Backyard boat lift

[timebandit]

Better than a swing set---
Well, I took my boat to a buddies house who has a boat hoist so we could inspect the keel and it's related hardware. I had images of the keel falling off somewhere on Georgian Bay, so an inspection was warranted.

Here is the boat on the hoist

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Ok, TB- so you know how to keep an idiot in suspense. Are you going to tell us what you found? Hope it was good, not bad. -Paul

 

[timebandit]

Not my boat, just something to build to get the boat off the trailer and maybe pull some engines too and a big swing set.

The hoist looks adjustable and take apart.

Might even be able to make it into a boat house for the driveway.

 

[KevinC_Mac26S]

Boy, it sure doesn't look very well cross braced. I'd be worried about it going over sideways.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

^its probably the wide angle lens... but that's what I was thinking...

(maybe add a cross brace at the lower front/back, after its lifted a bit)

- looks like most of that could be bolted together... and moved on a trailer.


-or you could just go at night to a public playground and use a chain falls...

 

[Tim Huss]

When I took mine off the trailer, I set 4 6x8 post 4' deep braced them across each other at the top, then took 1/2" I bolts with big washer at the top make sure there welded ends! I found that out the hard way, no damage just a change of underwear.
I used 10,000 pound rachet straps front and back and it was no problem lifting it off the trailer. it was easy to remove, the area I was in was clay so no cement needed! and best of all it was cheap!

 

[Mic Jones]

Boat off trailer

This was my solution. Doesn't every one have backhoe??

Liked your friend's hoist but not keen on the use of the loose floor blocks on soft soil.

 

[Tim Huss]

OK Mic thats just plain cheating!! Im jealous!

 

[rgranger]

I use my oak tree. A boat hanging in a tree always gets the neighbors talking.

 

[nemosuit]

I'm getting near to the day when we'll take the boat out of the tent alongside the house, move it down to a flat, open space on the property, and raise it off the trailer in preparation for painting the bottom of the hull (and repairing the trailer bunks). I'll be using nylon slings and some parts from a large homebuilt engine hoist, coupled with a forklift.

This thread has been very informative about things like exactly where to place the slings, etc. Lots of help. Many thanks!

I'll post pics showing how it went, good or bad.

VBR,

Pat

 

[nemosuit]

This was my solution. Doesn't every one have backhoe??

Liked your friend's hoist but not keen on the use of the loose floor blocks on soft soil.

Mic's photo is very helpful. I've got a forklift, and some might think that makes lifting the boat a cynch. Not necessarily. On the trailer, the center of the boat is further than the forks reach when approached from abeam: so I've been thinking of building things to extend the forks to reach a double-sling rig that will enable me to lift the boat up all at one time. Even so, it all seems scary to me. I would really be bummed out if I dropped it. :cry:

But this picture has made me re-think it. I can come in from behind and lift the stern with one sling just far enough to put the aft support in place and lower it back down, free of the trailer. (There's no crossmember on the very back end of the trailer, and the aft support will fit between the two frame rails.)

Then, I can bring the Hyster around from the forward quarter, sling the bow, and lift it high enough to pull the trailer out from underneath. After that, all I have to do is position the forward support and lower the bow down onto it.

That way, at no time is my boat dangling in the air without at least part of it resting on a solid support. And putting it back on the trailer can be done the same way, but in reverse. :dance:

Safer, better, and easier than what I had in mind. Thanks again!

VBR,

Pat

 

[nemosuit]

Mic,

Can I see a picture showing where you placed your aft support under the hull please? Thanks!

VBR,

Pat

 

[Sumner]

Mic,

Can I see a picture showing where you placed your aft support under the hull please? Thanks!

VBR,

Pat

I can't see a forklift as being the ideal way to lift the trailer. You don't need it to lift the back, you can do that with the trailer itself. In the front it will be in the way.

