I am going to make a frame to hoist my boat off of its trailer. I need a little information to aid me in the design.

1. Where are the bolts that hold the keel box to the hull acessable from.
2. how high above the trailer do I need to lift to clear the keel assembly.


My plan is to pull the trailer with boat under the frame. Lift the boat maybe one foot off of the trailer. lower the       keel until it rests on the trailer. Brace and weld the keel to the trailer. Remove bolts attaching the keel assembly to   the boat. lift boat off of the keel. 

I can then pull the trailer with keel to my shop to service it.

Any advice would be welcome.

Evan

Several years back, I removed the keel and hanger box from my boat. I employed the travel lift at the boatyard. We built a study woodedn frame to cradle the exposed part of the keel when the keel is fully retracted. With the retracted, we moved the boat to sit above the frame, then lowered it so the keel cradled into the frame. Once the hanger bolts were removed, we lifted the boat and it separated nicely from the box and keel, and the assembly sat nicely in the wooden frame.

The bolt holes in the top plate of the stainless steel keel box/hanger are threaded to hold the bolts. On my boat, they were not fastened below with nuts. So, the bolts just unscrewed and left the hanger loose to drop out. The four bolts holding the winch also thread into the hanger. When the keel was reinstalled, we pretty much did everything above in reverse. Once reinstalled, with the keel fully lowered, I was able to reach up into the hanger box and access about half of the bolt ends. I added washers and nuts to those I could reach for insurance.

Reinstalling the keel was not as easy I make it sound above. It was a difficult process, especially lining up the holes in the trunk with those in the hanger. A skilled travel lift operator with a gentle hand on the controls was necessary.

I hope this helps.