Thorne
07-26-2009, 09:51 PM
I've been wanting to move my dory skiff from the customized and crappy Harbor Freight trailer to the new galvanized trailer that came with my Cosine Wherry. Since the boat weighs over 350 lbs, shifting it back and forth on trailers or the rolling cradle is quite a chore and requires two strong and determined men and quite a bit of cussing.
Had set up a 4x4 post tied with strong nylon webbing and heavy rope to the rafters/joists of the garage, and got a chain hoist in place. Rigged up a spreader bar, got the straps under the dory skiff, and hoisted it up a number of times to the sound of beams, straps and rope creaking and groaning...maybe the groaning was me?
Finally got it more or less balanced, and was able to pull the HF trailer out and roll the EZ Loader trailer underneath. Next to pull the winch stand, raise the winch roller and move the whole thing aft a bit. Realized the boat was too far aft to fit in the garage so had to shift things forward to compensate.
The bunks were the hardest part -- the bunk supports sold at chandelries and trailer shops all seem to assume you'll drill the trailer frame -- but the EZ Loader is a hollow frame and I'd rather not drill it. So off to three hardware stores to get the necessary U-bolts, brackets, and other fiddley bits to attach the bunk supports to the frame.
Then I had to angle the 2x4 support plates -- they build them at 90 degree angles assuming all boats are built like boxes. So into the vice they went and got hammered to about 35 degrees or so. Bolted the whole thing together, which involved cutting the extra-long galvanized carriage bolts to size.
End result is the dory skiff seems quite stable on the new trailer - a bit higher but much more secure. And the oil-bath bearings and commercial trailer equipment make the long trips up to Eureka and Oregon MUCH more worry-free!
Flying dory in the garage -
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs146.snc1/5410_130106858645_519763645_3141850_1726847_n.jpg
Before bunk supports -
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5203/79/61/519763645/n519763645_3144922_7308655.jpg
Trailer tilted forward (rolling jack folded up) so wash water drains out of plug near stem. New bunks and bow roller in position.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs126.snc1/5410_130247868645_519763645_3145011_3531008_n.jpg
Had set up a 4x4 post tied with strong nylon webbing and heavy rope to the rafters/joists of the garage, and got a chain hoist in place. Rigged up a spreader bar, got the straps under the dory skiff, and hoisted it up a number of times to the sound of beams, straps and rope creaking and groaning...maybe the groaning was me?
Finally got it more or less balanced, and was able to pull the HF trailer out and roll the EZ Loader trailer underneath. Next to pull the winch stand, raise the winch roller and move the whole thing aft a bit. Realized the boat was too far aft to fit in the garage so had to shift things forward to compensate.
The bunks were the hardest part -- the bunk supports sold at chandelries and trailer shops all seem to assume you'll drill the trailer frame -- but the EZ Loader is a hollow frame and I'd rather not drill it. So off to three hardware stores to get the necessary U-bolts, brackets, and other fiddley bits to attach the bunk supports to the frame.
Then I had to angle the 2x4 support plates -- they build them at 90 degree angles assuming all boats are built like boxes. So into the vice they went and got hammered to about 35 degrees or so. Bolted the whole thing together, which involved cutting the extra-long galvanized carriage bolts to size.
End result is the dory skiff seems quite stable on the new trailer - a bit higher but much more secure. And the oil-bath bearings and commercial trailer equipment make the long trips up to Eureka and Oregon MUCH more worry-free!
Flying dory in the garage -
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs146.snc1/5410_130106858645_519763645_3141850_1726847_n.jpg
Before bunk supports -
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v5203/79/61/519763645/n519763645_3144922_7308655.jpg
Trailer tilted forward (rolling jack folded up) so wash water drains out of plug near stem. New bunks and bow roller in position.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs126.snc1/5410_130247868645_519763645_3145011_3531008_n.jpg