What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

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What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby Shudoman on Thu May 08, 2014 3:49 pm

Got the boat done, got a trailer, need to put the boat on the trailer. The boat is in my garage sitting on a cut down cradle. I was thinking that the procedure would be to:

1. Slide the boat and cradle out of the garage.
2. Back the trailer close to the bow of the boat.
3. Attach the trailer winch to the u-bolt on the bow.
4. Lift the front of the boat out of the cradle while cranking the winch until the front of the boats keel moves into the trailers keel box channel.
5. Continue cranking while the helpers ensure the boat is stable and upright side to side.
6. Make final adjustments to the bunk heights to ensure the boat is stable laterally.

Anything I missed? Any easier way to do this? It doesn't seem like it should be THAT hard but I want to make sure I don't miss anything. The helpers will be by at 10:00 am on saturday.

thanks in advance,

Bill
Shudoman
 
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:31 pm

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby captain charlie on Thu May 08, 2014 9:00 pm

That's exactly the way I did it, with only using one helper. Gotta admit the last few feet was hard cranking, but it worked. Lotta satisfaction seeing it on the trailer, like I'm really going sailing soon !!!! good luck, captain charlie
captain charlie
 
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Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby Dave Archer on Mon May 12, 2014 12:09 am

That's how I did it. As mentioned, the last bit is the hardest, actually broke the cradle in two with the angle change. got a real fright with the loud cracking sound. Precious Little was just fine.

Happy sailing.
Dave Archer
 
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:46 pm

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby Shudoman on Mon May 12, 2014 1:03 pm

Thanks for the input guys.

I had 3 strapping helpers. The cradle did break as we were trying to slide it out of the garage. Luckily I was able to get a couple of castors under the keel (while one person kept the boat level) and got it easily out of the garage. The rest went just as advertised. I didn't have any problem with cranking it onto the trailer. I did have some bunk adjustments to make on the trailer before I felt like it was "perfect".

regards,
Bill
Shudoman
 
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:31 pm

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby afairaizl on Sun Feb 19, 2023 4:20 pm

I figured I wasn't the only one to have had the questions on how to accomplish this process. I'm contemplating the attempt tomorrow moving out of the garage and onto the trailer. Anyone have any additional suggestions or cautions to date with the process?
Thanks,

Drew - Hampton, NH, USA
PocketShip 'Dreams Won't Wait'
Build Started: Oct 2021
Boat Launched: May 5th, 2023
Build Blog - https://www.dreamswontwait.com
Photo dump = https://photos.app.goo.gl/dS2tViRpgq4YZH8o6
afairaizl
 
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2021 12:26 pm
Location: Coastal New England

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby Creekboater on Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:41 am

Drew, congratulations! Though being at the beginning of my build I have zero advice for your question ! ;-)

I do have a question however. I have enjoyed following your blog but I don't see any posts past about one year ago. Did you actually stop posting or am I missing something somewhere? i.e. you moved the blog etc?

Thanks, and congratulations again.

Martin
http://sisterspocketship.com
* Jimmy Skiff II
* amateur for sure (builder/sailor)
* impossible to insult my intelligence
Creekboater
 
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Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby slash2 on Mon Feb 20, 2023 1:47 pm

I think Drew has been building too fast to blog!
( I too was wondering about the lack of entries- I was enjoying following it).

Oh and to get back on topic; here’s a video of putting the original on the trailer the first time:

https://youtu.be/JcM4XrwDsXQ

Go in about 45 seconds. Does not look like a gentle process but I guess it worked.
Steve Sawtelle
slash2
 
Posts: 153
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2021 2:27 am

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby [email protected] on Tue Feb 21, 2023 11:38 am

While my boat was flipped, I stapled some strips of carpeting to upper edges the cradle, where the boat
rests on it. This made it easier to slide the boat off of it.
I actually had to slide the boat out of my sunroom through a floor-to-ceiling window opening. The trailer was right outside,
propped up a couple of feet to get it at a suitable height. I had several helpers, and the entrailering went surprisingly smoothly:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/osfUjZEpSCQ1pw7E9

Part of the job was removing and replacing the sliding glass doors, which weigh maybe 90 pounds each.
[email protected]
 
Posts: 183
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2020 2:47 pm
Location: Princeton, NJ

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby afairaizl on Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:45 pm

Yep, you guys caught me. I'm woefully behind...still in the posts. I have a very long retroactive post schedule to return to. My days at a keyboard got longer after getting promoted to a director position and our company was bought out, and updating a blog was the last thing on my mind. I was definitely focused on the build process but did take pictures along the way. I'd have been done half a year ago if I wasn't focused on adding a 30 ft boat's worth of electric and electronics into a 15' hull. I was also focused on learning to sail including the coastal navigation courses and eventually joining the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Northern District. I'm focusing on boat crew and overall operational knowledge. I'm adding Advanced Coastal Navigation to the list there as well. Here's a link to the google album with up to current day pics - https://photos.app.goo.gl/dS2tViRpgq4YZH8o6

Based on the responses: I'll definitely add some protection more than the blue tape on the cradle to allow for more slide. I can jack up the keel a bit to get carpet under the hull before attempting to move things. Unfortunately I have a little slope to the driveway so I'll likely need to have the trailer attached to prevent the boat from self launching across the street into a tidal creek that has no safe way for a PocketShip to get to the ocean. I had planned on adding some liquid soap to the bunks on the trailer and wetting it down to ease the crank process as well as avoid too much friction. I'm glad I waited and kept her in the garage. I had to blow snow on the driveway this afternoon. There's no lead other than what was added to the keel during construction so that helps with the weight and I should be able to get about 4 people at least to help stabilize and lift. My eye's on the weather and it's probably going to happen the next round of warmer days.
Thanks,

Drew - Hampton, NH, USA
PocketShip 'Dreams Won't Wait'
Build Started: Oct 2021
Boat Launched: May 5th, 2023
Build Blog - https://www.dreamswontwait.com
Photo dump = https://photos.app.goo.gl/dS2tViRpgq4YZH8o6
afairaizl
 
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2021 12:26 pm
Location: Coastal New England

Re: What's the easiest way to get it on the trailer?

Postby afairaizl on Sun Mar 12, 2023 8:14 am

Thanks all! We captured the move from garage in the cradle to the trailer on video. This may be of use for those stressed about the process and sequence. It was a lot smoother than anticipated. One of the things done differently was to have some of the weight on the trailer already before moving the cradle out of the garage. There was also a dolly at the keel in the rear which helped lift the boat out of the cradle as it angled more. The only noise heard was one of the caster wheels dragging that somehow got locked inadvertently during the move. Appreciate all of the collaboration on this site and willingness to share what worked and didn't for those to come after!
https://youtu.be/nOFqcpbQ9fk
Thanks,

Drew - Hampton, NH, USA
PocketShip 'Dreams Won't Wait'
Build Started: Oct 2021
Boat Launched: May 5th, 2023
Build Blog - https://www.dreamswontwait.com
Photo dump = https://photos.app.goo.gl/dS2tViRpgq4YZH8o6
afairaizl
 
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2021 12:26 pm
Location: Coastal New England


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