Need boat work stand ideas.

[Ed Schenck]

Probably a dumb question but here goes. I want to use some of these cold winter months to work on the Highlander in the garage. The boat fits(20') but the trailer does not. I want to be able to work inside the boat, about 1050# including me. I also want to be able to work on the bottom. Lying on a creeper to do that would be fine. My only idea so far is to build a set of horses out of 2x6 to put the boat about three foot of the floor. What other inexpensive ways have any of you used or can think of?

 

[Paul356]

A couple or three big blocks of foam, maybe 18" square by 4 feet long, something like that. You put the boat on them and slide them around as needed. Should be room to crawl under. Cheap, I think.

 

[Rich (P303)]

Could you hang from ceiling... with a McIver type system?

 

[JerryA]

Can you remove your winch post and slide the boat ahead on the trailer?

JerryA

 

[Johnb]

Ed,
If the boat including you, weighs 1050 pounds then the boat without you is 750 to 850 pounds at least. You need those horses, well made and tied together before you go under it, unless of course you can bench press 800 pounds. I can't believe the lumber to do that is all that expensive. I would bolt it together for later disassembly and strorage.

 

[Sumner]

Here is what I made for our 26 foot Mac...

....and then some more when I painted it and wanted more under it.

You can also see how I get the boat off the trailer on the links below. Another way is to do what I've done in the back and then block the front and pull the trailer forward without the wheels/tires until the axle is at the blocks and re-block it either behind the axle and/or again further forward moving these blocks until the trailer is out from under the boat.
Here are the links...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-3.html

and...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-39.html

Good luck and be very careful,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Ed Schenck]

Jerry, you are a smart and observant guy! You might think a retired engineer could see that. But honestly I doubt that trailer will come apart. Sure will check though. It is a few miles away in a storage lot.

Sum's pictures are more of what I had been considering. And the polyurethane blocks would work but I cannot find any local pricing. Still looking. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[DJN51]

ED,check out my stands in forum [bottom painting on trailer],worked great,I actually widened front stand and pulled out trailer to work on keel.Nice thing is take off tripods ,everything stores in garage attic.

 

[Bill1565]

A long time ago when we were young, We lifter our Venture 24 off the trailer using steel drums, and a jack. Didn't remove the trailer, but lifted the boat off the bunks for sanding/painting.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks again guys. I found your thread DJN: http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=707111&highlight=trailer . Right along the lines with my thinking. I used to do something similar to paint. That was before I moved to a condo and sold most of my workshop including horses. But then it was just with the boat slid back a few feet for painting under the bunks. Now I want the entire 850# on the stands. Bill, drums are a pretty good idea except for their height. Sitting on end with a 2x6 across would put the boat up pretty high. But definitely worth considering. I think we pay about $25. for 55 gallon drums around here. Bought one once to empty my H37C diesel tank.

 

[Freedom77]

I used oil drums and 4x4.s

 

[Joe]

You could easliy build a rectangular dolly with 2x6's then fit it with a cradle to accommodate the boat. The cradle could be four 4x4 struts with 8 inch square plywood, carpet covered pads mounted a the appropriate angle to support the hull.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks for all the ideas. Laziness and the desire to have the investment be reusable won out. By investment I am talking $60. at Lowes for two sawhorses and some lumber. The horses are new there, three feet wide, and rated at 1200 pounds each. I will attach a 2x6 to each one to make it five foot wide. Then I plan to add supports to the ends of the 2x6. This should eliminate any concern about working on the sides of the boat. The bottom is fairly flat but I will still add wedges to prevent any rocking. I will add some pictures, hopefully next week when I bring it home.

 

[Sumner]

Ed if I could make a suggestion. I'd get some small chain and put it across the legs at the bottoms so that it was fairly tight when the legs are spread out.

I realize that those have a good load rating, but I'd feel uncomfortable working under the boat with those. If I understand your post you are going to put vertical supports under the 2 X 6 extensions? If that is the case then I wouldn't worry so much.

Good luck and be careful,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Ed Schenck]

Good idea Sum. Or at least something to prevent them spreading. If you could see how they are designed they are pretty stout. And yes, definitely vertical supports at the ends of the 2x6. These horses also have adjustable length legs up to 45".

Most of my work is inside the boat. A previous owner used some kind of blue porch paint that continues to flake off the five years I have owned her. Also a new glassed in frame to stop some of the oil canning of the large thin bottom. Might also add a furler so I can get to happy hour sooner.

 

[rhythmsurfer]

Ed I would consider attaching a safety system to the boat from the ceiling/rafters when you are under the boat. I work as a flight paramedic and in the ER and I have seen my share of people come in with cars/boats that fell on top of them. Just make sure to tell someone that you will be working underneath the boat and keep your cell phone handy.

Keep safe,

tony

 

[Prime Time]

Caution!

I own the same metal foldable saw horses. You need to be careful about the legs folding in. If a sideways load fell onto the saw horse, one set of legs could possibly fold.

 

[Ross]

Re: Caution!

Ed, Don't depend on shear strength of fasteners to support a load. You are in fact building a devise for overhead lifting. All of the precautions mentioned are applicable.