Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: laying 17 montauk on the ground
Posted by jim-rex on 08/31/06 - 7:38 PM
#1
Hello all. I am the new owner of a 1974 17' Montauk. The boat is in fair shape but the trailer need some work, I need to replace the trailer bunks and I need some advice. Is it ok to roll the boat off the trailer onto the grass, or should I just try to tilt it one side then the other changing one bunk at a time? Will laying the boat on the ground damage it?
Jim
Posted by stevendstock on 09/01/06 - 11:10 AM
#2
That would depend on the amount of time. I commonly push mine off in the grass to work on the trailer for the day. The problem comes in on pulling it back on. On older boats you can pull the eye off if it goes not roll smoothly. Crank the trailer under the boat not vice versa. I would recommend stands for long term projects.
Posted by Joe Kriz on 09/01/06 - 11:12 AM
#3
Jim,
Many people roll them off and lay them on the ground.
A Boston Whaler dealer I used to visit before they went out of business used to have all of the hulls sitting on the ground with some wood under the areas where it was resting because the hulls would have been resting on asphalt.
Whatever is easier for you.
All of my trailers have had 4 bunks. With 4 bunks, it is easy to pull one bunk off and repair or replace it. Then do the next bunk. You might consider adding 2 more bunks while you are at it, then you would not have to take the boat off the trailer or tilt it. Bunks don't cost that much if you do it yourself and would provide more support.
Just a thought and recommendation.
Posted by jim-rex on 09/01/06 - 5:50 PM
#4
Thanks for all your help, will only remove for 1/2 a day. Thanks for the heads up on pulling the bow hook through the fiberglass--that would be bad.
Posted by danedg on 09/03/06 - 9:10 PM
#5
Put it in the water, while you work on the trailer...?
Posted by stevendstock on 09/07/06 - 8:10 AM
#6
Put it in the water, go run it and pay someone to fix the trailer. Good Luck
Posted by Overawake on 10/25/06 - 8:11 PM
#7
i just rolled mine off the trailer for the winter (it was moved on a borrowed trailer) we stacked up some railroad ties and pushed away. as it went onto the blocks we moved the trailer out of the way and added more blocks. it should be easy to put it back onto the trailer when it is time because we tried to set the hull at the same height as the trailer.
i will keep an eye on the bow hook though. it is an old hull and that would not be any good.
now turning the hull over to sand it is another issue ll together i need to learn something about.
Posted by Tom B on 10/25/06 - 9:03 PM
#8
If you cant put it in the water I would find a rope and a tree. Check out my personal page and you will see my old 18 hanging from a rope at a pier in Point Arena. It would be a lot easier to work on without trying to work under the boat.
Posted by jschmidt63 on 10/26/06 - 10:03 AM
#9
I replaced the back bunk brackets on my trailer for my 17' whaler one at a time with the boat left on the trailer. I took a short piece of 2x4, put carpet on one side, create a deep notch on the other side, and jacked up the boat with my truck jack. I riased the the jack up with blocking. It worked fine to take the weight off the bunks so I could work in the end. The bunk was almost completly free, with a little adjustment I could have probaly had the whole bunk free to work on.
Just a thought, but whatever you do be careful and block up the boat for safety if you use a jack.
John