Lifting a C22 off its trailer ?

[Milton.Audas]

I have a need to raise my boat off the trailer in order to position it better on the trailer.

Short story is that when we pulled the boat out of the slip at the end of the season our new winch did not hold firm and now the boat is approx. 6" back from its normal position on the trailer bunks. Didn't think this would make a huge difference but the short 1 hour drive to our Winter storage location was a b*tch. Over 50 mph the trailer and boat weaved like a rugby winger so had to drive slowly to keep us on the straight and narrow. My belief is that the change in C.O.G from the boat's position on the trailer (it is centered correctly fore and aft due to the keel bunk, we're just too far back) and the hitch height on the borrowed truck caused the load to behave badly.

So, to avoid issues when we trailer back to the lake next year my plan is to reposition the boat while in dry storage. I am thinking of jacking the boat up until it is just free of the bunks and rollers, pushing the trailer back and then lowering the boat into its correct position. Seems straight-forward. But has anyone done this ? Any advice on what type and how many jacks, where to place them, and maybe a few other pointers that does not lead to catastrophe (personal or boat damage).

Aas always, your guidance will be appreciated.

 

[patrickj]

place jacks as wide apart as you can from center line secure jacks so they dont slide apart raise it evenly "you will be amazed high high you have rise it" be sure to put large enough pads to spread the weight . it might be faster to take to a lift and the gentleman a tip to raise it for you.

 

[LloydB]

To jack the boat 2" above the trailer bunks using the trailer tongue jack. drop the hitch to the ground then place a support under the stern. raise the trailer back up to 2" above normal tow height then place a support at each side just forward of wheels and lower the tongue until boat is off. push back 6" and reverse, your'e done. pad where the supports contact the hull, the bunks may flex back up with weight off and if so just raise a bit higher. It's possible build a gantry out of an old swing set with a 5000 pound tow strap between the top legs and pull out the trailer the front.

 

[Nahart51]

I had 2 harbor freight cranes lifting three 2x12x16 planks athwart ships. The aft was supported by concrete blocks. Could never get the trailer just right.
My advice is to find the nearest body of water and float the boat back on correctly.

 

[whatcaneyedo]

Mine was set too far back on its trailer when I bought it last year and then I ended up doing the same thing when I hauled it this year. So just like last year I'll lifting it up with this cradle that I made and winching the trailer into position this weekend. Last year I used a combination of a few things because I wanted to remove the trailer completely to get at the keel. This time around I should be able to get by with a regular truck jack and perhaps this motorcycle jack. Its not too difficult, just take your time and be safe.

 

[Time_Out]

I used the same method as LloydB described, with cement blocks on the sides and back. I used a 6x6 timber to span between the block towers forward, and sand bags to distribute the load at all contact points. For the bags, I used playground sand and re-bagged it into larger, reinforced bags. This is where my boat still sits, awaiting more of my free time to free it from its perpetual project status.

 

[philwsailz]

Drop the trailer tongue to the ground. Block up the transom on homemade cradle or other support. For crying out loud, build the support so it is in compression. I see all these beam loads; it's just not necessary. I have never seen a C22 trailer that extended to under the transom.


After the transom is blocked well, pick the trailer nose back up and lift the trailer boat combo until boat is supported by transom cradle and bow roller.



At that point, assuming you put enough lateral and fore/aft stability in the transom cradle, simply roll the trailer back under the boat. The bow roller should roll. I have a transom cradle and bow cradle for an 86 and later C22 if anyone wants them. Pm me for price and pickup details

 

[Ken Secor]

Totally agree with Phil. This is relatively simple (to jack the boat a few inches above the trailer).

I use two sturdy, old (and home made) saw horses, the saw horse "beams" in line with the keel - and each about 2' from the middle a few inches in from the stern. I fill the void between beams with an old 4x6" PT scrap about 4'6" long and place it atop the two horses - straddling the keel line.

I then chock the hull with some scrap 2" thick foam green board insulation panels and raise the bow (which lowers the stern) until the stern lays evenly on the foam blocks.

The foam eliminates any small contact stress and compresses nicely with secure contact points that ain't goin' anywhere!

The front, only needs one contact point and the use of cinder blocks, saw-horses, or jack stands (as in car type) is simple to do with either the 5th wheel crank - or a floor jack. Again, I like the 2" thick insulating foam to distribute load to more square inches, so no hull damage can occur - on the single point I use up front.

If anyone needs a picture, let me know.

 

[agprice22]

The stern cradle is a good way.

If you don't have some way to fashion a cradle, Here is another way.

I used a lifting strap mounted to a shop crane. I ran the strap under the boat, around the front of the keel to keep it from slipping back. I was able to lift the boat til it sat only on the roller under the bow. You could pull it forward with the winch from there.

You could also just use a couple of bottle jacks with some wood blocks under the boat. Be careful with this one! Those blocks have a tendency to fly out sideways, dropping the load suddenly.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[watercolors II]

Root cause

Using all of the lifting suggestion listed so far and repositioning the hull into the proper towing position on the trailer you need to address the original cause of your problem!

First, for years Catalina Direct offered a heavy duty boweye replacement for those whom have and think they can winch a sailboat onto a trailer like the powerboater's do. Now, Catalina Direct has a super heavy duty for those who still continue to winch their boats onto the trailer.

Please, please whatever it takes, get that trailer deep into the water so the front of the bunks are submerged a couple inches so you can float the boat onto the trailer.

Next, the trailer winch must be mounted in a location of being level or higher than the boweye when the hull is in it’s proper position on the trailer. With the front end of trailer bunks submerged, the winch being higher, will lift the bow up out of the water towards the winch thus sinking the stern to help match the trailer angle on the sloping ramp. With the winch in a low position you’re pulling the bow forward and down then lifting the stern, so when you pull the rigging out of the water the stern has to sink further to mirror the trailer and lifts the bow away from the winch.

Look at the attached photo, the winch is still higher and the bow chock is located at a perfect location for placing the hull to the exact location every time.

 

[Ken]

Check out the tech section on fleet 77 website, upgrades on Last Penny are listed there including raising the boat off the trailer. If I were you I'd pick up myself a high lift jack, makes life much easier.