We got boats on trailers needing to work on bottomsides and keels; how do we get them off the trailers without a big bucks ?
how to remove boat from trailer; for bottomside?keel work
- Thread starter FixinHer-up
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When I had to do that with a Mac 26 d
I made a couple of oversized "saw horses". I used 4 x 6 doug fir lumber for most of it and big plywood gussets at the joints. Large through-bolts to hold it all together. The first sawhorse fit under the stern and was cut so that it fit the profile (cross-section) of the aft end. It was padded with a few layers of thick carpet. The second "saw horse was tall enough to stradle the boat on the trailer. This one was positioned about one-third of the LOA back from the bow. Back the trailer up to the point where the back horse is in position under the stern. Unhook trailer and jack up to the point that the stern is supported by the back horse. Large nylon slings (mine were 7000 lb working load) are attached to the straddling saw horse. Lowering the trailer transfers the load to the nylon sling and the trailer can be pulled out. You could improve on my technique by digging the hole for the swing keel to lower into before you put the boat in place, that would have been easier. Bob V
I made a couple of oversized "saw horses". I used 4 x 6 doug fir lumber for most of it and big plywood gussets at the joints. Large through-bolts to hold it all together. The first sawhorse fit under the stern and was cut so that it fit the profile (cross-section) of the aft end. It was padded with a few layers of thick carpet. The second "saw horse was tall enough to stradle the boat on the trailer. This one was positioned about one-third of the LOA back from the bow. Back the trailer up to the point where the back horse is in position under the stern. Unhook trailer and jack up to the point that the stern is supported by the back horse. Large nylon slings (mine were 7000 lb working load) are attached to the straddling saw horse. Lowering the trailer transfers the load to the nylon sling and the trailer can be pulled out. You could improve on my technique by digging the hole for the swing keel to lower into before you put the boat in place, that would have been easier. Bob V
the safest easiest method
and least expensive method is to use 2 sections of pallet racking. Ideally you need a total of 4 ten or twelve foot uprights and 4 ten foot crossbeams. All can usually be bought as surplus for around 200. Assemble the units so they sit beside each other and pull trailer through and under. The cross beams are going over boat from side to side. Jack up trailer and boat as previously explained and suspend boat with mutiple rachet straps down and under boat. The hook end of straps will usually fit nicely up high in unused adjustment holes on uprights. Release jacks and lower trailer . Roll out trailer. When not working on centerboard, use a horizoatal peice of 4x4 and a floor jack to give keel some support. By using multiple straps(more than 2) you have larger safety margin and can alternate straps to get all areas painted. Use old rope to lash inner legs of uprights on each side together. This makes it more one unit but still lets it flex to find level. Put old folded bathtowels under straps where they go over hull to deck joint. I have used this method many times and find it far safer to suspend instead of blocking under. On my O'Day 23, I use 6 large rachet straps. Also you can break down this system and store in the garage rafters or similar untill needed again. Good luck
and least expensive method is to use 2 sections of pallet racking. Ideally you need a total of 4 ten or twelve foot uprights and 4 ten foot crossbeams. All can usually be bought as surplus for around 200. Assemble the units so they sit beside each other and pull trailer through and under. The cross beams are going over boat from side to side. Jack up trailer and boat as previously explained and suspend boat with mutiple rachet straps down and under boat. The hook end of straps will usually fit nicely up high in unused adjustment holes on uprights. Release jacks and lower trailer . Roll out trailer. When not working on centerboard, use a horizoatal peice of 4x4 and a floor jack to give keel some support. By using multiple straps(more than 2) you have larger safety margin and can alternate straps to get all areas painted. Use old rope to lash inner legs of uprights on each side together. This makes it more one unit but still lets it flex to find level. Put old folded bathtowels under straps where they go over hull to deck joint. I have used this method many times and find it far safer to suspend instead of blocking under. On my O'Day 23, I use 6 large rachet straps. Also you can break down this system and store in the garage rafters or similar untill needed again. Good luck
Bottom Painting
Check this link for some ideas. It helps if you tell us the kind of boat. We assume you have a swing keel. http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=827 Also, in this link you'll see Pat Adam's approach http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=1139
Check this link for some ideas. It helps if you tell us the kind of boat. We assume you have a swing keel. http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=827 Also, in this link you'll see Pat Adam's approach http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=1139
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