Parking the boat on a slope

[Danno]

So I underestimated the slope of my driveway and I'm nervous about parking my 19' Arima on it. That means I have to consider renting off-site storage which I really do not want to do, not so much for the cost but for the convenience. As a new boat owner, I want to be able to get on the water in a hurry.

What are my options? 20 pound cement wheel chocks? Is there a way to calculate the downward force? Maybe I drill holes in the driveway and make chocks with posts?

-Danno

[ampersat]

Pics would really help assess the situation.

Chocks with some rubber on the bottom should be sufficient to hold the boat in place. Chocks with posts would offer a bit more insurance. Sure will be tough getting under the hitch though without the wiggle room.

[jimh]

You could add anchors either on the side of the drive or drilled holes in the drive to place anchor bolts.

[Blind Bobber]

How much slope are we talking about? My travel trailer (3,500 pounds) sits on our sloped drive alot and we just crank up the tongue and block the wheels. Will that work for you? Are you concerned about the pressure on the bow? I would'nt worry. Well I might if it was a new to me boat. However, I do not think the worry would be justified. Consider the pressure when boat is winched. Just be sure to go out fishing every weekend. You kow, just to relieve the stress.
BLIND BOBBER

[Okie]

Besides parking it on a slope, have a cover over it is important. When the weather turns bad you need some protection for the boat against the elements. So some time or other a car port would be the ideal thing if possible.

Good Luck;

[Danno]

I'm not worried about the load on the bow. I'm worried about the boat and trailer heading downhill and across the street. The slope close to the garage isn't too bad but it gets steeper where the wheels are and even worse where the tongue jack is. After that, it's fairly sloped but not so much that I drag the trailer on the cement as I back it up hill.

I think I'll measure the slope this weekend and consider making custom chocks that have a chain that I'll bolt to anchors in the concrete. It would be nice to climb in the boat while parked as needed.

The boat did come with a sloped canvas back but it has a few holes in it. Anyone know of a reputable canvas repair company in the Portland area, preferably in the Oregon City/Clackamas area?

[Chrome Bumper]

Your concrete may be to thin for easily installing a solid anchor. If you have bare ground near by you can pour a big block underground with a connection to attach a chain. Cheap insurance.

Or you can rent a concrete saw, cut a window in the drive and dig a hole for a block right where your axle will stop. Parking bowdown doesn't let the rain drain out.

I wouldn't trust chocks. Some derelict might kick one out for laughs, or frost/slime might lettem loose.

[IDWITHELD]

Hey Danno. I park on a slope. It's fun backing up hill!!!
Of course I've gotten better each time I go out.

In the wet months I jack my trailer up to a negative pitch so the water drains out. If I stand (on the ground) at my bow when fully jacked up, it's probably 6 to 6.5 feet off the ground.
I've got a good system now but only out of necessity.
If you're interested PM me. I'll send you photos.

[Herring Impaired]

How about a post set in concrete with a trailer hitch ball attached. You could make it removable. Just park the boat, chock it, slide the post in a liner set in your driveway, and "Hitch" the boat to it. You could even lock it down for some theft resistance. Leave the chocks in place and use the post for insurance.

[RiverMan]

How about moving?

RM

[backlash442]

4x4's aren't big enough to block the wheels? My boat was about 7k lbs. and that's all I ever used when parking on my sloped driveway. Biggest issue was rain water coming off the house. Even with a cover it still wouldn't keep it all out and since the boat faced downhill it would not drain. Would fill up both fish holds which were big enough for you to lay in. Always had to monitor after each storm.

[Danno]

I measured the slope of my driveway. Where the wheels sit, it's about 3/4" drop for every 1 foot of distance. Where the tongue jack sits on a slope about double that (1.5" per foot). Here's a pic:

http://www.oregonbrewcrew.com/pictures/slope.jpg

Moving is an option but we're having trouble finding the right home. My biggest concern is when I disconnect from the hitch. I don't want the trailer to roll into the truck.

[backlash442]

I honestly think my driveway was sloped more than that. 4x4's worked well. Just make sure you have them on both sides! Forgot to mention that I used a large block of wood under the tongue wheel too. This helped a lot getting it up high enough to get off the ball hitch.

[troutski]

Danno, If all else fails I will keep the Craft at my house, and you can use it anytime its not being used....really :clap:

[IDWITHELD]

You got me thinking Danno.
I measured my sloped driveway.

Where the two axels rest is 1/3" per foot (closest to house).
Where the tongue rests is 1" per foot (closest to side walk).
I have to use a separate jack under the tongue jack to raise my boat to the proper water drainage height. I couldn't imagine doing that to yours on your drive way.

I think your biggest challenge would be controlling rain water.

Also, you can run a cable or chain through your wheel rim and wrap the chain around the trailer frame. That'll stop any run-away trailers....plus it's a security measure.

[Chrome Bumper]

That's not much slope. 4x4 chokes all around and a safety/security chain should be good to go.

[Tacklebuster]

My driveway is a slope, yours is just a slight incline. I parked my Seahawk in my driveway for a summer until I got a place to put her. 4 wheel chocks and a saw horse and other various pieces of lumber wouldn't even come close to putting the bow up high enough to even out the boat.

Worked for me and this is how I tested her.... Keep your truck hooked up and after putting your wheel chocks down, let the brake off and see if the weight of your truck will pull your boat down. It won't so you have no worries.

I'll try to find a pic of my driveway, makes yours look pretty level.

OK, found a few pics....
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/HPIM0129.JPG
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/HPIM0134.JPG

[Danno]

Wow! That gives new meaning to the word "slope". I don't even have to see a measurement to know that you're on a much bigger slope there. Look at the 8 x 8 garden wall next to the driveway. Wasn't that :bigshock: scary to park it there the first time? Thanks for the photos.

I'm not worried about the water from leaving it sloped downward since I have a slope back cover similar to yours TB.