Putting my boat on blocks question.

[Friscoboater]

So I have my engine out and I need to replace my bunks on the trailer and repaint. I have read alot of posts about how to get the boat off the trailer and I think I have a plan. Tell me what you think.

I plan on screwing and eye into my back wall of my garage and tie off to my ski hook. I would then start pulling the trailer out from underneath it. I am going to build two stands out of alternating 2X4s one each side of the hull. Once I am to the front I will do the same thing. My boat is just short enough to fit in the garage.

Now here is my genius though. Could I put high quality casters on each stand and then secure the stands together with a long 2X4 and then roll the boat around in the garage? What about using one of those 1000lb furniture dollys from lowes as my foundation?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Yikes.

How big/heavy is your boat? A ski hook is designed to only pull so much which is probably a lot less than the weight of your boat.

For example, my bowrider is almost 4000 pounds but even if I was pulling 5 skiiers that weighed 200 pounds each I'd only be pulling up 1000 pounds +/- whatever the initial drag coefficient is to get them out of the water. I do not think my ski eye could pull 4000 pounds of dead weight.

Good luck.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

I think you have a sound base theory, Id have to add when you tie them together make sure to use an X design not just one or two straight boards.
A triangle is the strongest shape. and a box with an X is 4 triangles, can get better than that.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Yikes.

How big/heavy is your boat? A ski hook is designed to only pull so much which is probably a lot less than the weight of your boat.

For example, my bowrider is almost 4000 pounds but even if I was pulling 5 skiiers that weighed 200 pounds each I'd only be pulling up 1000 pounds +/- whatever the initial drag coefficient is to get them out of the water. I do not think my ski eye could pull 4000 pounds of dead weight.

Good luck.

The motor and interior is out right now. That is the only reason I would attempt this.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

I think you have a sound base theory, Id have to add when you tie them together make sure to use an X design not just one or two straight boards.
A triangle is the strongest shape. and a box with an X is 4 triangles, can get better than that.

I was thinking the same thing. Put boards from each base to each other forming a pyramid.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

...I plan on screwing and eye into my back wall of my garage and tie off to my ski hook. I would then start pulling the trailer out from underneath it.

Surprisingly, many walls do not have the strength that one might expect. Go easy with that one, Frisco. You don't want to get the first mate up in arms over a damaged domicile.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Surprisingly, many walls do not have the strength that one might expect. Go easy with that one, Frisco. You don't want to get the first mate up in arms over a damaged domicile.

Bwaaaaaaahahahahahah!!!!!

That cracked me up. That is what I am worried about. How can I anchor it and pull off the trailer?

 

[nlain]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Go in the attic and strengthen a couple of ceiling joists to hold the weight of the empty hull and swing it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Lower the tongue to the floor. Prop up the transom on your stands.
Raise the tongue all the way up (chock the wheels).
prop up the bow on stands. Lower the tongue to level and pull out.
Note the bow stands have to be wider apart than the wheels if you are pulling the trailer forward. So consider rolling the trailer in bow first so you can pull it out backwards.
This is how you lift a boat off a trailer to paint the bottom over the rollers or bunks but you don't remove the trailer.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Lower the tongue to the floor. Prop up the transom on your stands.
Raise the tongue all the way up (chock the wheels).
prop up the bow on stands. Lower the tongue to level and pull out.
Note the bow stands have to be wider apart than the wheels if you are pulling the trailer forward. So consider rolling the trailer in bow first so you can pull it out backwards.
This is how you lift a boat off a trailer to paint the bottom over the rollers or bunks but you don't remove the trailer.

+ 1 on the process mentioned here, except the bow forward part. Would the winch clear the hull?

Personally I have used an old style hydraulic bumper jack (remember those?)and a 2x4 flat on the outer edge of the hull wrapped in towel to protect the hull. Jack up 1 side at the stern, place cribbing under there. Move to other side, repeat. Move to front, repeat cribbing. roll out trailer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

good point about the winch stand--wasn't thinking it through. Anyway you get the idea of how to get lift without hoisting from above.

If you do hoist from above think about 2 slings underneath and two points to hang each sling, to eliminate the stress on the boat's hardware and to share the weight on your ceiling joists. Seems that as long as your attachment is good, the joists will take it for a short while, long enough to get the trailer out, then lower onto blocks.

Don't get under it if there's any kind of hanging going on, or even on your homemade braces.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

+ 1 on the process mentioned here, except the bow forward part. Would the winch clear the hull?

Personally I have used an old style hydraulic bumper jack (remember those?)and a 2x4 flat on the outer edge of the hull wrapped in towel to protect the hull. Jack up 1 side at the stern, place cribbing under there. Move to other side, repeat. Move to front, repeat cribbing. roll out trailer.

That sounds awesome but how do you get the trailer around the front cribbing? The cross braces will hit.

 

[MRS]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Two jacks and work it past the cross members once past everything set your cribbing......

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

You rock man. Thanks a ton.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Two jacks and work it past the cross members once past everything set your cribbing......

Yep, drop tounge, crib up stern, raise tounge, use the two jack method to get past trailer members, then crib up... Easy, just a little tedious...

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Yep, drop tounge, crib up stern, raise tounge, use the two jack method to get past trailer members, then crib up... Easy, just a little tedious...

I am so pumped dot get this done this weekend. I want to put it on casters. do you guys see any problem with that?

 

[MRS]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

I see you have your kids involed with helping you excellent. I let my grandkids help me when it is not dangers to them lifting moving heavy stuff it takes me a hole lot longer but I would not have it any other way. Because when it is completed they are so proud that they helped fix it and I am to. good luck with your project.....

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

Hey Frisco, When you get everything set, take some pics will ya I am curious to see how you finally do it, pics are a must and not only that others will have a chance to see how you did too

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

on my last bowrider.... i lifted it off the trailer by lowering the trailer tongue, then putting to jack stand with wood on them under the stern...... then i raised the trailer and used my 2 ton shop engine hoist with a 25'- 4inch strap to make a girdle around the bow and the hooked it to the hoist and liftet off the trailer from the side of the boat... then rolled the trailer away, the put more bock under the bow......


Works like a charm it you have a hoist.... which i already did, because i had the pull the motor anyways.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Putting my boat on blocks question.

As far as getting it on casters.....I don't think it's going to be easy in the garage. What about doing it in the drive then pushing it into the garage after?
I'd want it down low if it was me moving it around. Also I would not under any circumstances use the wall as an anchor to pull the boat off the trailer. Home Cookin has the right plan......I just don't know about getting it close enough to the ground for casters in the garage. What ever you do take pics so we can learn. Good Luck