Help me.

Hi all,
So I recently bought this boat (Link below) at an insurance auction. Long story short, though multiple correspondences with the auction facility, I was led to believe that I would be helped with a front loader or forklift to load this unit onto my flatbed trailer. As it turns out, they are conveniently not going to help me load it... you know, after I've paid for it. The boat is located in Savannah Ga and I am coming from Orlando this week, (Thurs or fri) hopefully to pick it up with buddy Art Cozier as a hand. We are currently running through mental gymnastics of how I am going to load this thing. Thought I would reach out to any Savannah fans who may be of help? Maybe owning a construction company or having equipment? I've gotten myself in a bit of bind here would truly appreciate any ideas or assistance. You can give me a call or respond to this thread.
407 538 5845
boat that I bought

Trying to put the whole thing (boat + mangled trailer) on a flatbed? That'll be a tall order without serious equipment to lift from above. Getting the boat up on blocks and then putting it back down on a good (boat) trailer would likely be a bit more straightforward. A good engine hoist makes things easier.

Got a good winch? Drag it up!

Think Most ga fans are up around ATL, suggest retitle thread "need help Savannah/Hilton Head/GA Coast " and someone closer may have a place to stick it short term while you assess the trailer. If the trailer is trashed, would think if anyone could borrow a trailer to fit that boat it would be Art. Maybe winch onto rollbed tow truck, take to a marina and have them pick it off and put on borrowed trailer. Lotsa big boats on the coast, would think it'd be a cinch for one of the marinas to pick up a little boat like that down there. Then maybe give the towing co or marina the trailer for damaged, or scrap value, against the cost of the transfer.

Or something like that....

Lol someone didn't click the link.

Hook up to it and call AAA

My 2 cents..
   I would ask copart for a scrap buy bid on the trailer. Have two wreckers meet me maybe an hour after the yard opens. You get there at opening and assess and site adjust the plan. Lift directly behind the stern and then out from one side of the bow. (Inspect that bow ring and the fiberglass around it because it appears to have hit the winch and it may not be a viable lift location) That would give you room to hook up and DRAG the trailer out from under it carefully. I would cut the trailer guards with a sawzall so they don't bump something. Back your trailer under and block it for the ride. You can't have too many blocks, carpet, or foam and the blocks will have to be bolted to the trailer. Use the copart scrap money to pay for your wreckers and a tip if they're helpful.
Three side notes..
Take as many tools as you can carry along with a generator. Make sure to fully disclose to the wrecker service what you are doing and they will likely be very helpful. Also let copart know that the time and date you will be there and let them know you need ample access around the boat. Then call and annoy them confirming many times. They want it out as bad as you want it home.

Good luck... Sounds tricky, but doable with the right equipment- even if basic.

I will say that this seems like a lot of effort to go through for a Mastercraft.

That trailer should buff right out

I would bring an 8 ft 3500 lb axle with me. Jack it up slide it under and make it semi mobile.that would make loading it a breeze

But seriously folks... Tony has the right idea. How do you think it got to where its at now? Some mouth breathing knuckle dragger winched that girl up on a flat bed wrecker off the interstate then dumped it on the ground in the yard. Do it again.

i like the sawzall with plenty of batteries or generator and line volt sawzall   some ubolts and a complete axle assy that you will use when you fix the trailer.. Jack it up, cut some crap off it and bolt the axle under it and go

MADE IT HOME IN ONE PIECE.
When I arrived at the boat, they had actually lifted it and moved it which made most of my original plan impossible. However, I used this as leverage to make them help me load it. Luckily, the fork lift operator I ended up with was really helpful. Art and I still did several hours with of prep work to make the transition easier including jacking the boat level, removing the axels from the trailer, and blocking the trailer such that it would sit level and comfortably on the flatbed. Was a little bit shy on the tongue weight which resulted in some fish-tailing issues, so we had to keep it below 65mph or so. Here's some pics from the day.

Tool setup.



The boat after being leveled out some.


Axels (Both bent and mangled) cut out and out of the way.


The front loader showed up to help making things much easier.




Being set extremely carefully onto the trailer with the blocking we had arranged.


Strapped onto the trailer and headed home. (3 hours later)

DayTony wrote: nice job. Now, i'm sure a lot of others are also wondering. Whats the damage tally? and what are the plans? part out, rebuild, etc.

Jake,
I sure agree with Tony and yes, I too am wondering what the plan is.

Nice job, that is one of the more ambitious retrievals we've seen.   Sort of surprised they put up such a fuss about not helping you and then show up with that big loader. Seems they could have offered that to you in the beginning at an hourly rate and be done with it.

On a side note, can anyone really put a value on Art Cozier? The man is priceless to us here.

Jake,
Did you hear what happened in the accident?

81nautique wrote: On a side note, can anyone really put a value on Art Cozier? The man is priceless to us here.