Raising my boat up higher

[Macewan]

Hi everyone- I'm new here and its been a long time since I sailed.
I'm getting back into things with the purchase of a Stevenson Weekender sailboat. She is 16' long, hard chine hull with mostly flat bottom (there is a sort of keel only about a foot deep). The reason for my post is to address two things:
1. there is a center board that swings down from this keel like structure- I would like to get at that centerboard and see if it needs work (I know the cable for hauling it up needs replacement), but if it needs cleaning and painting would be good to know.
2. I need to paint the bottom of the entire boat.

So in order to get both done I need her off her trailer, but in addition I need to get her high enough to drop the centerboard down completely.

I've seen stands but they don't look to me like they are good for raising her at least 4" up (the trailer is lower than that so I would need to slide her off onto them and then get them to rise).
I've heard some people rolling them on their side, but the cabin will not take the weight and I don't have access to lots of burly folk to lift her. She weighs about 700lbs bare.

I was thinking of sliding her just a little bit off the trailer and then using a house jack to raise her up a little at a time.

Anyone ever do this? Any suggestions. I'm handy with wood work and can build a cradle, its the raising up bit that I'm stumped on.

Thanks
-MacEwan

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Mac- try this: lower the tongue to the ground; block up the stern with sawhorses, or homemade supports, being sure they are stable; then raise the tongue as high as you can; pass a beam under the bow to supports on each side, again being sure they are stable; level the trailer and pull it out of the way if you want. This kind of procedure has been used for much bigger boats. Just be sure your supports are staqble and safe. -Paul

 

[Joe11688]

Mac,
What kind of a trailer do you have under it? Is it a bunk or roller trailer? I have an O'Day 222 that I take off the trailer. I can send you some pics so you can get an idea of how I do it. My boat weighs around 2200 lbs and I have a tandem bunk trailer. Send me an email and I'll send you some pics.
Joe
sailtrinkka1986@verizon.net

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ask these guys, their boats are heavier, but they know their stuff:

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3

 

[Macewan]

Hi folks, thank you all for the input- this is great! I'll spend some time looking at each recommendation and see which will be within my means to implement. I'll let you know which I go with and how it works out- itching to get on the water again.

-MacEwan