Painting under trailer pads?
Posted by Nephroidofdoom@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 50 comments
Continuing from my last post (Paint or Touch Up?), I decided to take the collective advice and do a full sand and repaint.
Now I’m trying to game plan how to handle the spots under the trailer pads. There are only 4 and the keel is supported only at the very bottom. The “bunks” where the keel meets the hull don’t actually touch the keel.
Unfortunately the pads themselves are not very adjustable and can’t be lowered easily.
Currently deciding between 2 options:
Option 1 - bring her over to the club crane and hoist her a few inches while I work. Will likely need an hour or two to sand and paint. It worries me that she’ll be hanging for so long although I could put a block under the keel. Crane is also in a high traffic area.
Option 2 - borrow some jack stands to support the corner of the boat while I remove/lower the pad. This would give me the most time to work but if the boat drops even an inch, it will be hell getting her back up so Incan slip the pad back on. Not even sure how I would do it to be honest.
This has me thinking Opt 1 is the right call but curious how others have tackled this before.
Rhavimarques@reddit
Im no expert, but generally you ignore that square, do the rest, wait for it to dry, use other jack stands (if you don’t have enough) to prop a spot say 3 feet away, remove original jack stand, sand, paint leftover square. Repeat around the original stands. (You’d only need 1 spare stand total)
Only_Razzmatazz_4498@reddit
That’s how big ships are done also. You just remove some blocks and paint them put them back and remove others.
drillbit7@reddit
I watch the battleship New Jersey's YouTube channel. During her recent drydocking they definitely refloated her and shifted her to paint where the support blocks were.
conflan06@reddit
Ok but they can’t move the stands, it’s clearly all one structure trailer in the pic
shtuffit@reddit
Undo the bolt holding the pad to it's support arm after the spare stand is in place
202markb@reddit
I work at a boat yard and most people will simply do the paint while it’s hanging in the straps. We wouldn’t charge extra for this and do appreciate it when people are flexible about timing so that they’re not holding up the next person who wants to launch.
justinchina@reddit
While you are on the hard, have you considered placing reflective material over your windows though?
daysailor70@reddit
Former boatyard owner here. Because your pads don't adjust, the crane is the only way to safely do it. If they were adjustable, you could use an extra stand to support the boat while you lower the pad to paint but won't work here. If you do as much prepping as possible and have help, you should be able to paint the spots in a half hour at the most.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
That’s where I’m at. The only way I can safely lift the boat is via the crane. I might add a wood block under the keel to take some of the load and add a bit of stability while we work.
Given the pads don’t adjust, if the boat drops or settles even an inch onto the temporary stands, I have no way to lift the boat back up to get the pad back on. But I can’t safely move the boat to the crane without all 4 pads which would be a real pickle.
Ok_Copy_5690@reddit
Generally, the Boat Yard will work with you and time it so that your boat is lifted just before lunch hour. Then you’ve got time time to paint where the pads were while they take lunch.
moosemochu@reddit
I usually paint the whole underwater ship except for these spots. Then I paint these small spots with one layer of paint while my boat is hanging on the crane, and I wait for 15 min or so before I put the boat into the water. This is usually sufficient and works well even in spring. We have our club crane, so I do not need to hurry.
I would recommend to never lower the keel onto ground while the boat is hanging on the crane, as loosening the strain of the crane straps will make them move, and the boat will be out of balance. If you feel unsafe standing under the load, which is a valid point, just lift it only a few centimeters up from the trailer while working under the load.
str8dwn@reddit
Can you move it and reset it on the trailer? If it's iffy, maybe schedule to be launched 1st thing and have them pick and move it the last thing day prior and leave it rigged for the night with whatever load it needs.
Or figure out if the jack thing and letting the air out of your tires might work.
ziper1221@reddit
You could unbolt the pad where it attaches to the tube.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
Yeah. Pretty sure no can get the pad out that way. I’m concerned that if the boat drops even a bit while the pad is out, I won’t be able to easily get the boat back up.
LameBMX@reddit
option 3)
crank tongue jack low. put extra stand on aft end of boat. raise tongue jack until you have enough room to paint under the aft pads.
crank tongue jack high. put stands at bow. lower tongue jack. may need to add weight to tongue to keep it down. paint under those pads.
really option 1 is the best unless your bottom paint wont cure eventually underwater.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
I think there is a way to leverage the trailer jacks. In addition to my tongue jack, I also have frame jacks on the back (you can see the handle of one in front of the license plate) should be able to use them to get an inch or two if needed.
strictnaturereserve@reddit
get 2 other poles to stop it falling over remove one pad do what need to be done
Fix_Aggressive@reddit
This is why my cradle has 6 side pads. Less drama.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
Yep. Would have been nice but this is what came w/ the boat.
Fix_Aggressive@reddit
You can usually add pads and uprights. Know anyone who can weld? Sailboat stands are expensive.
