Lifting a boat, sans Crane

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

This is a sistership and likely how I will proceed if I make the purchase.

Thank you all for your ideas and helping me work out the options available to me.

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The system in your photo will work well and takes several jacking times to get it to the height you want it. You can have one jack aft and one forward under the keel. Make certain the 4xs are braced in fore and aft and on the outside port and starboard before you go under it. Once the jacks are removed from the keel then just back the trailer under. I'm saying that because it appears that they aren't in the photo and the concrete blocks can lean and fall.

[LakeSuperior]

If using cement blocks, which I don't recommend, make sure they are the correct side up. That is the holes are up. When on the side the block is weak and they may explode. I know from first hand experience. Good luck.

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

I'm saying that because it appears that they aren't in the photo and the concrete blocks can lean and fall.

I hadn't noticed they didn't take any such precautions in that photo. Wow.

I will.

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[tdoster]

That small of a load is a pretty small crane. Call some that are close to you and you may be surprised that the cost of the crane is less than trying to fabricate something or risk breaking the boat.

We had a very large crane come out and lift our 15K pound boat from one trailer to another at a cost of $298, which was mostly setup time. If we would have been smaller, it would have been $100 less with a much smaller crane.

Once it is one a cradle, it is far easier to pull the cradle and boat off at the other end.

[jeanathon]

Also you could rent a small excavator and life it yourself. Prior experience with a digger would be good.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by atoll

have been using this system for years...it is called the tide,very easy to access using tide tables.......here Tide Times | Tide Times

Why did this make me splutter all over my desk and cause the duty nurse to give me a disdainful look? I either need to change my sense of humour or take something to suppress my over active sarcasm appreciation gland.....

[Aloha_float]

Rent a hydraulic lift trailer....
or buy a boat in the local area....

Sorry...there are a million boats out there and does not seem worth a 1400 mile round trip...did I read that correctly?

[tdoster]

Originally Posted by Aloha_float

Rent a hydraulic lift trailer....
or buy a boat in the local area....

Sorry...there are a million boats out there and does not seem worth a 1400 mile round trip...did I read that correctly?

The problem with hydraulic trailers is there is either a ton of them around (East Coast / Great Lakes) or none at all. Or they are not road worthy and don't leave the yard.

[Lake-Effect]

This has been a great thread for me because I'm currently scheming how to lift our ~ 1300 lb, 19' boat up off the trailer so I can lower the keel for antifouling. This thread reinforces my plan to drive the trailer onto wheel ramps, erect jackstands or homemade frame under boat, then use jacks to raise high enough, and remove wheel ramps to lower the trailer... and reverse this to complete.

To the OP, yeah it seems that the cost of hoisting and moving the boat kind of wipes out the savings, doesn't it? A hydraulic lift boat trailer with pads is the easiest and fastest way to move the boat - no cradle required - but probably too expensive to consider.

If you could somehow build a decent cradle (wood and/or steel) under the boat where it sits, you can then hire one of those flat-deck car haulers (truck or trailer) and winch the cradle + boat onto the deck.

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by Aloha_float

Rent a hydraulic lift trailer....
or buy a boat in the local area....

Sorry...there are a million boats out there and does not seem worth a 1400 mile round trip...did I read that correctly?

You did read that correctly. I used to make a living as a truck driver so 1400 miles is not a problem. This was a design that I've liked for a long time. Small, flush deck, centerboard, perfect for weekends on the local lakes.

We have sold our big boat and moved well inland. It's slim pickins around here for little pocket cruisers.

I thought the thread went well. I took away some good ideas from it and now feel more prepared and unafraid to buy a boat sitting on some jackstands in a back yard. No matter how far away it is.

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