Getting the boat off the Trailer

So today I had to get the boat off the trailer for multiple reasons. The weather has been really nasty and cold here lately and I need to get the transom done. The trailer has some bad bunks and needs a new coat of paint. So I set off to Northern tool for ideas. I saw a set of Car dollys that looked like they would fit the part. I went to lowes and got 18 2x4s and some lag bolts and tore into it. I knew what I wanted it to look like in my head and after about two hours I had two cradles with wheels made. it woks like a champ and it fits in my garage by two inches. 

So I guess I will start refurbing the trailer before it gets too cold. 



The lumber







I think I paid 59 dollars a set for these.







I wanted to make this super strong, and so I sistered the lumber together for strength.










You can see in this picture that I used lag bolts to hold the dolly in place.





Here is both of them ready for the boat. I added some carpet on the top.







I used my floor jack to get it up off the trailer.






Then I tied the strap to my back wall in the garage, and then pulled it off slowly with the truck.














I then used the floor jack on the front of the boat and inched out. When I reached a rung on the trailer, I would move the jack to the other side of it and pull some more. 








You can see it is at the last rung now.





Here you can see the carpet





Here is that major reason for taking the boat off the trailer. It needs work.





All Done

Deconstruction Continues

Well here we are, the end of another weekend. So what did i get done. well it does not seem like alot. 

1. Purchased a new Engine stand from northern tool (That place is the coolest)
2. Stripped the engine down
3. Sanded all the floors to get rid of the glue and other residue
4 clean out the interior. 

So I think I am ready for the reconstruction. This is where I will need your help guys. I am a little scared of what is to come. 

I really need to get the boat off for a quick resto on the trailer. I have ready alot of posts about using foam from Northern tool, but the boat seem s really heavy and I cannot get it to move. I also have a slanted drive and I am scared of what will happen. Input?


Here are pictures from the work this weekend.

I cut the floor out where there was a little rot on the port side.

I cut the stringer back to the motor mount for safety. I really did not have to go back that far.





I found that the blocks that the ski ladder attached too were completely gone on one side. i think that is where the water was coming from that rotted the transom.





This is the top of the casing from the ski ladder mount. The only thing left was the glass.






The battery Tray










This is what is left of the Ski ladder mount





All Clean and ready for new wood.





I feathered the glass down to the floor. this is where is started to stick. The other stuff cam up in my hands. All good now.





My new engine stand.

Inspection, and Deconstruction

well we have reached the end of Day three. This was the hardest day so far. I got the transom plate taken off and spent the rest of the day getting the transom removed. I got to say that it was worse than I thought. The rot went up one of the stringers about four inches and the port side floor has a little rot. I had to take out all the foam for access tot he floor and stringer area. Next weekend I will take a wire brush and the grinder to the inside to get ready for glass.

One question. I noticed some stress cracks on the inside of the gelcoat, but not the outside. How do i go about fixing this?

So here are some pictures. remember you can see all of them by clicking the link in my sig.

Here is the rot.

























The starboard stringer has a little bit of rot on it.



The port side had a little more



This was hard work. One little piece at a time





This is me after two hours of grinding.





All the wood is off the transom, but I have a long way to go.





I found an ant nest when taking out the foam. Looks to be sugar ants.







I started to remove the large foam blocks on either side of the block. This is a messy and hard task. I will be replacing this foam at the end.





Foam everywhere





Here is my mess of parts that I have to eventually put back in the boat.

Engine Removal

Ok, so it finally stopped raining here and my son (Zachary) and I decided to pull the engine today. here are some things that we found as we where taking things apart.

1. This motor is in VERY good shape for almost being thirty.
2. Removing the motor in this boat is WAY harder than my Camaro!
3. Thank the lord for air tools!!!!!!
4. The engine mounts are solid as a rock with good dry wood.
5. The transom was not as bad as I thought. I am wondering if I can do a half replacement.

So I think I am going to throw the block and heads up on craigs list and see what I get for them.

Tomorrow my old Dad says he is going to come over and help me with the transom plate.

How hard is that to remove?

Remember you can click the link in my sig for ALL of the pictures. Some of them are for reference and will not make sense to anyone but me. 
































This is why you drain your block when you winterize your boat. There was at least a gallon in the block.





My son was eating this up. he loves to work with tools.



This is what you call the look of terror. He had been using the impact all day, but now we had the HB puller on and he did not really know what to expect. Once he saw how it worked he was ok.









See the rust under the valve cover? That is why I am replacing the engine. Its gong to be a hot 350.



All covered up and ready for the next weekend.