Creative ways of flipping a Boat

[Catfishmonkey]

Figuring I need to flip my 15foot Starcraft on her belly to paint the bottom...the only problem is that I dont know how much I can trust the rafters in my garage to carry the weight. Any creative ideas for taking this boat off the trailer/put her on her belly without having to attach a pully system to the rafters of the garage? Any ideas appreciated.

 

[mogfisher]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Do you have an engine lift? I was hoping that I could flip mine with an engine lift on the bow eye and two guys on the rear end.

 

[archbuilder]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

I took mine off the trailer with a tractor, then set it on the ground. We actually rolled it over with a couple of guys. We rolled it back over on old carpet padding to keep from scratching the new paint.

 

[Bill Kilgore]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

15 or so years ago, I helped a friend flip his bass boat by using trees in his yard. We got the transom between two trees, chained hoists to the trees, that allowed us to create an X with the hoists, lifted both at the same time high enough to clear the trailer, moved the trailer, then lowered one side while raising the other until it flipped. The tricky part for us was supporting the bow safely.

Hope it helps

 

[micks110]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

I took my boat off the trailer by myself. Probably wasn't the smartest thing to do but I had no help and it worked.

I strapped the back of the boat to a wall stud and to the transom. Then I pulled the trailer out from the bottom and positioned it on my stands.

When it was time to flip it I only had my dad to help the one time. We carried the boat outside and sat it down on the keel. Then we lifted from the bow and walked it up until it stood on the transom. Then we walked it back down the opposite way until it was upside down.

Then we carried it back inside and I began the work on the bottom.

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I don't have any pics of the actual turning it over because there were only two of us but after we flipped it we put it on some makeshift stands so I could work on the bottom.

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[Stykbowhntr]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

I kinda like the engine lift idea. Seems like it would work as long as it swiveled at the bow.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Don't discount the rafter idea so quickly. You can spread the weight between all of the rafters by placing a long 2x4 perpendicular to the rafters (resting on them) and tie the boat hoist to that 2x4. My restore thread also has a makeshift gantry which only cost the price of 2 landscaping timbers, two 2x4s and one 2x6. I actually did the 2x4 above the rafters trick for my bow on my 20' fiberglass boat, so your tinny shouldn't be an issue at all.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Thanks a lot for all the replies guys. I've been doing so much other work on the boat I totally forgot about this post. My rafters are 150 years old, and so I dont really want to mess with them, or else I would use them in a second. Honestly, with the winshield and all the rest, I a seriously thinking about painting it on the trailer itself, and then boosting it up on a couple of horses to get the spots I missed. Might not be the best job, but judging on the kind of tralier I have, most of the boat bottom is exposed...and I got so much other backbreaking work to do I on the boat, taking off the winshield and stuff just seems like too much work at this point...got to get this boat done before summer ends!

 

[6meter]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Stretch the boat between a movable and inmovable objects. When pulled at the transom and bow eye, it will roll. Use a tree or foundation and a tow truck.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Whip out the guns! 4-5 people should be able to lift that boat no problem. Pick it up off the trailer and put something soft under the keel and gunwale and roll over.

I did my 16' Nassau this way with 4 13 year old boys!

I bet that hull weighs about 400 pounds.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Me and a buddy flipped my 21ft starcraft by our selves, no problem. I actually flipped it back over by myself.

 

[CBGale2]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

I flipped my 14ft with the windshield attached and a 15ft last year by hooking a strap around a rafter and then tying it into the front eye hook on the boat, then lifted the front up off the trailer till it was about mid level in my garage, then me and my dad got on the back and lifted it and rolled it onto some sawhorses. The front just pivots. My new 18ft Holiday Im not quite sure this method will work. If its just a 15ft aluminum boat Id think your rafters would be fine, I dont think mine budged a bit, one thing you could do is attach a 2x4 from the rafter to the floor just infront of the boat, that way the rafter would be fully supported.

Here is a quick, horriable drawing.




Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[jspano]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

i have a 21 ft mariner and with the boat totally stripped it was very light. i could lift one side up my self. i had about 15 bags of mulch on hand, 2 of us lifted the boat and walked it off the trailer, resting it on the bags. we then lifted the front and had a 3rd person drive the trailer out(with some bags under it). later my wife two sons and me just rolled it over(i had some bags to put under the gunwalls) i will say that when we had it totally lifted on its side it seemed pretty tall. but was a piece of cake. once its flipped 4 men can easliy lift and move it(some straps would be a help)

 

[Azlo]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

One man job with the righ tools. Like this mang. Took 10 mins the most.

And whoalaaa

One man,, dont need no help. After painted i can gently put it back.

 

[jspano]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

i'll have to look for 2 engine lifts in my garage the next time i clean it out LOL i will say that looked great, i know when i went flip mine i had looked at how everyone did it, some of these guys have some great toys and are very creatitive

 

[Azlo]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

side note:

If u do invest in a lift or 2, make sure it folds. Saves a lot of garage space.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Holy smokes, you guys are really impressive. Dont know if I can afford to buy those lifts, but will certainly try one of the above mentioned ideas...maybe a mix of all of them thanks a lot guys for the advice.

 

[guzziprov]

Re: Creative ways of flipping a Boat

Nothing to it. Pull it off on the grass (if you have the space available to do the work on the flip) put a few tires without rims down (cover with something soft if needed) then just roll it over.

Level it out with pallets, etc., do the work necessary then reverse the order.

Getting it back on the trailer without scratching up all your hard work just takes a little more care.

They really flip easily when stripped down, probably would tumble down the road if the wind was strong enough !!!