Lifting Your Boat: Painting The Bottom Right

Painting the bottom of a boat can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to removing it from the trailer. While some suggest leaving the boat on the trailer and moving it back and forth, this can be time-consuming and messy. The recommended approach involves using a floor jack and wooden blocks to carefully lift the boat, ensuring it is securely blocked on a hard, level surface to prevent any accidents. This process requires careful execution, as the safety of the person doing the repairs and the condition of the boat are at stake.

Prepare the boat and trailer: remove straps and tie-downs, place blocks in front of tires

Before you begin the process of lifting your boat off its trailer, it's important to take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and the protection of your boat and trailer. Here are the steps you should follow to prepare the boat and trailer:

Firstly, choose a suitable location to block the boat. It should be a hard, level surface. If you're blocking the boat on an asphalt driveway, it's advisable to cover it with plywood to prevent the stands from digging into the asphalt, especially when the temperature rises. Cut plywood into 2' x 2' sections and place the stands on top.

Once you've prepared the surface, it's time to secure the boat and trailer. Place wooden blocks in front of the tires to prevent the boat from moving forward when you lift the back end. This is a crucial step to ensure your safety and stability during the lifting process.

Now, you'll need to remove any straps or tie-downs that secure the boat to the trailer. Start with the front tie-down by the bow eye hook, and then move to the rear tie-downs on the transom. Typically, there should be two rear tie-downs: one on the port side and one on the starboard side. By removing these straps and tie-downs, you're freeing the boat from its restraints, allowing for easier lifting and manoeuvring.

At this point, you should also pay attention to the blocking materials you use. Avoid using lightweight blocks, as they may not provide sufficient support. Concrete blocks are generally considered safer than old cinder blocks, which have been known to cause accidents in the past. Ensure that you place the blocks on flat, level surfaces of the hull to prevent slipping. Mark the safe blocking areas with green tape to differentiate them from unsafe areas, which you can mark with blue tape.

By following these steps, you'll have effectively prepared your boat and trailer for the next stages of the process, which involve lifting the boat and painting the bottom. Remember to exercise extreme caution when working with heavy objects like boats, and always prioritise your safety.

Use a jack: hydraulic or floor jack, with wood to protect the hull

Lifting a boat off its trailer to paint the bottom can be done cheaply and effectively with a floor jack. A hydraulic jack or a bottle jack can also be used, but floor jacks are more stable and can fit under vehicles with low clearance.

To begin, ensure that your floor jack is in good condition and not damaged. You will also need a piece of wood, such as a 4x4 block, to protect the hull of your boat. Place the jack and the block under one side of the boat, preferably against a strake about two-fifths forward of the stern. You can then jack up the boat enough to retract the trailer's tongue jack.

Once the tongue is retracted, lower the floor jack so that the tongue drops to the ground. You can now build a stack of cinder blocks under both rear corners of the boat. Place two cinder blocks side by side, stack another two on top of them perpendicular to the first layer, and finish with a single block on top. Place a piece of 2x6 wood on top of the stack so that the wood aligns with the sponsons/chines.

Now, use the floor jack to raise the rear corners of the boat until they come into contact with the stacks you've built. The rear of the boat should now be lifted off the trailer by about 4-5 inches. Create a similar stack under the keel where it starts to run parallel with the floor, but not on the curved section. Lower the floor jack so that the keel is now resting on the block/wood stack. Your boat should now be suspended about 3-5 inches above the trailer all around.

With the boat securely suspended, you can now paint the bottom. Always be careful when working with a jack and ensure that everything is stable before beginning work.

Lift the boat: jack up the boat until you see space on the bunk carpet runners

To lift your boat off its trailer so that you can paint the bottom, you'll need to follow a careful procedure. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Firstly, lower the trailer tongue to the ground. This will provide a stable base for the boat when you start jacking it up. You can do this by partially lowering the trailer tongue if your boat is already on a trailer. If your boat is not on a trailer, you can simply position the trailer tongue on the ground and prepare to load the boat.

Now, position your boat on the trailer. Ensure that the boat is securely blocked or jack-stood in place to prevent any unwanted movement. Once the boat is in position, you can begin the process of jacking it up.

The next step is to use a jack to lift the boat. You can use a floor jack, a bottle jack, or a hydraulic jack, depending on what you have available and what you feel comfortable with. Place the jack under the boat, following the specific instructions for your type of jack. It is recommended to place the jack near the leaf spring hangers, as this gives more room to work with.

Now, start cranking the jack to lift the boat. You will need to lift the boat high enough so that you can see space on the bunk carpet runners. Ensure that you place jack stands under the boat for support as you lift. These stands help to keep the boat stable and prevent it from tipping over.

Once you have lifted the boat to the desired height and ensured it is securely supported, you can begin the process of painting the bottom. Remember to take your time and work carefully to avoid any drips or messes.

By following these steps, you can safely lift your boat off its trailer and paint the bottom without any issues. Remember always to use the appropriate safety gear and procedures when working with boats and jacks.

Position the jack: place the jack behind the first crossmember, then remove the first jack

To begin, you will need to position the boat on a hard, level surface. If you're blocking it up on an asphalt driveway, put down plywood first to prevent the stands from digging into the asphalt. Place wooden blocks in front of the tires to prevent the boat from moving when you lift the back of it. Next, remove all boat-covering strapping connected to the trailer, as well as the front tie-down by the bow eye hook and the rear tie-downs on the transom.

Now, place a small hydraulic jack, with a piece of wood to protect the hull, below the centre of the transom. Jack up the boat until you see a gap between the bunk carpet support runners and the boat itself. As soon as you see the boat lift, you can stop jacking. This is what the process should look like. Now, remove the wood from the tires. Pull the trailer out slowly until you come to the first support crossmember. This is critical: if you pull the trailer further, you risk knocking out the hydraulic jack and causing the boat to fall back onto the trailer.

Get your second hydraulic jack and position it behind the first crossmember. Jack it up so that the front hydraulic jack comes loose, then remove the first jack.

Please note that this process is intricate and potentially dangerous, and you should exercise extreme caution when attempting it.

Paint the boat: prop one side up and paint, then do the other side when dry

Painting a boat is a big job that requires time and money. It is important to prepare the boat properly before painting, and to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the paint you are using.

To paint the bottom of a boat, you will need to raise it off the trailer. One way to do this is to prop one side of the boat up, so that you can paint the bottom of that side, and then, once it is dry, turn the boat and paint the other side. This can be done by using a floor jack and a piece of 4x4 block. Put the jack and block under one side of the boat, preferably against a strake about two-fifths forward of the stern, and jack it up. Blocks can then be placed between the trailer and the boat, and that side can be painted. Once the paint is dry, the boat can be lowered, and the other side can be painted using the same method.

It is important to wear protective clothing when painting a boat, including a respirator, protective eyewear, gloves, and clothing. The boat should be cleaned and prepared before painting, and any old paint should be removed. The type of paint used is important, and you should choose a paint that is suitable for the boat and the conditions it will be used in. For example, if the boat is wet-stored, you may need to apply a barrier coating before painting to prevent water absorption. If the boat is stored in the water, an antifouling paint should be used to prevent the growth of organisms on the hull.

When painting, it is best to apply multiple thin coats of paint rather than one or two thick coats. Three coats are generally recommended. The paint should be applied evenly and thinly to avoid drips and runs, especially when painting a vertical surface. The "roll and tip" method can be used for large surface areas, which requires two people, one to roll out the paint and one to follow behind with a brush to brush out the roller pattern.

Frequently asked questions