How do I get boat off trailer

[Billbeard]

Hi All
I’m brand spankin new to sailing and sail boats although I have been on boats all my life. I recently acquired a 1975 Lancer 25 it’s a little rough…. well the deeper I dig…… any way I like a challenge.
I would like to drop the boat along side my shop so I can send the trailer out for some repairs before sandblasting and painting. And at the same time have the boat at my cabinet shop to work on. I’m just not sure how get a boat with a keel off the darned trailer and on the hard. I would be very appreciative of any and all help.
BillC

 

[Ross]

The best way would hire a crane to lift it off and block it up. The other way involves lifting and blocking and working the trailer out a bit at a time as you reset the blocking to clear the structure of the trailer.

 

[atwhite2]

Billbeard...

Check out these 2 sites, great pictures to give you some great ideas on how to lift the boat off the trailer without a crane.

http://whalercentral.com/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=14&thread_id=1511&pid=6680#post_6680

http://portableboatlift.com/Home_Page.php

 

[MrUnix]

If you don't have a crane and/or boat stands then you will need to use some imagination.. but it can be done. You can use just about anything available to support the boat as long as it can safely carry the weight.. 4x4's, bricks, cinder blocks (use with normal precautions), old tires, etc..

The trick is to get the boat lifted up enough to get the trailer out from under it. An easy way is to lower the front of the trailer all the way to the ground (which will raise the rear) and then block up or otherwise support the stern. Then lift the front of the trailer as high as you can get it and then place supports on the front of the boat. It should be suspended at that point and the trailer can be removed. You can also raise the boat using a good sized floor jack and some carpet covered wood pads.

I have built stands out of 4x4's and 2x4's which worked ok.. I've also made a sling using 4x4's and some 4" nylon strapping. My favorite though is some 2'x3' styrofoam blocks I got at a local trailer dealer.. they use them to keep the trailers from banging into each other during transport and usually just throw them away once they unload the trailers on the lot.

Whatever you do, just go slow and be carefull. Common sense will go a long way in preventing damage or injury.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[BobM]

Fortunately the keel is quite broad on the L25 and the bottom is pretty flat. I often wondered if stands were optional when I had mine. Remember that a boat on the hard is supposed to put all its weight on the keel. The stands are just for balance. Brads suggestions sound good and there is a load of advice on this topic if you run a search.

 

[J Hunter]

large timbers, old carpet, hydraulic jack/s, all your common sense.

 

[DJN51]

Check out my post {bottom painting on trailer } Stands I made might give you some ideas. Worked great and very sturdy,just have to widen to clear trailer fenders.

 

[Billbeard]

Thank you all for your thoughts and advice.
As I suspected there is no easy way. I was contemplating jacking up the whole trailer blocking the hull and then dropping the trailer from under the boat. My biggest concern was supporting the keel during the process. So I guess at this point what I’m asking is this possible? And can I then after the fact crib under the keel?
Thanks again Bill C
PS. DJN51 Great stands

 

[LordNelson]

i may be missing something, but wouldn't it be easier to work on the boat and forget the trailer until the boat is in the water?

 

[Ross]

The hull, when floating, supports the keel, but the hull is uniformly supported by the water. You don't want a few hard spots supporting the hull with the keel off the ground. So the blocking for the hull while moving the trailer should provide large contact areas and uniform loading.

 

[rgranger]

Ha ha...

This is a fun one... getting a boat on the hard is a spectator sport. I once used a car jack , towing straps and an oak tree. Hung the boat from a large branch in the tree and used the jacks to get it high enough to pull the trailer out.

Very redneck look.... it is one thing to have an engine block hanging from a tree... in fact in the mountains of Virginia (where I live) it is almost required... but a Macgregor 21 is another thing. enjoy the challenge.

 

[RECESS]

i may be missing something, but wouldn't it be easier to work on the boat and forget the trailer until the boat is in the water?

This.

The trailer work should not take as long as a cabinet maker going to town on a boat. I bet it will look sweet after you are done with the skills you have. Is there a place you can put the boat in the water and tie it up for a week? People successfully jack a boat off the trailer all the time on the hard.... but sometimes it can go terribly wrong.

 

[Billbeard]

I guess a little more info is needed so here is the whole story.
The trailer has a broken spring it is a 2 axel, the rubber is shot, and the surge breaks are frozen. The wiring is shot and its about 30 mi. to the Hudson river at Beacon, New York I had the boat delivered to its current location.
I guess the spring’s tires etc can be taken care of with the boat on the trailer. But my buddy that is taking care of the trailar mechanicals would really like it at his shop.
I'm really counting on this brain trust to solve this!!
Thanks Bill

 

[Ross]

You may be able to drop the tongue and block up the stern, then raise the tongue enough to block up the stem. then take the wheels off and pull the trailer out.