I'm looking for advice on what is a good way to lift a 22ft boat off the trailer without having to take it to the marina. I want to take out the centerboard from my 222 and I anticipate there are going to be other issues besides changing the plastic wedges and applying antifouling paint inside the keel. That is why I want to do it at home instead of renting jackstands and space at the marina during, what I suppose is going to be a several day project. Can you give me some ideas or even better post a picture of such jury-rigged home made lift? Thanks for the help
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get sailboat stands or build a cradle
I think if you are real carful and get boat stands to support the hull from outside the trailer bunks you can let air out the tires and roll the trailer out from under. Any type of home made cradles will most likely have to cross under the boat and make it hard to remove the trailer. Be careful. even small sailboats can be heavy! good luck! Denise
I think if you are real carful and get boat stands to support the hull from outside the trailer bunks you can let air out the tires and roll the trailer out from under. Any type of home made cradles will most likely have to cross under the boat and make it hard to remove the trailer. Be careful. even small sailboats can be heavy! good luck! Denise
here we go, ya ready?
Ok, first thing is to devise your stands. Here is the description of one of mine (one under the stern, the other under the bow): 2x8 3/4" sheeting is the cross piece that the boat rests on. The two legs are formed by 4 foot long 4x4 at the base and vertically two 3-foot 2x4 spaced to accomodate the sheeting at the middle. For support the vertical pieces, a 2x4 runs down from a little less than 2 feet up the vertical 2x4 to the ends of the 4x4 foot. At 45º, being sure to use all inside measurements for convenience sake, the length of that piece will be square root of 2 times X, X being the same along the foot and vertical post. For extra stability, I then tacked on 2x10 plate running down the vertical post the 4x4 and cut at 45 degrees across the top to tack it neatly to the diagonal. I mounted the sheeting to the legs with 2, 1/2" bolts on each side. It can be mounted flush for about 3 feet of clearance or just a little higher. I then cut in the underbody shape for the boat to fit into. Below this cut, I bolted on a crosspiece for torsion stability. I used a 4 foot section of scrap 2x8. Maybe I'll take a picture and post it later today. Now, to lift the boat. It takes me about an hour once I have my materials assembled: alot of concrete blocks, cinderblocks, or even wood blocks on the order of 12x12, scrap pieces of 2x4, scrap pieces of sheeting, bottle jack, and some lifting crossmember. I used an i-beam, however, I've seen a few (sometimes 3, sometimes 4) 4x4 strapped and cinched together with tie-down straps used. Be sure to cinch it down as tightly as possible if you go this route; the straps add strength to the wood in the same way as a cast or wrist braces. The wood will flex, but it should not crack (if it does, let her back down, the straps should still keep it together just like a cast). So building up the cinder blocks on either side I lift up the bow with the jack, alternating sides until the boat is supported by the crosspiece, resting on stacks of cinderblock, high enough for the trailer to slide out underneath (and wide enough for the wheels). Usually, the stern can be set on the stand simply by lowering the tongue, inserting a stand under the stern then raising the tongue back up. You just need to make sure the stands are not too tall when you build them to do this. Then lower the bow onto the the other stand. Any questions??
Ok, first thing is to devise your stands. Here is the description of one of mine (one under the stern, the other under the bow): 2x8 3/4" sheeting is the cross piece that the boat rests on. The two legs are formed by 4 foot long 4x4 at the base and vertically two 3-foot 2x4 spaced to accomodate the sheeting at the middle. For support the vertical pieces, a 2x4 runs down from a little less than 2 feet up the vertical 2x4 to the ends of the 4x4 foot. At 45º, being sure to use all inside measurements for convenience sake, the length of that piece will be square root of 2 times X, X being the same along the foot and vertical post. For extra stability, I then tacked on 2x10 plate running down the vertical post the 4x4 and cut at 45 degrees across the top to tack it neatly to the diagonal. I mounted the sheeting to the legs with 2, 1/2" bolts on each side. It can be mounted flush for about 3 feet of clearance or just a little higher. I then cut in the underbody shape for the boat to fit into. Below this cut, I bolted on a crosspiece for torsion stability. I used a 4 foot section of scrap 2x8. Maybe I'll take a picture and post it later today. Now, to lift the boat. It takes me about an hour once I have my materials assembled: alot of concrete blocks, cinderblocks, or even wood blocks on the order of 12x12, scrap pieces of 2x4, scrap pieces of sheeting, bottle jack, and some lifting crossmember. I used an i-beam, however, I've seen a few (sometimes 3, sometimes 4) 4x4 strapped and cinched together with tie-down straps used. Be sure to cinch it down as tightly as possible if you go this route; the straps add strength to the wood in the same way as a cast or wrist braces. The wood will flex, but it should not crack (if it does, let her back down, the straps should still keep it together just like a cast). So building up the cinder blocks on either side I lift up the bow with the jack, alternating sides until the boat is supported by the crosspiece, resting on stacks of cinderblock, high enough for the trailer to slide out underneath (and wide enough for the wheels). Usually, the stern can be set on the stand simply by lowering the tongue, inserting a stand under the stern then raising the tongue back up. You just need to make sure the stands are not too tall when you build them to do this. Then lower the bow onto the the other stand. Any questions??
2 different ways.
Here are a couple of different approaches that I've run across. I'm wanting to do the same thing, but I also wonder if it's something that I REALLY want to do. I think the neighbors would probably prefer the jacking method, but the gallows method looks safer. http://jeffrey.denard.staff.noctrl.edu/boatpage/ http://members.cox.net/spiritofsailing/
Here are a couple of different approaches that I've run across. I'm wanting to do the same thing, but I also wonder if it's something that I REALLY want to do. I think the neighbors would probably prefer the jacking method, but the gallows method looks safer. http://jeffrey.denard.staff.noctrl.edu/boatpage/ http://members.cox.net/spiritofsailing/
Here's how we do it in Florida...
Put the mast up, raise the sails, pray for a stiff breeze. She'll be off the trailer in a heartbeat. Just kiddin'. All of the previous responses will get'r done. Good luck. Ross in Tampa 1979 Oday 25 "Lola"
Put the mast up, raise the sails, pray for a stiff breeze. She'll be off the trailer in a heartbeat. Just kiddin'. All of the previous responses will get'r done. Good luck. Ross in Tampa 1979 Oday 25 "Lola"
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