Adjust Boat on Trailer in Driveway

[HangOutdoors]

So it appears that the boat has slid up a few inches on the bunks. The Winch arms bolts where a bit loose. No damage done. Anyhow, I am going to to weight the tongue tommorrow and I know it is probably heavy. If I wanted to slide the boat back a bit to adjust the tongue weight and possible move the winch arm, what would be the best way to do that without launching the boat. With the launches being crazy around here it doesn't promote me staying on the ramp and adjusting then Loading, Checking and possibly readjusting then weighing, etc.

I have thought of a possible solution, but I don't want to hurt the boat so I am looking for advice.

What I thought of was to lower the tongue all the way down. Take a couple of 2" x 6"'s and my large vehicle jack stands and snug that up under the boat at the transom. Then raise the tongue up high which should life the back of the boat off the trailer and then support the front of the boat before the bend on the keel and the lower the tongue jack again and the boat should be fully off the trailer. If only by an inch or so just enough to slide it back.

Thoughts? Not Smart? Is there a better way?

I would rather do it in the driveway and take my time to adjust everything correctly and not be rushed.

Appreciate any wisdom on the topic.

 

[Neutron]

Get a tow strap to a stern eye to another vehicle or a solid anchor point and loosen the bow strap, pull the trailer forward a scooch. Easy peasy
You dont have to remove the boat at the launch btw, just loosen the bow strap a little and back down the ramp, the let the boat slide back in the water then pull out

 

[HangOutdoors]

@Neutron Huh, did I just over think it? I feel like a newb! Someone needs to come take my boat away from me I guess.

 

[Neutron]

Nah, thats what this place is for, to help anyone that asks

 

[HangOutdoors]

Well I don't have another vehicle available close, and the Admiral won't let me use her toy SUV, but I want to do this today, so I am going to wet down the bunks and rap my tow strap around a cemented in basketball poll and to both eyes on the boat. We will see how this goes.

@Neutron I want to weigh the tongue also off the truck so your first suggestion is probably the best.

 

[ChrisM]

Hmm, sounding like a show.!! LOL Make sure the strap is around the basketball pole close to the ground where the best leverage would be.

 

[Babin Farms]

Use a tree

 

[Seadeals]

Just be cautious of static friction if trying to slide/tug it back. Once you break static friction it may go farther than you want. Sounds like an unfortunate circumstance that may require you to enjoy an unscheduled dip in the lake... I hate it when things like that happen (sarcasm). I may be guilty of over-complicated explanations of a minor issue that justifies a spontaneous trip to the lake). I have done the block trick before, but supposedly my hull is way thicker than the new boats, so that would have me concerned unless you really spread the load out.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Worked like a champ, but it did move more than i thought it would on the first tug.

 

[JASmith]

Funny to see all the different ways people do this. I just had to do this yesterday to make room to install a Ramp N Clamp. I just put a chain from my garden tractor to the stern eye and gave it a little tug after loosening up the bow strap a foot or so. It moved easier than I thought it would!