Lifting a 22' boat off trailer

[MrJimi]

It's a 22' bow rider with a 4 CYL. I/O engine with a Mercruiser lower unit and all I have to do is lift it off the trailer, any ideas?
I have some 2" straps and I don't think they will support hull properly and I considered the stern hooks and bow ring but I don't think they will lift the whole boat without damage. Any and all ideas will be appreciated and I have to do this January 17, 2008
here is a picture of it
Jim

 

[keeney]

If its a roller trailer, you probably can just roll the boat back until the trailer starts to tip back (go easy and slow). When the stern is on the ground, slowly pull the trailer out from under the rest of the boat, leaving the boat laying on the ground. To get it back on, reverse the process with the aid of the winch.

If you just need to transfer it to another trailer, take it to the water, launch the boat off of the trailer and then go back and get the other trailer and load the boat on it.

The boat probably weighs about 3000lbs. Boat yards lift boats like that all the time with forklifts slid under the boat lenghtwise from the stern. They wrap some carpeting around the longish tines they use.

- Rick

 

[MrJimi]

Rick, It's a center roller/bunk type of trailer.
And I can not take it to water at all, I just need to lift it off and looking at the trailer, I don't think It weighs very much at all. I would guess around 2,000 pounds. I will know more tomorrow. I have to pull it home with my little Chevy S-10 (4 CYL) about a half mile and I will look at tire size frame construction etc.

 

[chh]

I lifted a similar style 18' boat off a trailer using the bow and stern hooks. If they are not set very securely in the hull you can damage them. That was not a concern in my case. Boat yards use lifting straps under the hull. My tractor (MF 481) was heavy enough to lift it all at once and set it off the trailer onto 2 55 gal steel drums on their side. Used carpet would prevent scratches to the hull. If you where carefull you could leave the trailer hooked solid to a vehicle, lift the stern of the boat up a couple of inches and slowly back the boat off the trailer onto drums or some type of stand. If there is not anything under the boat the outdrive will most likely contact the ground. Whether it would damage it or not I couldn't say. Boats like this aren't really that heavy and it's not too hard a job.

 

[RonR]

If I were sitting it on the ground, I'd get several old car tires (no wheels) and let the hull rest on the tires. Raise the tongue (use tractor loader) and slide the boat off. Might have to spray some silicon or water and dish soap on the bunks to get it moving.

I've put my light (1K lb) sailboat on the grass several times, but it is very light.

ron

 

[montanaman]

I'd start by lowering the trailer tongue as low as you can so you can get some old tires or foam blocks under the back of the boat. You can run the winch line under the trailer and around another pulley in the rear of the trailer, and then back to the bow hook and actually winch the boat off of the trailer with the winch made to load the boat. I've done this before and you can actually walk the trailer forward as you winch the boat off of it. Just keep laying tires under the boat as you go.

As thin as the fiberglass on a boat is, they are amazingly tough! Old tires will be plenty good support.

Ken

 

[MrJimi]

I don't really want to hurt the hull but I plan on mounting it in the yard as a reminder to all boaters to Boat Safe kinda like what I did with this little car that has a sign on it that says Drive Slow we have lot's of speeders near our home and It does slow them down some. just something to do in my spare time that I don't have any of
I thought of lifting it with my forks but I think that will damage the hull and be very tippy, other idea is 2 straps around hull and lift, that will crush hull together at gunwales.
Keep the ideas coming
Jim

 

[skidsteer.ca]

If its onlt 2000 lbs your case will lift that on level ground, I'm not sure if you can back up with it, may want to flip the loader. But just lift and roll the trailer out.
Just make some spreades up out of 4 by4 timber or smaller steel to keep your straps spread and sling it.
Ken

 

[MrJimi]

Thats just what I was thinking of Ken, making some spreaders out of wood and try to lift it with my forks? gonna be lot's of fun
Jim

 

[53gravely]

Tie the stern hooks to a tree or something stationary and drive 18" ahead. Stop and put two supports under the stern (jack stands or cinder blocks with boards)
Drive forward again till it looks lokie the bow is about to drop and put another support under the bow. Trailer is now free.

When you go to put the trailer back under it, wedge a 2x4 or something bigger between the tree and the stern and back the trailer under it, reversing the process.

Here's a picture of my little old whaler (duck hunting/ all-around beater boat) when I put a new trailer under it. What you can't see is that it's tied to a tool bench that is bolted to the back wall of the garage.