I will be venturing offshore for the first time in mid-June, and am trying to avoid the $3.50 marina gas price! Also am trying to avoid dumping my box section trailer in the 'acid', so I was going to use a crane to put the boat in the water-- after topping up with 125 gallons of gas-- which I figure equates to about 750 lbs of fuel. Will this stress the boat to where it will resemble the preview of the new Spiderman movie with so many stress cracks or should I be ok? The boat is a 30 foot Mariah so I know it's not exactly built as stout as a Cig or a Formula, etc. Appreciate any advice or observations....

I've heard you'll be fine if you simply mist the trailer down with WD40 before hand and then spray it off when it comes out.I have a friend that did this 2 1/2 years ago. ( a fresh water boat and trailer) It still looks like new.

hmmmmmm

I store my boat in a High and Dry Marina. It gets lifted out all the time with a full tank of fuel. I have never had or heard of anyone else there having any ill effects.

Assuming the boat is lifted with a proper set of slings, I would not worry at all. Your fuel load is the equivalent of three big guys. You wouldn't have any second thoughts about lifting your boat with two friends in the cockpit. The stresses imparted during lifting are nowhere near as severe as the shear and bending loads encountered during operation.

flying your boat off a wave with a full tank at 60 MPH with passengers will stress that hull more than slinging it in will ever even come close too....

No problem at all. Most high and drys require their customers to store their boats with a full tank anyway, it is perfectly safe to lift that way.

I do it quite a bit.

My yacht club has a hoist. It is closer than the ramp so lots of times guys just grab the boat right out of the trailer and dip it.

Just put the straps in the "right places."

Rear strap under engines but not too close to transom. Bow strap probably under the windshield. (As far forward as you can go without slipping up and forward on the bend of the keel.)

What are you saying HillWilliam?
Are you saying that FUMES are more flammable than liquid gas?

Kidding.

Of course they are.