SG_87@reddit
We usually do that patch while it's hanging on the crane, just before it goes in
penkster@reddit
Isn't crane time charged by the minute though? You'd need to leave it hanging for half an hour to let it dry, let alone multiple coats. Happy to be proven wrong here.
FalseRegister@reddit
I think mine goes by movement (launch, haul out, relocation)
The crane that goes by the hour is the one they use to unstep the mast
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
It’s my club’s crane so I can use it as long as I’m not holding other folks up.
timpeduiker@reddit
I have to say. Usually I do the same with painting while it's hanging in the slings. And when we're done with painting just throw it straight into the water. Never had any issues. But I have a steel boat maybe it's different for polyester boats.
penkster@reddit
I wish a polyester boat. Something I can fold up and put away in winter.
millijuna@reddit
At the yard we usually use, we’ve frequently successfully had them pick us up just before lunch, then leave us in the slings while they take their lunch break. But we’re just tossing on a new layer of bottom paint in that situation.
Wagward@reddit
At my yacht club, there’s a bottle of paint we squirt on the roller and roll on right before splash. Boat hangs for just a few minutes while the previous boat gets out of the drop-in slip. Just sand and paint the bottom as usual. If those spots don’t get hit at all it’s not a big deal
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
We do that too! I’ve volunteered for that job and we just hit the bottom of the keel on the way in.
Nothing quite like running under a 30ft hull with a brush or roller while it hangs freely from a crane!
Salty-Sailor@reddit
I've read through all the replies and I did not see this idea: use the crane... lift the boat and reset it a foot forward on the trailer. This may change the tongue weight, but you're just moving it around the yard.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
That’s not a bad idea expect I can’t go forward on the trailer but I can only go back. I have extra tongue jacks on the back of the trailer frame which might keep it from tipping. Will look into this a bit.
FredIsAThing@reddit
Since it's a single axle trailer, the boat is light enough that you can get away with this. Jack up the entire trailer, block the boat, then lower the trailer. It won't take much- just enough to get a roller under the pads. I've done it. It's quite safe.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
Hmm…This could be an option.
LaysWellWithOthers@reddit
Wait until next year
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
Why paint when you can sail!
vanatteveldt@reddit
I paint around them, and bring antifouling and a brush to the splash in. Certainly not as good, but it won't be placed in exactly the same spot for the next haul out
sharpescreek@reddit
Paint it in the slings at launch. Get picked up before the yard guys break time and splashed after.
Big_Relative8784@reddit
On my boat (24' / 4500lbs) I use a couple of 4 ton hydraulic house jacks I got at Harbor Freight. I build up a base from scrap wood and lift the whole boat off the trailer maybe 6". Make sure it's plenty secure. Then paint to your heart's content. The jacks are pretty reasonably priced, and theres usually lots of blocking around the yard if youre in a place that regularly stores boats. Just be safe and use common sense.
Bluuphish@reddit
Just a little out the box but not far from your non crane option. Seems like you could fab out some 4x4s with a makeshift pad on each side of the pad you want to lower. They do appear adjustable? Wedge those in snug and as the pressure is eased of the pad lower it to work on that spot. Like you said not needing to rush with this method.
HotMountain9383@reddit
yeah just hit it before launch. Probably soft in that area anyway from boatyard overtightening the stands.
Don't sweat it Hinckley.
Go Sail.
Neptune7924@reddit
Hit it with a roller while she is in the slings.
Zekiniza@reddit
I have never done it myself but I have seen people just use another pair of jack stands to support the vessel while they move the initial set to work under them.
As someone who's done quite a bit of crane work though, rule of thumb is that the less time you have a load suspended in the air the less likely something could go drastically wrong. Id encourage you to look into the first option.
Nephroidofdoom@reddit (OP)
Yeah. I have a single lift point that use twice a season and I worry about hanging her for an extended period.
Having said that it’s a Capri 22, weighing about 3,000lbs dry, so it’s not a “big” load per se
the-montser@reddit
Just remove one pad from the trailer at a time. This is how I do my boat.
Independent-Donut376@reddit
if it will pick it up for 5 minutes, it will pick it up for 5 days.
Severe_Citron6975@reddit
I wait until I’m ready to launch and paint that last bit when it’s in the travellift.
KStieers@reddit
My trailer has adjustable pads, so I drop one or two at a time, paint, bring it back up....
Or hit the 6 spots when it is on the crane for put in...
Maviarab@reddit
Option 3. Just ask them to move the pads/supports a foot to the side.
Many use option 1, pre-book with them though and tell them you want to patch do those sections while she in the sling....they understand and will allow a longer time-slot.
ChatahoocheeRiverRat@reddit
One thing I've done is Friday PM before a Monday AM launch, have my marina lift the boat off the trailer and keep her in the lift for the weekend. That way I can sand, barrier coat and apply antifouling, and the coating system has a reasonable amount of dry time.
GrandpaSteve4562@reddit
On jack stands I get the yard to move them. I think you could lift the boat and put it on jacks stands. Don’t forget to support the keel.