Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

[josepr]

I am new to boating. I just got a Stamas 1972 26.5 (very heavy)<br />and need to do repair work on the trailer. The bolts,lugs, U hinges are ALL in bad shape (rust,salt water use)<br />I have to repair them before I move the boat because the lugs are so bad that they have expanded and look like they will fall off with the first bump I hit in the road.<br />How do I get the boat off ? I have seen boats in dry dock on jacks or wood. Should I use a jack ? It seems that it would be dangerous for me and the boat. I really don't want it to fall.<br />The hull is in excellente shape. The trailer has 2 axels.<br />When I do get it off pof the trailer and fixed everything should I paint all exposed metal or use a marine grade poly ? I saw one that was for metal.<br />Thank you all for your help

 

[JB]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Howdy, Jose.<br />Do you really need to take the boat off? I replaced everything below the frame with the boat still on the trailer.<br /><br />Get three or four heavy jackstands and a floor jack. Raise the tongue about a foot above normal and place a jackstand under it.<br /><br />Then jack up each rear corner until the wheel(s) are clear of the ground and place a jackstand just behind the undercarriage holder. VIOLA!! You can now remove the springs, axle(s), etc and do what you need to do.<br /><br />Do that first. If you need to work on stuff between the frame and the boat, come back.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[josepr]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Thanks for the reply. I guess your right,it would be easy that way.

 

[ShafferNY]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Thats the way I did my trailer, just support the frame and you can remove the whole axle. If you don't want to do it that way you, see about docking it for a few days at a marina or a friend with lake front property.

 

[inquizito]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

I have a 14 ft. Sportcraft 800-900 lbl V-Hull, with worn out rusty trailer rollers supports, and the axle and leaf springs, wheels and everything are rust powder. I think one day I will go out to see the boat keeled over - before this happens, I need to know the process by which I may remove the boat from the trailer and place it on blocks. Someone told me to put rope through the drill holes on the transom and tie it to a tree, whilst I pull the trailer away, allowing it to slide onto the blocks, but since the blocks would not fit flushly with the bottom contour, seems like this might crack the hull. Any ideas of how to fix the left and right side supports and rollers while leaving the middle ones in place and allowing the boat to remain on the trailer? (I noted the earlier post on the jacks for under-frame work, but this is between frame and boat.)

 

[Alrobot]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

If you can get your hands on an engine hoist and it is an I/O you can hook on to the motor and lift the back up. That is the heavy part the use a simple A frame like saw horses to support front end and the trailer can be driven out from under the boat easily.

 

[josepr]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

All good ideas...Thanks<br />I thought about putting it under a large tree and hoisting it a bit as well

 

[ShafferNY]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

You'd be further off checking into renting a docking space at a local marina for a day or two, I'd hate to see you damage the boat to save a few bucks. Or maybe they'll take it off for you until you get the trailer fixed?

 

[josepr]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Good point schaffer. Why risk it right ?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Do not lift your boat by picking up on the motor.You will end up ripping your motor out and the hull will still be sitting there.

 

[josepr]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Good point !! That's the last thing I want to do !

 

[495v]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Yeah, what is Big AL smokin? It sounds crazy to lift the entire boat using engine lift support. Between this idea and your tree idea, I think you guys should be posting under "you might be redneck" thread. Drop the boat in the water and stop looking to "jimmy rig" it up.

 

[josepr]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

What the heck was I thinking ! I am surrounded by water. I live in Puerto Rico for goodness sakes.<br />I can just leave it on the beach close to shore for a night or two.<br />Sometimes it just takes a jolt to get you thinking.

 

[Arnold96]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

When a buddy of mine and I were kids we had to paint his 16' boat. So we got a bunch of old tires and "launched" the boat onto them. This should work with the trailer repairs also. You might consider replacing the rollers with a bunk and the new trailer slicks for longer lasting improved launching.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Agreed with JB (I had success with that when I got my boat in '91 and needed to readjust the trailer setup). <br /><br />If for any reason you need the boat on the trailer (for fitment etc.) or cannot launch from the trailer, this is the way to go.<br /><br />Ofcourse nothing beats 'boat on water & trailer on land'.

 

[Greg Lawrence]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

on a 16' aluminum bolt to replace the bunks, could i just put a eye on the flywheel bolt, use an engine crane and raise and lower it onto the ground, work on the trailer, then load it again, only a few minutes of weight on the transom etc.. is using the eye deal for outboards common with lifting a lighter aluminum boat?

 

[G-Daddy]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

I had a 15' runabout that I was putting a new trailer under. What I did was to lower the tongue as low as possible and blocked each corner of the boat under the transom. Then I raised the trailer tongue as far as possible. With the front raised up, I put blocks outside the wheel track and ran a 4x4 under the keel of the boat. then I lowered the tongue jack and pulled the old trailer out and pushed the new trailer under. Reversed the process to lower the boat onto the new trailer. It took about an hour to change trailers.

 

[josepr]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

Wow, I have not been to this site in a while and was surprised to see some more replys.<br />I made a deal with a marina that was closed for a while. Made a deal with the owner to keep the boat in the water for a month and fixed the trailer.<br />It came out great !! Thanks for all of the help !!

 

[Mike NZ]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

In New Zealand we just tie the boat to a tree and drive off.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Trailer repair/ How do I get boat off first ?

He'r in redneck countrry we don't fix up them ol' tralers, we just buy new 14' jonboat. <br />You all come back now ya hear?