How to wash and wax under the trailer bunk boards

[elibobeli]

I would like to get to my Eclipse where it sits on the trailer bunk boards.  I understand that the weight of the boat is supported down on the keel and the trailer board it sits on, and the side bunks are well, for side support.  How do I safely raise the boat (support the boat) to lower the bunks so that I can clean and wax these areas?  The boat sits on the trailer in a barn on a concrete floor if that could be of use.

Thanks

[Craig Weis]

~Crank the bow eye up into the rubber vee block.
~Level the trailer. I had to put a 2x4 under one tire because of a curbside road crown..
~Tie each stern cleat to the trailer. Snug is fine.
~Loosen each of the six legs holding the two trailer bunks up under the hull one at a time.
~Use your floor jack to lower each leg one at a time.
~She'll sit on the trailer board or trailer rollers just fine.
~Do your wash and paint.
~If your into Yoga hang the hull from the hull bunks by jacking up each leg.
~When she lifts off the trailer do the bottom of the keel.
~I made and glued on a Keel Boot for my bottom so I can roll over rocks without chipping out the fiberglass.
Have fun. I have pictures in Frappr showing this. Other guys simply place the boat on the lawn and let her sit.
skip.

[Steve Ullrich]

I'm assuming that you have a strap holding your boat on your trailer? Mine is about an inch and a half wide and winches down snug.  That strap alone is probably enough to keep her weight on the rollers and the other bunk but I'm a little on the cautious side so I bought a couple of winching tie down straps at Fleet Farm.  Each strap is rated at about 750 lbs.  The main strap is way stronger than that. Leave the big one tight for both sides...

One side at a time! 

Make sure the main strap is winched tight.
Add the additional two straps using the coach roof horn cleats to the trailer frame. Winch them tight. (Just like you would be afraid to crawl under this boat if they weren't...)

Top side:



Bottom Side:



Now you can drop the bunk on the opposite side from your straps. 



When you are finished, jack the bunks back up snug. Don't over due it with the jack. Snug is all you want or you will have too much weight on the bunks and risk stress cracks!  The bunks are more for balance than load. 90% of your load should be on the keel and about 5% on each bunk. 

Be sure your bunks are secure before repositioning your straps to drop the other side!

[elibobeli]

Thanks guys.  Excellent advice is appreciated.

Allan

[multimedia_smith]

Hi Guys,
I don't like the idea of loosening the uprights for the bunk boards... they might unloosen on a bumpy road and nobody wants that... I lift the boat up and lean it to one side then the other to buff under the bunks...
I don't know if we still have a gallery but, here's a pic from "the other" ComPac site's photo collection.
Happy sailing to y'all... we're still waiting for the cool fronts to come down here.
Cheers
Dale

here's the link: (you might have to paste the two lines into one on the address bar)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/com-pac/photos/album/712582202/pic/2049347029/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&count=20&dir=asc