tires then blocke it up.

With the bunker trailer I have used a foll jack, jack stands and blocks of wood. Takes a little more time than just rolling it of on tires, and you need a buddies help

 

[204Angler]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

Ha, ha...man you guys are insane. I would just put it in the water, secure everything like VegasPhotoMan said....bring it there early in the AM, get a lot done in 14 hours, put boat back on trailer. If you have to do the work maintaining a visual on your boat, so be it. Just make a list of things you need to do on the trailer. What do you need to do that the boat HAS to be OFF the trailer...what can you do with the boat on the trailer. I have a 5K lbs boat so would not try to put it on blocks or tires. Your boat is 1500...light, but still 1500lbs....think about that much weight being precariously suspended. Put the boat in the water and if you need, work on the trailer a couple hours at a time. Be good to the friend of a friend...he should be cool with it.
By the way...what do you need to do on your trailer?

 

[109jb]

Re: What do you do with boat when working on trailer?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=263769