TOPIC: Back at it- Boat's off the trailer...

Now that I'm back home in Tennessee, It's time to get back at the boat! The goal is to have it water ready this month. I find it a LOT easier to work on the boat if I get it off the trailer, and on to the cradle I built for it. It's lower to the ground so it's easier to get in and out of, and it's far more mobile so I can move it around...

With the Gator tilt trailer, it's super easy to get it on to the cradle- Even when I'm working alone-



Pull the handle, And give 'er a little push.... Leaving the bow rope connected to the winch to help control it... At this point, the stern is already on the pads of the cradle. I just take extra care to make sure it's centered!



Let the trailer tilt, so the keel slides along the rollers.... Pull the trailer SLOWLY out from under the boat...



After I take the boat off the trailer, I put 4 moving dollies under the cradle so I can move the boat as I need to. On a relatively flat surface like this, it's easy to move... When I put the boat on the cradle, I put it up on blocks that are almost as high as the moving dollies. Once the boat is on the dolly, I use a pry bar to lift the cradle a little bit, and slip the dollies underneath, removing the blocks as I go.

The best thing about having it off the trailer and on the dollies, I can get it into my garage! So, Weather is far less of a factor now.

I'll be working on the trailer, too, while the boat is off... New bearings, etc. Hopefully, It'll all be ready to go...

-Andrew

Andrew,
Very nice set up. I wish I could do that but alas mine sits in the shed I built and has gravel leading up to the ramp so.... Suppose I could use 8" air filled tires to move it. Hmmm got me thinking now.

Bob

I like the idea as well and built similar for my 14 foot trojan and use 8" rubber casterts from harbor freight for the larger boat I only have shale to work with so I would need real tires... I envy those of you with paved or cement workspaces!

nice job andrew,and i like that you teid the 2 together so they stay put,john

I built a mobile base for the deck of the Glasspar when I was sanding and painting it- You can see it in this photo-



I used bigger, Pneumatic tires on that, so I could roll it to the downstairs garage when I needed to to store it or work on it... You could probably rig something similar if you don't have the luxury of a paved floor.

Nice going Andrew. Makes me want some concrete! Good luck with the boat - it only took me 4 years to get mine in the water! Argh!

Frank

I built this cradle for my boat so I could work on the bottom of the hull. I works great! Rolls easily around the back yard. Total cost was $50.00