How do i get my boat of the trailer

[brummerh]

HI , I am new here, and this is my first boat. I bought a Chaparral 198 some days ago, and one of the many steps which needs to be done in this restoration project is getting the boat of the trailer onto the ground, so that I can work on the hull. The hull looks terrible especially in the lower, under water section, due to some kind of paint which has been sprayed on it. But that is another topic.

No I really would like to get the boat safely from the trailer and would like to work on it in my garage over the winter month.

So my question: How do I do it, and on what can I rest the boat on eth ground?

Your help would be appreciated.

HB

 

[Sorrento 25]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

I restored an old boat once that I just dumped on the grass and rolled onto some wheeled dollies that I made and set up in my driveway. It was stripped to a bare hull though.

After lightening the boat as possible I would make some proper height supports for the keel and chine so it doesn't tip, tie off the boat from behind somehow, and slowly pull the trailer out from under it while adding the supports. Then maybe you can tilt it to either side with some winches to the trusses (make sure they can support the load) to work on one half at a time. Make sure the supports are sufficient for the hull.

When you're done winch the trailer back underneath.

 

[atticus3600s]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

Get some of those jack stands they have in boatyards. Then jack the boat up, support it with the jackstands and slowly manuever the trailer out from underneath the boat.

 

[jlinder]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

I have not done this, but you could lower the tongue as far as possible, then put stands under the stern.

Then raise the tongueas high as possible. This should lower the trailer and the stern should be clear of the trailer.

Then put stands under the bow and lower the tongue some. The boat should now be clear of the trailer.

Start pulling the trailer forward. You might have to add an additional stand as you need to leapfrog the frame of the trailer with the stands, but it should come free nicely.

 

[hankll]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

I recently reworked my project boat off its trailer so I could redo the bunk wood and repaint the trailer. I went to a marina near my house and they had some old foam dock foam that they gladly gave me. The blocks were strong enough to support my boat and yet soft enough to not scuff the fiberglass. I 'd do like the "Senior Chief" suggests and lower the tongue as far as yo can to raise the rear up, jam whatever you can get whther its jack stands or what I used but I'd put carpet pieces to prevent the scuff and I'd put a piece of 2x4 in to support more than just where the jack stand supports to give more square inch support. then follow what Senior Chief suggests. I cut a pallet to the shape of my bow and placed a rubber mud flapi n the cut to protect the fiberglas at the bow and then another pallet cut in half to screw to the sides of the bow cut pallet to stabilize it from slipping . I had a sixty mph windfront come through while I had my boat off its trailer supported up on the foam blocks at the transom and the pallet cut to the bow "V" like that and it was still there when I went out to check it. But what ever you do just do everything slowly, as you move the trailer out from under the boat. It goes back on the trailer easier than it comes off. Oh and once you get the transom supported up on blocks, use the winch cable hooked to your vehicle hitch ball to pull the trailer out , its more controlled than trying to jerk on the trailer by hand.
Good luck, be patient and think it through and you'll get it off.

 

[brummerh]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

Thanks so much for the input. I really need to sand down the whole hull, so I like the idea to lay the boat on one side and than lay it over to the other on the grass sounds good to me. That way I will have plenty of access, and when done with the hull, I will get it back on the trailer, set it upright into the garage of the trailer again, and start working on the interior etc.

Thanks so much.

I will place another question in the OMC drive section in a minute.

HB

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

if you plan on removing the engine and outdrive, do it before. will make life much easier.

 

[jlinder]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

hankll,

I like the idea of the carpets to protect the hull.

Another way is to jack up the trailer, prop up the boat, then lower the trailer.

I had a thought about using old inner tubes. I wonder how much lift you would get from each inner tube with about 5 lbs. of pressure? I would imagine you could get 300-500 lbs of lift from each one. It would take a bunch, but it would be a gentle lift.

 

[brummerh]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

Will do

Thanks

HB

 

[bassboy1]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

What we did 4-5 times was to lift the bow up as high as possible then start releasing the winch as the strap is released gently pull trailer forward. done this many a time and is easier than it sounds.

 

[charleso]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

Just a thougt along the lines of the innertubes. If you have a large warehouse nearby your area, they may have airbags that are used to secure cargo in semi trailers. Most companies just puncture them to remove, but if asked they may open the pressure relief valve and save a few. You would need to borrow the nozzle they use to fill new ones, but four or five of them would provide enough lift to support the hull until you shore it with wood. They could also be used to lay the hull over to work on the bottom.

 

[jlinder]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

I wonder where the shippers get those bags and how expensive they are to buy new?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

I have got one right now on top of styrofoam blocks. You can get them for free at Northern or tractor supply or anywhere they sell utility trailers. They are a little less than 2 feet tall and a little more than a foot wide and deep. And they are wrapped on thick plactic shrink wrap. They generally have hundreds of them lying around and love it if you take them because they take up a whole lot of dumpster space.

 

[sumcat1]

Re: How do i get my boat of the trailer

Depends on the boat and what you need to do but old tires work very well. Lay them under the boat as you pull the trailer out from under.