Moving a boat Solo

[Missouri Mule]

Hello all,
I am an FNG. My question is how do you move a 18' boat by yourself without a winch or help?
I recently acquired and 1865 size boat that is pretty beat to heck. I need to get it off of a makeshift trailer and be able to turn it over, prop on its side and roll it back and forth side to side as I work on it.
Most of the current 1860 size boats are in the 500+ weight range. Included are some pictures of the boat. It is late 60's vintage as it does not have a HIN. Don't know the name or history of the boat.

 

[flatheadsteve]

Tie the back of boat to a tree or telephone pole make sure its not strapped to trailer and slowly drive forward. The trailer should slide right out from under it. Add wood blocks to support boat so it doesnt land on ground. A 10k ratchet strap thrown over a tree limb will also lift it. A pair can be used as slings .

 

[Still Afloat]

Not sure what a FNG is but, that one looks like a lot of work. Is your goal just to make it seaworthy or do you want it to look good too?

 

[GTS225]

Not sure what a FNG is but, that one looks like a lot of work.

Oh, this is too easy......FNG = Firetrucking New Guy. (See what I did, there? )

Roger

 

[GTS225]

Oh....and I'd go with what Flatheadsteve suggested. Rig a come-along or chain hoist in a stout tree, and slide that hull off the trailer underneath it. Gives you that "ready third hand" as needed.

Roger

 

[Missouri Mule]

Not sure what a FNG is but, that one looks like a lot of work. Is your goal just to make it seaworthy or do you want it to look good too?

FNG = Freakin New Guy/Girl Just want to clean it up and make sure no leaks. It ain't never gonna look pretty.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Tie the back of boat to a tree or telephone pole make sure its not strapped to trailer and slowly drive forward. The trailer should slide right out from under it. Add wood blocks to support boat so it doesnt land on ground. A 10k ratchet strap thrown over a tree limb will also lift it. A pair can be used as slings .

No trees big enough to work with. I can get it off the trailer, just wondering about manuevering it around to work on it. It needs 3 men and a small boy to move it.

 

[Kismet]

You'd be amazed at what a riding mower can horse around. Leverage is your friend.


Archimedes famous quote: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”.


Best wishes. Be safe.

 

[flatheadsteve]

Slide it off trailer onto a couple dollies. Can anchor the boat to another vehicle or even a riding mower if you don't have a tree. The current 1860 boats are all welded and heavier than the older riveted boats. The "60" also refers to the floor width your boat appears to be narrower at the floor than that but it's hard to tell in pics.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Slide it off trailer onto a couple dollies. Can anchor the boat to another vehicle or even a riding mower if you don't have a tree. The current 1860 boats are all welded and heavier than the older riveted boats. The "60" also refers to the floor width your boat appears to be narrower at the floor than that but it's hard to tell in pics.

Ya, it is 1" shy of 18' and the floor is 52". The beam is 67".

 

[airshot]

All kinds of stories about creative solutuons to move heavy boats. When I removed my 18' alum bow rider, I used two vehicles, pulled rhe boat off the trailer and onto some old tires to keep it off the ground. Some stakes driven into the ground on ine side to hold it in place then a rope over the boat hooked to the oposite side allowed me to use my vehicle to lift the boat up while the stakes kept it from sliding. Moving from side to side ended up doing the entire bottom. Once done, then a rollover onto the tires to right the boat. Once started onto the trailer, the winch finnished loading it. Gotta think outside the box and utilized what you have access to.

 

[jethro]

Yeah, gotta make use of what you can. Tractor, house, build a massive tripod, engine hoist... or 3 men and a small boy.

 

[LDUBS]

Here is a quote from a previous post of the method I used to raise the boat off the trailer:

Here is a pic of a simple cradle I made for the rear of my boat. Lower the tongue jack all the way down so the transom is in the air as far as it will go. Slide the cradle under the transom. Raise the tongue jack. The stern will lift off the rear of the trailer and be sitting on the cradle. . Raise the tongue as high as it will go. Put a support under the bow. Lower the tongue. Boat is now clear of trailer.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Ingenious! I'ma gonna try this! I got a trailer that is sorely in need of some fresh paint.