What's the best way to lift a 31 ?

JohnCranston · Post by **JohnCranston** » Dec 18th, '08, 19:28

Greetings,
We need to lift Reel Cowboy up about 5" off of the trailer, so that the bunks can be adjusted. We don't have a travel lift available and she's not ready to be launched off of the trailer quite yet.
Thanks for the help.

In Memory of Vicroy · Post by **In Memory of Vicroy** » Dec 18th, '08, 19:37

John - I've done mine with four bottle hyd. jacks cribbed up in 4 spots, two aft and two 2/3 to the bow....put 2x6s on the flats of the lifting strakes and push on them. Works fine. I used 5 ton jacks but that was overkill......

UV

Terry Frank · Post by **Terry Frank** » Dec 18th, '08, 20:37

cribbed up....counselor please......................

JohnCranston · Post by **JohnCranston** » Dec 19th, '08, 13:28

UV,
I'm on it. Thanks as always.

daydreams · Post by **daydreams** » Dec 25th, '08, 15:01

I have raised many buildings [heavy objetcs] with bottle jacks. I suggest using a piece of flat or channel steel above the jack screw to be sure that the post does not penetrate the wood, hull, etc.

RAWicklund · Post by **RAWicklund** » Dec 25th, '08, 15:18

John,
I had to do something simular a few years ago for my 31.

I used 2 floor jacks (fore and aft) to lift 1 side off the bunk a couple inches so I could adjust it.

I used small jacks-- 2T I think- 1 side against the trailer, other side against the hull... used a 2x4 to distribute the weight against the hull.

Quick and dirty solution to adjust 1 bunk at a time or to paint area.

Ray

PaulJ · Post by **PaulJ** » Dec 29th, '08, 07:17

On a smaller boat, I used Archimedes principle... "Give me a lever long
enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." With boat on the trailer, I used 2'x6'x12' with trailer as a fulcrum. Lifted by sections and placed jack stands with boards to lift boat off trailer by 3".
Needed to replace leaf springs. Just a thought.

Raybo Marine NY · Post by **Raybo Marine NY** » Dec 29th, '08, 16:35

you can try to lower the toungue right to the floor, best to do this with a floor jack so that you can get it as low as possible.

This will allow you to block the stern up, at that point lift the toungue back up, when you do this it will take most of the weight off the bunks.
Place blocks under the keel, lower the boat onto the keel.

Now the boat will be off the trailer. At this point you can jack the boat up a little at a time if need be with jacks.

STeveZ · Post by **STeveZ** » Dec 30th, '08, 16:37

Crazy idea, what if you blocked up the boat and let the air out of the tires?

JohnCranston · Post by **JohnCranston** » Jan 1st, '09, 17:33

Raybo,
Great idea! I have 2 floor jacks and will give it a try. Thanks everyone for the ideas.

bertram31.com

What's the best way to lift a 31 ?

What's the best way to lift a 31 ?

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