Read this.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-3.html

...and it will explain how. I didn't come up with this method of getting the trailer out from under the boat, just copied what a lot of other people have done.

Basically lower the tongue down to the ground and support the back. Raise the tongue up. Use a floor jack if you think the tongue jack isn't good enough to support 1/2 of the boats weight. Block the front of the boat. Lower the tongue and pull the wheels/tires off and the trailer will be down on the ground. If you want to pull it free move it forward by re-blocking the front a couple times until the axle is past the front blocks.

Be very careful this is a job that is not to be taken lightly,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[nemosuit]

I can't see a forklift as being the ideal way to lift the trailer. You don't need it to lift the back, you can do that with the trailer itself. In the front it will be in the way.

Read this.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-3.html

...and it will explain how. I didn't come up with this method of getting the trailer out from under the boat, just copied what a lot of other people have done.

Basically lower the tongue down to the ground and support the back. Raise the tongue up. Use a floor jack if you think the tongue jack isn't good enough to support 1/2 of the boats weight. Block the front of the boat. Lower the tongue and pull the wheels/tires off and the trailer will be down on the ground. If you want to pull it free move it forward by re-blocking the front a couple times until the axle is past the front blocks.

Be very careful this is a job that is not to be taken lightly,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

"Shouldn't be taken lightly".... Arrr! That's a great pun!

But seriously, thanks for the pic, Sum. I was thinking of something along the lines of that sort of mount (saw your picture of it in an earlier thread) but I had no idea I could position it so far aft without breaking the hull. Now that I see it, that's going to make the job of painting the bottom a whole lot easier.

I'll go check out the link. Many Mahalos for the great help and advice, as usual.

VBR,

Pat

 

[nemosuit]

"Shouldn't be taken lightly".... Arrr! That's a great pun!

But seriously, thanks for the pic, Sum. I was thinking of something along the lines of that sort of mount (saw your picture of it in an earlier thread) but I had no idea I could position it so far aft without breaking the hull. Now that I see it, that's going to make the job of painting the bottom a whole lot easier.

I'll go check out the link. Many Mahalos for the great help and advice, as usual.

VBR,

Pat

D'OH! Now that I've read the thread, I see that's a brace for the trailer.

The confusion starts with the fact that I don't have a stock Mac trailer: it's a big, homemade job with dual wheels, and it's not designed like a Mac trailer at all.

My plan is to sling the stern of the boat (not the trailer) and raise the stern of the boat off the trailer with a forklift: then I can slip a wooden support under the stern that will keep the stern off the trailer. (There no aft crossmember on the trailer, so it won't hit the support when I pull the trailer forward.)

Then I'll use the sling and forklift to raise the bow off the trailer; pull the trailer forward and out; slip a wooden support under the bow; and set her back down.

Now, the trailer will be out from under the boat, and the boat will be sitting on wooden supports. I'll probably add additional fore/aft and side-to-side struts. The last thing I want it to do is fall: especially with me under it.

I can rebuild the bunks and repaint the trailer at that time, too.

Sure wish I had an Oak tree, though.

VBR,

Pat

 

[Sumner]

D'OH! Now that I've read the thread, I see that's a brace for the trailer.

The confusion starts with the fact that I don't have a stock Mac trailer: it's a big, homemade job with dual wheels, and it's not designed like a Mac trailer at all..........

Not sure what you are talking about, the brace has nothing to do with the trailer, it supports the back of the boat. You can see in the picture above that the back of the trailer is ahead of the support. Since then I've added a third bunk to the trailer that is further back, but still it is not all the way at the stern.

Is your back trailer bunk flush with the stern? If not put the tongue on the ground. That raises the back of the boat. Block the back of the boat. Raise the tongue. The back of the trailer rotates down and away from the boat. Now the boat is free of the trailer at least from the axles back.

Then lift the front. Will your forklift go high enough and go out far enough to lift the boat from the center line and still get the trailer past the forklift?

