Haul out on trailer

Joe11688 · Oct 8, 2009

I think that this plan is as good as any that I could come up with. If it was a smaller boat like my 222, you could raise the poppets so that the keel is off the trailer's keel planks by an inch or two, and lower it down once you got it up the ramp and on to a level surface, but this 28 is heavy, and the weight of her hull and keel needs to be on those planks, or the poppets will oil can your hull in no time flat. I think that this is going to be a challenge. It's too bad that you can't get the trailer secured to the stern of the boat with a set of blocks with bow winched up tight against the bow roller of the trailer. In other words, get it so the the keel is sitting squarely on the keel planks. Then you could raise the poppets to meet the hull.
A friend of mine had a 26 or 27' powerboat, and he wanted to bring the trailer over to Martha's Vineyard Island. He felt that they wanted too much money to ferry it over there with his truck. So he backed his boat down the ramp with all the straps on the boat and trailer, unhooked the trailer from his truck and powered his boat over to the Vineyard with the trailer attached to the bottom of his boat! True story. I laugh every time I think about it.

Shoaldrafter · Oct 8, 2009

Save some grief...

skipperlenny said:
Any suggestions regarding hauling out using a trailer for the first time. I have modified the trailer for my O'Day 28 but am unsure of the hull specs as I can not locate hull line drawings. My plan is roll the trailer down the ramp to level botttom at near high tide with the adjustable jack stands at their lowest point. I will then position my boat on the trailer and using a steel step ladder adjust the jack stands so that they are snug to the hull. I will attempt this on the rising tide in the event that something goes wrong I will have water to sail away from the trailer. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated.

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Since your trailer is not marked for your boat, I recommend not putting it on the trailer yourself the first time.

Find a local yard with a lift. Have them lift boat and place it on trailer and then you set up trailer for boat. Have extra planks, 8x8's, 4x4's and 2x4's handy.

Price for this project should be in the $100 to 200 range. If they ask more look for other yards. Most yards are happy to make $100 for less than 30 minutes work.

Are you stepping mast? Get yard help to step mast. Save yourself grief and worrry.

After boat is correctly on trailer, when trailer is dry, get spray can of paint and mark location of all adjustments. Paint arrow on trailer where key points of boat are, such as mast, life rails, bow, beginning and end of keel. Helps next time you do project.

Doing a 28 foot boat is too complicated the first time unless you have several experienced hands.

Let us know how it goes...

Ed K
26
Is this your boat?

Joe11688 · Oct 8, 2009

skipperlenny said:
Hi Trinkka,
Thanks so much for your thoughts. My winches may lift the trailer to the keel planks as you suggets; I'll give it a go.
Great story LOL.
Best

If you're able to get the boat on the trailer and up the ramp OK, the only problem that may arise is whether the trailer tongue weight is going to be right. You may need to back down the ramp later and let the boat float forward of aft depending on what the proper weight should be on the tongue of your trailer. I was able to use a bathroom scale to get the proper tongue weight of my trailer with the boat on it. I uncoupled the trailer and set the scale on blocks so that the trailer was level. You definitely don't want too much weight aft, or the trailer will fish tail when you're towing it down the road. In a way, Ed probably has the best and easiest idea for a boat of this size. A yard lift could lower the boat on the level trailer with the scale under the coupler, and you could get the proper 5 to 10% of that boat's weight on the tongue by putting the keel and boat weight in the proper place in relation to the tandem axles. Then it's only a matter of raising the poppets, and moving the winch stanchion against the bow. But, if you feel adventurous and you want to give your idea a try, I say go for it. It's your call. A few years ago, I lifted my friend's O'Day 26 up off his trailer with four of my boat stands in the stern, plus a hydraulic jack under the bow from the ground. The tide went down, and we had to move the trailer over a couple of inches because the keel wasn't centered on the planks. We were successful. We could have even moved the trailer forward or back if we had to. Is doing stuff like this dangerous? You're darn right it is. There's no question about it. I've been doing stuff like this since the 1970s and it hasn't stopped me yet. It really depends on the individual. One of our newest YC members picked up an O'Day 25 for cheap money and he rigged up an EZ Loader tandem trailer with jack stand poppets similar to what you have. He was able to raise his boat in his yard with stands, wood blocks, hydraulic jacks and a long metal eye beam under the bow, and get that trailer under his boat to adjust the poppets. He came down to the club to put his boat in the water a few weeks ago, and he raised the mast all by himself. He had everything all planned out including a mast crutch in the bed of his pickup to support the weight of his top heavy mast. Here's the kicker; he's never sailed before and can't even swim. Man, I take my hat off to this guy. In spite of the fact that he's a mechanic, he has a brilliant mechanical mind. A man after my own heart. Good luck with your trailer.
Joe

Joe11688 · Oct 9, 2009

skipperlenny said:
Thanks Joe,
Much appreciated.
I also am impressed with your YC member; quite a challenge.
After giving this much thought driven by emails from other sailors as yourself and talking to a few yard folks, I have deciede to crane out this first time. I'll post results after she is safe in her trailer.
Best,
Lenny

I think that you're making the right move Lenny. It's going to be safer, and easier, with less work involved. We look forward to seeing those pics.
Regards,
Joe

Haul out on trailer

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