How to raise height of platform on boat trailer

[ChargerMan1]

so, the boat I got seems to sit low on the trailer. And one of the previous owners had too many in the boat on the trailer so they cracked the hull. I actually noticed that when you look underneath where it's cracked that it doesn't appear to have much clearance anyway. Which means after I repair the hull it could happen again. So my thought is to lift the boat with my cherry picker and tear the carpet off the platforms. Put maybe another 2x6 on top, screw that in and replace the carpet. So now it would sit alittle higher on the trailer. Thoughts on this? Plan on doing this tomorrow. Also the boat has been gutted no wood left except transom. No engine. So don't think its too heavy, but would the transom eyelets hold the weight of the boat if I used them for lifting? Or should I just put a strap under the hull and lift that way?

 

[tpenfield]

Merely having the boat sit higher on the trailer would not help the hull cracking situation. You would need more areas of support to benefit the hull from cracking. Maybe you can address the strength of the hull during your re-build.

We have no way of knowing if the transom eyelets are strong enough, but it is worth a try. If you use a strap underneath the hull, you need to make sure the strap has no way of slipping out from under the hull. Usually you'd tie a strong line (or 2) to the strap and tie it tight to the bow eye

 

[Chris1956]

Generally (since no picture was provided), you can push the bunks (bunks right?) together on the trailer to raise the boat on the trailer. It is a Vee hull, right?

What makes you think that people in the boat on the trailer cracked the hull? Did he use it as a camper?

Since it is gutted, it is more likely that rotten stringers and frames caused the hull to flex, while in the water in use, to crack the hull. Repair the crack from the inside with heavy roving and polyester resin. Then repair the stringers,frames and add some support if it needs it. Refoam it and redeck it, with 1/2 plywood. Now fiberglass the decking.

 

[ahicks]

Why not just add a shim under the existing bunks?

 

[Texasmark]

Raising helps to avoid skeg damage when you forget to trim up, but it also requires deeper water for launching which is my main problem at most launches.

Agree on more supporting points. Years ago I thought the trailers with roller sets, rather than wooden bunks was a super idea till I saw some boats with dimples where the rollers sat....not enough area to support the "given" hull.

 

[ChargerMan1]

Why not just add a shim under the existing bunks?

Yup that's what I'm doing. Almost done then I can show you guys what I did.

 

[ChargerMan1]

OK so all done. Looks really sturdy. So noticed a few things. On the bow. The rubber wheel things don't touch anymore because it is higher. Can you buy bigger ones if not what can I do? Also the bow eyelet that I never looked at until now needs to be refiberglassed holes drilled and replaced. Bit other than that now have plenty of space to fix hole in hull as you can see in picture.