"Richard Liebert" wrote in message
...
I was putting my BassTracker Jet away last Sunday evening. Once backed into
the garage and disengaged from my truck hitch I started to position it

Painful story snipped

I guess I am partially venting here in the NG because I'm more or less
stuck
in front of the computer with little else to do right now.

Anyway, those of you with entry level boat trailers like mine ought to
take
a good look at your trailer jacks and consider upgrading, especially if
your
jack wheel has any flat spots on it..


Richard,
Sorry to hear about your injury. To be honest, I have feared this exact
same thing happening from the first time I purchased a boat on a trailer. I
have pushed my boat into the garge by hand every time I've used it, since
the first trip out, some 12 years ago.
What I do (which is a bit immaterial for you now), is start the boat
moving in whatever direction the trailer jack tire is pointed. I usuall try
to point it in the direction I'm going to be headed when I drop it to the
ground. It's a little like steering on a vehicle. If you're moving, even a
little bit, it will usually go where you want it to with a little less
force. It sounds like your problem definitely had something to do with the
flat spots on the bottom of the wheel. But another thing to consider is
regular lubrication of the jack's shaft and rotating surfaces. On my old
boat, it became very tough to move (or to get to turn on it's wheel). I
hooked it up to the truck, and took the jack apart, cleaned it , lubricated,
and re-assembled. It worked like brand new.

Best of luck as your injuries heal. I cringe just thinking about the pain
that must have caused. I try as hard as I can to keep my feet out from
under the boat tongue, but it often happens anyway when you're tugging a
bass boat around by yourself!
--
Andrew Kidd