How can I lift 1 side of boat off of trailer bunks in garage?

[Joshua J Rowe]

Title says it all. Would like to repair a bunk on the trailer without launching the boat.

Is there are safe way I can use a floor jack to lift the port side of the boat off that bunk?

Thanks

[Joshua J Rowe]

I really just need to know where on the hull can hold that much weight.

[markj]

Are you wanting to pull the whole bunk? If so, you'll obviously need to lift it as high as the bunk bolt is long. Unless you had a way to lift it with the lifting rings, I wouldn't risk it. How hard is it to launch it and do your work at the launch? Can you go to your lake on a weekday evening when no one is there?

[Joshua J Rowe]

Are you wanting to pull the whole bunk? If so, you'll obviously need to lift it as high as the bunk bolt is long. Unless you had a way to lift it with the lifting rings, I wouldn't risk it. How hard is it to launch it and do your work at the launch? Can you go to your lake on a weekday evening when no one is there?

The docks are not in yet. The port side bunk has partially come off, I need to figure out how to repair it. Not sure how long it will take or what I will need so was hoping to do it at home in case I need to hunt for parts. Might be a 5 minute repair, or 5 hours!

I think I just need to replace the bunk bolts. Or at least 1 of them.

I am a concerned that if I launch it and cannot repair the bunk I will be in a situation where I cannot get the boat safely back on the trailer.

[ScooterMcgavin]

I agree with above... It's to risky,dangerous and not a good idea unless you can lift the entire boat off the trailer. What happens if you get the side up then it slides over on the trailer and falls off jack... That would be bad. Get all your supplies and tools together and head to the launch ramp. Get it done and take a little cruise around the lake. Just my .02

[markj]

I was recently considering doing some work on my trailer and talked to the dealer about lifting my boat off and setting it aside for a day or two. For a nominal fee, I think a lot of dealers would do that for you. Doesn't have to be a Nautique dealer either. I bet any dealership would do that for less than $100.

[Joshua J Rowe]

I was recently considering doing some work on my trailer and talked to the dealer about lifting my boat off and setting it aside for a day or two. For a nominal fee, I think a lot of dealers would do that for you. Doesn't have to be a Nautique dealer either. I bet any dealership would do that for less than $100.

I'm not too inclined to spend that kind of money to replace $5 worth of hardware

Some day I'll have a hoist in my garage haha. I'll find a way to get this done!

[Cpan13]

I've done this before. What you'll want to do is jack the back of the boat up, set supports under it and then do the front so that it's level while being raised. Don't just do one side, that's asking for trouble.

[scottb7]

i personally would agree with others and NOT jack up the boat.

I think you are looking at it all wrong. "That kind of money". BOAT = bust out another thousand. It is not $100 to replace $5 worth of hardware. It is $100 to get to work at your leisure on the trailer and repair, inspect and replace everything you need to for it to be ready for next few years...It is $100 to deal with this time of year when docks are not in...

Find someone or something to tie or anchor to..., Wait for the docks to go in...

[markj]

i personally would agree with others and NOT jack up the boat.

I think you are looking at it all wrong. "That kind of money". BOAT = bust out another thousand. It is not $100 to replace $5 worth of hardware. It is $100 to get to work at your leisure on the trailer and repair, inspect and replace everything you need to for it to be ready for next few years...It is $100 to deal with this time of year when docks are not in...

Find someone or something to tie or anchor to..., Wait for the docks to go in...

You can lead a horse to water......

[swatguy]

I know plenty of people who have jacked their boats up off the trailer for work. It's a tedious process and I would never do just one side. You have to have nice big jack stands, some big wood blocks , and two pretty decent reaching floor jacks.


If you were to only lift one side , the danger once you get to whacking , or bumping the trailer becomes to great for the boat to shift. , this is why you need it completely off the trailer evenly. If you don't have 2 floor jacks forget it . You def need two to keep the boat balanced while putting it on the stands. If you want to know the procedure pm me. It's long and if you don't have the equipment already , you're better off just going to ramp toss out the anchor , and work away imo.


the one danger nobody has touched on also is stress cracks. Your boat is a 99 . Gelcoat hardens over the life of the boat. Place a block in the slights wrong spot and it could start one easily that could end up costing you twice as much to fix as the dealer option up front.

[j-rob]

I would use the lift rings, that's what they're for. Do you have anything overhead that will support the weight such as a solid beam? I would just spend the money on a chain fall or hoist and at least come out of the deal with a new tool. Assuming you (or a buddy) have a suitable lift point that is.

Cheers.

[markj]

To be so cheap as to not spend less than $100 to do it right..... Just make sure you get it on video. I guess someone's gotta be the one to fill the blooper reels. The methods described above will work, but they require tools and/or materials and possibly rental equipment. All you gotta do is drive to a dealer, they pick your boat up, you swap your bunks with new ones that you've built, drop the boat back down and Bob's yer uncle. Down the road you go. One hour max.

[scottb7]

yeah, i agree about the stress cracks...with my luck i would get like a million stress cracks or my jack would slip and go right thru the bottom of the boat....too risky...

i remember years ago - i am age 49 - i used to go to bars and ask them how much a drink costs....there is a point at which you flippin just order your drink...it cost what it costs...

i don't waste money when i can help it...and i am very o.c.d trying to get things done too soon...but you gotta step back sometimes and just realize the juice may not be worth the squeeze.

[lvethelake]

I had to replace the bunker carpet on my first boat. Letting the local dealer lift the boat and do the job saved me a lot of time and headache.