Idea for bottom paint blocks while on trailer

matt_unique · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject: EUREKA

Eureka...I finally did it.

Following Dr Bob's suggestion from last year I made sure to leave 7" of my sponsons hanging off the back of the trailer when I pulled Napoleon for the season.

I used 2, 3 ton jacks (one under each sponson) on top of two tree stumps I cut level with my chainsaw. I used two additional tree stumps and four 6X6 beams to support load points on the trailer. I have a total of 6 supports under load bearing positions on the trailer.

I quickly learned that without supporting the trailer at the load bearing points it would flex quite a bit.

I used 6X6 beams against the sponsons and steel plates between the jack lift point and the beam. I had sufficiently long handles such that I was between the engines (not under the vessel) while lifting or lowering.

It worked like a champ. I lifted high enough to place 2X6 boards between the hull and the trailer forward and aft. It's important to place the boards at a point on the trailer where there is a cross beam beneath. The aft portion of my trailer is completely flat, the forward portion is angled like a V hugging the forward portion of the sponsons. I placed the 2X6 boards (one on each side of the V) to maintain the same angle if you will. Once lowered the bow raised off the trailer and now I have a nice/secure 2" of clearance along the entire bottom of the sponsons. This is all you need to get a paint brush in there to apply bottom paint.

The majority of the time was of course setting up the proper load supports under the trailer and under the jacks. I made a few cuts on the tree stumps to get them level and at the best height.

All I can say is Eureka....finally a solution for a home lift! I posted pictures in page 3 of my album.

Now I just need some reasonable temperatures to apply bottom paint. This year I'm trying the new Pettit environmentally friendly ablative paint on top of 2 coats of Vivid (solid paint).