Taking Boat off Trailer

[DoctorCAD]

I need to take my boat off my trailer to do maintaneance on the trailer.<br /><br />I know that I read about somehow blocking the transom and pulling the trailer out from under the boat, but I couldn't find it using the search button. <br /><br />Anyone remember that thread?

 

[ndemge]

Re: Taking Boat off Trailer

How big?

 

[Larry Carnahan]

Re: Taking Boat off Trailer

I've written that reply a couple of times. What I have done to lift boats as big as 18' is to lower the tongue jack on the trailer, then block the corners under the transom. Raise the tongue jack and slide a 4x4 under the keel as far forward as you can. The lower the tongue jack and the boat should be off the trailer. Then, very carefully, jack each corner a little at a time and reblock until you have clearance to roll the trailer out. Reverse the process to lower the boat back onto the trailer.

 

[DoctorCAD]

Re: Taking Boat off Trailer

The boat is a 15' Starcraft Kingfisher. I can lift the bow without much effort, so I don't think it is very heavy.<br /><br />I can block the stern with some jack stands or cribbing. The problem is that I can't get anything under the front of the keel that will let the trailer wheels or guide-ons past. The boat is only about 48" wide and the trailer is around 80" with the guide-ons. I need to keep the guide-ons attached, especially after painting the trailer, the brackets that came with them dont fit well and I am attaching a cross brace to hold them securely. Sucks when they spin out of the way instead of actually guiding the boat on!<br /><br />I am doing this by myself, so it really needs to be held well until I can get the trailer out from under it.

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Taking Boat off Trailer

With the trailer attached to the car, place a car/truck tyre under each back corner of the trailer. Tie a good rope from the back of the boat to a sturdy tree behind the boat. Release the winch cable & shackle. Drive forward slowly a couple of feet & check that the rear corners of the boat will land on the tyres. (Don't forget to raise the motor). Before the bow comes off the trailer push another tyre under the keel where it starts to rise to the bow. A piece of 4 x 2 across this tyre will keep the bow higher & make it easier to winch back onto the trailer.<br />I did it last week with a 20 foot tinny. Only one problem - I forgot to make the knots easy to undo under pressure. Wife wanted to know why the tree was tied to the boat!