Ideas for fitting my boat in my gargage.

Morfoot wrote: 74Wind wrote: I've often thought a few extra tongue feet would keep the tow vehicle muffler from gurgling.... It's obvious Jeffro that you ain't from around here.....that's nothing but a red neck hot tub!

Tim: Nope no red neck on me. You can take the boy out of CT but you can't take the CT out of the boy. Eighteen years in Georgia and I've yet to figure out how to properly insert the word "y`all` into a sentence......

Pete: Good idea, but like I said rarely trail, in fact I haven't even seen my SW trailer in a few years.

I am surprised the "tongue extension" did not elicit further comment from Orlando76..

I have a buddy with a Malibu trailer that he had converted by a trailer shop of some sort and it was only a couple hundred bucks. They cut through all 3 structural beams and terminated them all to a rectangular plate of steel with a matching bit of plate on the hitch side, nicely welding all 3 beams on each side to their own plate. The two plates were connected with a hinge on one side. There are 4 bolt bosses welded on, one to each corner of the trailer-side plate. To fold and unfold he has to zip 4 bolts out of the plate with an impact. Takes minutes and the conversion reduces the length of the trailer substantially when folded. I thought it was a very creative and cost-effective solution. He had it done in Wisconsin so I can ask him where it was specifically.

Also FWIW my 24' garage will not fit my full size SN trailer in there either, without folding the tongue up, if that makes you feel better.

M3Fan wrote: I have a buddy with a Malibu trailer that he had converted by a trailer shop of some sort and it was only a couple hundred bucks. They cut through all 3 structural beams and terminated them all to a rectangular plate of steel with a matching bit of plate on the hitch side, nicely welding all 3 beams on each side to their own plate. The two plates were connected with a hinge on one side. There are 4 bolt bosses welded on, one to each corner of the trailer-side plate. To fold and unfold he has to zip 4 bolts out of the plate with an impact. Takes minutes and the conversion reduces the length of the trailer substantially when folded. I thought it was a very creative and cost-effective solution. He had it done in Wisconsin so I can ask him where it was specifically. Also FWIW my 24' garage will not fit my full size SN trailer in there either, without folding the tongue up, if that makes you feel better.

Joel, If you have the name please PM it to Chris (FrankenOtter).

Chris - this is the way to go, yes the width will still be an issue, but at least you don't have to park it diagonally, AND a breakaway tongue is always helpful.

THREADJACK - Joel, dude, you were the Zombie Commuter driver on Thursday, from about Hwy 60 til you got off on Deerfield Road, I was running along side you, both sides honking and waving - you just kept those eyes locked right out the front window - HA!

Do you have space for a portable shelter, tongue may need to be exposed but the boat would be fully protected. Could also be used for winter storage possibly.

http://www.shelterlogic.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=da68f888-9353-4e0e-8bd1-9df80095b3e8&CategoryName=Garages

8122pbrainard wrote: quinner wrote: Do you have space for a portable shelter, Excellent idea. I have one up north and it has served me well for over 12 years and I didn't even buy the premium vinyl.

OOOH, I figured the snow would kill these. If not it would save me quite a bit on winter storage up there.

M3Fan wrote: 8122pbrainard wrote: quinner wrote: Do you have space for a portable shelter, Excellent idea. I have one up north and it has served me well for over 12 years and I didn't even buy the premium vinyl. OOOH, I figured the snow would kill these. If not it would save me quite a bit on winter storage up there.

Joel,
You haven't done any research on the "instant garages" have you! I get as much snow in Three Lakes as you do in Eagle River!!

A "roof rake" would be a cheap investment as well. It you really wanted to go a bit further (although most likely not needed) a thin coating of armor all (or similar) would make the roof slicker than snot on a door knob.

Chris does not have a snow problem,he's mearly looking for summer between outings storage anyway. If he was to use one of those temp car shelters he might have to do some homework too. Some places won't let you put one up,out here no vehicle parking on the ground with out a concrete,asphalt or brick pad,and gravel doesn't count

I'm going through winter #4 with my Round Top brand of shelter (Fleet Farm). I do remove the snow with a broom as often as I can, but the boat is 2-1/2 hours away so it has had to withstand snow load for periods of time. A few neighbors at the lake have the Shelter Logic brand, and the style of shelter where the side walls angle out like an "A" frame, and they've only had issues when the snow melts, slides down the wall, and builds up putting pressure on the walls and cover (easy to take care of). I will be spending $450 to replace my shelter with a new one this summer as I'm afraid of the cover not making it through a 5th winter. It's been great, cheap, dry storage though, and I don't even have to put the tower down.

peter1234 wrote: Pete I am not sure what the difference is in snow makeup is here but there are an awful lot of different types and brands of temp shelters here in new england and it seems a lot of them collapse    maybe it is wetter at times and comes down faster?

Peter,
The point I was making is we get the heavy wet snow too! It's not just New England. The "Cover-it" brand I have is now:

Airfooter wrote: Shelter Logic brand,

They even now have a snow/wind rated shelter.
Shelter logic

Something I have seen done down here. Really not sure if it works but thought it worth mentioning. Some people apply a heavy coat of paste wax to the boat and leave it on before wrapping or storing the boat for the off season. When opened for the season they wipe off the wax along with any dirt or bugs etc. and have a freshly waxed boat. Seems Ok in principle but I never have actually done it.

The temporary shelter really isn't an option for Chris. He would have to purchase a lot, and then at that point, you might as well roll a pole building or Garage into the mortgage.

He is somewhat challenged because he lives in an urban area, but blessed with his mother having a garage. Unfortunately when he puts his boat in there, here truck has to sit out. Hence the need for a shorter trailer with less width.

He has access to an airport hanger for storage but that is almost 30 miles away and in the opposite direction of Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River, which he can literally see from his apartment. I am not sure if even a high quality cover with side skirts might be challenging, because he still has to park it somewhere, in said Urban environment.

I keep telling to just buy a house on a lake and be done with it, get out of the city!

And I think his apartment parking spot is the middle one of a 3 car bay, perhaps the real width problem. An older Ski Nautique would fit, something like an orange 72...

Find an outdoor spot and get a nice cover. I got a lift and slip on another lake but no canopies allowed...

skutsch wrote:    Apparently that Orange 72 (Promo) is SOLD - Soon to be seen painted, wrapped and sporting a nice new Monster Tower and lots of indoor outdoor carpeting...

8122pbrainard wrote: skutsch wrote:    Apparently that Orange 72 (Promo) is SOLD - Soon to be seen painted, wrapped and sporting a nice new Monster Tower and lots of indoor outdoor carpeting...

Pete, I don't know for sure that is what is going to happen, but it is probable.

Hollywood wrote: I am using my friend's condo slip on Lake Mary, where my ski club is. We got a new/used 4000# lift for the BFN on Powers. Selling my 3000#.

Oh, man that old lift would be perfect for the 176, does it come with the cover and side skirts? Ok Chris, let's find a spot on your favorite lake!!!