Michigan Sunset

Rogan · 02 July 2006, 23:14

Finally got the boat out of Chicago and across the lake.

codprawn · 03 July 2006, 01:30

Great sunset - that trailer looks useful for the sand - could do with it where I live!!!

Shaggy · 03 July 2006, 01:53

Nice Pics Rogan..

Shaggy

Scotty · 03 July 2006, 07:59

Good pics Rogan How do you move the six wheel trailer ? No ball hitch for towing ?? It looks like a launching trolley for a sailing boat but must be hard to move around on the soft sand ?

Rogan · 03 July 2006, 12:16

Yeah, it's for a sail boat but works great for a small RIB. Takes three people to move and its a lot easier than dragging it up the beach.

gaviotapete · 03 July 2006, 18:14

hiya rogan, great looking photos. i'm looking to craft a beach launching dolly for my 500lb
sr4 so i was wondering if you bought yours or made it? any tips or referrals would be appreciated- thanks

Rogan · 04 July 2006, 15:59

I asked around about the beach trailer and no one seems to know who makes them. We were using the neighbors when we were on the beach in Michigan. I'll make sure to check next time I am there.

gaviotapete · 04 July 2006, 18:02

thanks rogan. you mentioned three people to move it and it looks like it has 6 wheels. i was hoping to make a single axle, 2 ATV tire dolly that would allow me to single hand it to the water over 50 yards of moderate sand. or at least be able to muscle it down with one other person. if i
were to balance the load correctly do you think it would be possible?

Rogan · 04 July 2006, 19:42

I don't think that 2 wheels is going to be enough. Having six spreads all the weight on the sand and is pretty essential. If it starts diggin in it's not really going to go anywhere. If you had six and your boat is 500 lb you could prob do it with one person. Surf conditions add a whole other element though.

gaviotapete · 05 July 2006, 07:26

how so? hard to float off the dolly or hard to keep from taking on water?

prairie tuber · 06 July 2006, 04:38

http://www.seitech.com/dollies.aspx

gaviotapete · 06 July 2006, 16:19

thanks for the link p tuber!

boatster_sr4 · 06 July 2006, 16:57

The first cart is made by Roleez. I have one with two wheels and a bunk for my little inflatable. I beach launch at Gaviota for surf. I think beach launching the SR4 would be a really tough task. Maybe a 12" sib would be better?
I think the surf is way too rough to launch and recover a 13' Deep V rib. When it does beach the thing will heal over to one side due to the deep hull and make it tough to load up. Surf breaks so close to shore too.

EDIT: The carts made by Roleez are the best ones to get for this application I think. I also think at least 4 wheels to get that thing up the beach would be required. Maybe you could use a winch hooked up to your truck to pull the thing up the beach. Believe me I've thought of alot of ways to do it myself also. I ended just using my 10' inflatable boat for beach launches, its much easier.

gaviotapete · 06 July 2006, 23:20

thanks for the good advice boatster. i do have an 11foot
rib w/beach launching wheels that i am able to singlehand but i am keen to get my sr4 down there and hope that with a good dolly and another mate we'll be able to manage it. who knows if that hoist will ever be fixed??? BTW do you know where the closest public ramp to gaviota is located?

boatster_sr4 · 07 July 2006, 07:08

Santa Barbara Harbor. Which is quite a long ways away. If you ever manage to get the Searider setup for Gaviota I would love to know how.

But yeah, don't hold your breath for the hoist.

Actually Goleta Pier has a hoist but the hours of operation just don't suit hitting the ranch. I don't remember the hours but I do remember that it just wouldn't work.

gaviotapete · 07 July 2006, 16:55

i've got big hopes that this set-up will get the job done

boatster_sr4 · 07 July 2006, 18:07

Cool. Thats got potential for sure. Please let me know how it goes. Maybe you could have a cable winch to your truck in the parking lot and you can pull that cart and boat back up the beach no problems.

Good luck.

gaviotapete · 07 July 2006, 18:39

i'd like to think that i could use an electric winch to pull that dolly back up the beach but i'm not sure the park rangers would be cool with it. have you seen others going for it a gaviota?

boatster_sr4 · 07 July 2006, 21:09

I've seen some guys using a long rope from the parking lot but not an actual winch. I don't see why it would be a problem if you did it early or late enough when nobody was around. I just can't imagine pushing the sr4 up the beach through sand even if it were on a cart. That things probably gonna weigh at least 500 lbs with boards, gas, accessories, wet. I could be talking out of my ass though. You can always go for a dry run and see how she pushes around in the sand. How are you going to lock the boat onto the dolly so it doesn't slide off?

gaviotapete · 08 July 2006, 03:41

good question. i'm already thinking of greasing the skids w/some sort of wax so i'll be able to make the transfer from trailer to dolly and that will of course make it even more difficult to keep that sr4 from sliding clean off.
any ideas beyond just double lashing it with ratcheting straps??