Transferring boat to new trailer

mixedlot

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I have just purchased a Shetland Boat, its on an old trailer and I intend to replace this. How would you go about transferring from the old trailer to the new trailer at home.
 
If you are scrapping the old trailer, cut off the backbone aft of the winch post and winch the boat from the old trailer onto the new one, tandem style.
 
I lifted my 2.4 ton YW People's Boat, using three goal posts made from standard scaffolding tube, and lorry ratchet straps. Then slid trailer underneath, and with jacks, lifted the trailer , and then lowered the straps.

A bit nerve wracking at the creaky points, though.
 
it's possible to lift a boat using props and wedges & a hammer, swap the trailers, then jack the new trailer to lift the boat off of the props.

I would only suggest attempting this if you have done it before tho as balancing a boat on shores is not as easy as it looks...

a good trolley jack and some blocks might be a good substitute.

have a good look at the trailer(s) you can often take quite a lot of the supports off of the trailer using spanners, and re-build it under the boat.

if there's a suitable strong point, lift the bow until the stern hits the floor (old car tire in place) pull the trailer out, push the new one in and lower away. engine cranes can be hired cheaply and may well be strong enough / high enough

failing that, take it to the sea, launch it and recover it.
 
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failing that, take it to the sea, launch it and recover it.
That's what I've usually done and most people will have thought, but he did say "at home" and didn't indicate that he has a lake, river or sea shore garden.

I hope mixed lot gets pictures or vid of the procedure
 
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Changing trailers

Assuming both trailers have rollers. I regularly push my 21ft sail boat back on the trailer for painting under neath. I pull all the winch wire out and run it down to a pulley on the back of the trailer then with additional rope back around the bow and back to the back of the trailer. When I winch in the wire it pushes the boat off the trailer. tilting the back down helps to move it. Use jack under the trailer so the back of the trailer /boat can be raised again.
Now if you put a support under the hull at the stern you can get the boat further off the trailer until the bow is on the trailer. The trailer will tip with draw bar up with the weight of the bow on the back of the trailer. You can eleviate by attaching the trailer to the car but you have to move the car forward as the winch wire pulls the boat back.
Once the boat is back far enough you can build a support behind the trailer under the hull sufficiently far forward that boat won't drop bow down. Now in allowing the draw bar to rise the trailer can be pulled from under the boat. The new trailer is backed in under the bow. You begin winching the boat on while backing the car and trailer. Once enough of the bow is on the trailer you remove the structure under the hull and continue winching.
If the trailer(s) don't have rollers you are stuck with lifting the boat or at least supporting the stern and lifting the bow until it is entirely free of the trailer.
Just be very careful with structural strength and balance. I did once retrieve my boat from virtually dry sand beach but the strain on the winch and wire is a real worry. A wire that breaks can lash around and do terrible damage. (anyone seen my head lying around?)
Obviously launch the boat from old trailer retrieve onto the new is the easiest option. But I am sure you have considered that. good luck olewill
 
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