Need to work on trailer...How?

[FROGGY]

I need to do some work on my trailer, mainly towards the back end. Do I have to put the boat in the water, or is there a safe way I could jack up the back of the boat. I have an 18’ forward help Willie Predator. Anybody jacked the back of a boat off a trailer before?

[jet2go]

I have many times. At first, I would jack up the trailer and the boat, then take a bunch of 4x4 scraps and make little pyramids at each corner of the boat, then let the trailer down. Now I use jack stands with a piece of wood on top to protect the boat. Of course, use all the normal precautions so you don't get hurt if it falls. I usually put some blocks of wood between the boat and the trailer just to be safe.

[crabbait]

I say take the boat off the trailer. I have done it several times with large pieces of styrofoam (like the ones they stick in those funny compartments in the back of sleds...you know?...that guys drill the rivets out of and remove?...those big pieces of styrofoam).

You tie off the back of the boat off to something solid, preferably with two connection points at either corner of the stern. Make sure that the area you are going to drop the boat is relatively level and free of obstructions. Remove all tie-downs, safety chains and winch straps.

Begin to pull forward slowly. As the ropes come tight, the boat will stop moving and you will begin to pull the trailer out from under it. When the first 15-20" of the transom is clear, place a large piece of styrofoam on the ground under the transom, beamwise (my foam is about 12"X14"X5'). Continue to pull the trailer forward slowly and place two more pieces of foam under the boat about where the trailer bunks would sit.

The boat will slowly tip slightly nose-high as the transom settles onto the foam. The closer you get the foam height to the height of the trailer the better. You want the center of balance to be firmly on the two pieces that you put lengthwise where the bunks would rest (get them forward far enough). It is a good idea to slightly raise the forward end of your foam so that you can slip the trailer back under more easily, but not required.

Gently pull forward until the boat's full weight rests on the foam and you are set. You don't have to use styrofoam but it changes shape to craddle hull irregularities and distributes weight very well, is not prone to slippage, and won't mar the hull or trailer. I put my 18' Alumaweld Sea Dory on the foam with almost no crush factor.

To reverse the process, first untie the stern. Slowly back the trailer up to the bow of the boat, attach the winch strap and have someone reel the boat on while you back the trailer under the boat (this is why you wanted the nose high). Slow and easy and no problems!

You can put the boat back on the trailer without damage even if it is resting completely on the ground, but the process is much more hazardous so I won't describe it here.

Be careful.

[crabbait]

Oh yeah, one other thing.......the STANDARD IFISH DISCLAIMER:

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I think that about covers it...... :bigshock:

[FROGGY]

Thanks for the idea crabait! :cheers:

I think I could find a lawyer to debunk your disclaimer. :jester:

You didnt tell me exactly how fast to pull the boat off, so I just punched it!!

[STGRule]

I have also done the Crabbait thing. I used old tires instead of the foam. It was a 24' lapstrake cabined dory. I used a couple of 4"X4"'s nudged under the lapstrake on the sides to stabilize it but I didn't really need to. I used 6 stacks of tires, 3 down each side of the keel.