Drydocking boat for trailer repairs......

[rambofish]

Hello all,<br />I recently received a 16' Lowe from my grandfather's estate and although the boat is in good shape, the trailer needs some work. Nothing major, just rust removal, repainting, new bunk covering, etc.... my question is: how have you (other people) gone about working on the trailer without putting the boat in the water? A friend of mine suggested that I go get a bunch of old tires, slowly push the boat off the trailer and place the tires under the hull....then as you pull the trailer forward, keep pushing the boat off and feed more tires under it, etc....until the boat is on the ground, resting on the tires. Work on the trailer and then winch the boat back onto the trailer. This just sounds a little wacky to me , but maybe it would work. I was planning on renting a big compressor and sand blaster to clean the trailer then repainting it. Any thoughts? Also, what is better for the bunks?? ...carpet...astroturf....???<br />Thanks, Bill

 

[JB]

Re: Drydocking boat for trailer repairs......

Hi, Rambofish.<br /><br />The tires work. I have friends who have done that.<br /><br />I use jackstands and 2X8s.<br /><br />Put the tongue on the ground and shove boat back about a foot. Set the jackstands and 2X8 snugly under the transom. Raise the tongue and pull the trailer forward a few feet (No, not the boat, just the trailer ). Lower the tongue again. More jackstands and another 2X8. Now remove the trailer and fix her up.<br /><br />Reverse the procedure to reload the boat, with help from your winch. Just move the trailer under the boat, not the boat onto the trailer.<br /><br />Good luck