I don't like to have the boat supported by just two supports if it is going to be that way in storage, so I've added the .....

....second rear one and .......

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-3.html

...... also put another one or two more forward plus keep some tension on the sling that comes down from the overhead beam in the picture above. The other supports will also be handy painting as you can remove some and paint and the go to others.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[timebandit]

I'm thinking that Nemosuit's non factory trailer is not at all like a stubby mac trailer. Maybe it extends past the end of the boat.

 

[Mic Jones]

D'OH! Now that I've read the thread, I see that's a brace for the trailer.

The confusion starts with the fact that I don't have a stock Mac trailer: it's a big, homemade job with dual wheels, and it's not designed like a Mac trailer at all.

My plan is to sling the stern of the boat (not the trailer) and raise the stern of the boat off the trailer with a forklift: then I can slip a wooden support under the stern that will keep the stern off the trailer. (There no aft crossmember on the trailer, so it won't hit the support when I pull the trailer forward.)

Then I'll use the sling and forklift to raise the bow off the trailer; pull the trailer forward and out; slip a wooden support under the bow; and set her back down.

Now, the trailer will be out from under the boat, and the boat will be sitting on wooden supports. I'll probably add additional fore/aft and side-to-side struts. The last thing I want it to do is fall: especially with me under it.

Can you prop up the rear a few inches or lower front jack enought and put a tressel under the rear of the boat or on a stack of used tires either side. Then lift the bow as much a possible with the front jack or fork lift to lower rear on to tressel Remove trailer wheels and slide the trailer out on the hubs. This would be safer than putting extensions on a fork lift. Put used tires under boat incase it drops. You might only have to remove one set of tires (rear) to clear keel. When pulling trailer out have it loosely chained to friends or rear of vehicle on not on the tow hitch. I know it sounds "bush' but thas where I've worked a lot.
Mic

 

[nemosuit]

D'OH! Now that I've read the thread, I see that's a brace for the trailer.

The confusion starts with the fact that I don't have a stock Mac trailer: it's a big, homemade job with dual wheels, and it's not designed like a Mac trailer at all.

My plan is to sling the stern of the boat (not the trailer) and raise the stern of the boat off the trailer with a forklift: then I can slip a wooden support under the stern that will keep the stern off the trailer. (There no aft crossmember on the trailer, so it won't hit the support when I pull the trailer forward.)

Then I'll use the sling and forklift to raise the bow off the trailer; pull the trailer forward and out; slip a wooden support under the bow; and set her back down.

Now, the trailer will be out from under the boat, and the boat will be sitting on wooden supports. I'll probably add additional fore/aft and side-to-side struts. The last thing I want it to do is fall: especially with me under it.

Can you prop up the rear a few inches or lower front jack enought and put a tressel under the rear of the boat or on a stack of used tires either side. Then lift the bow as much a possible with the front jack or fork lift to lower rear on to tressel Remove trailer wheels and slide the trailer out on the hubs. This would be safer than putting extensions on a fork lift. Put used tires under boat incase it drops. You might only have to remove one set of tires (rear) to clear keel. When pulling trailer out have it loosely chained to friends or rear of vehicle on not on the tow hitch. I know it sounds "bush' but thas where I've worked a lot.
Mic

Thanks for the input guys, but TB's right: the trailer's not like a Mac. It's too time consuming and confusing to write it all out here, but with the tools I have to work with, and the terrain I'm working on, the fork lift sling is my best available method, and I've got that part of it figured out.

What I need is pictures showing the safest and strongest points under the hull to place the wooden supports.

Can I get some more pictures of the positioning of wooden supports of Mac boats removed from trailers for servicing, bottom painting, and the like?

Many mahalos!

VBR,

Pat

 

[timebandit]

I would place the front supports at the vertical rise of the v-berth and the rear near the vertical rise of the transom and any midship supports at the vertical rise of the companion way.