What Size??

[Razorfish]

Hi all,

my 1st post so sorry if this is a common query.

I have been given a 12ft Avon SIB and need a trailer for it. What size do I need and is there a rule of thumb?

I know that it is obvious to get a trailer big enough but I don't want to buy/build one too big and heavy as I will mostly be launching on my own. And given the forum members wealth of experience I wonder if you could give me some sound advice on the smallest size that is both safe and easy to manover.

cheers!

[9D280]

welcome to ribnet!

The good thing about SIBS is they are nice & light, so no need to buy a huge trailer.

For the axle / suspension, you'll need to work out the weight of the boat, then add around 150KG for an unbraked trialer (unless you are towing with a Fiesta or similar, in which case check the car's max unbraked towing limit).

Not having towed a SIB myself, I'll leave it to the SIb owners to givce their thoughts, but there are plaenty of small ready to go trailers out there.

For what it;s woth, I looked at building my own for the rib, but when xcosted out, there was something like £50 in it by the time I had galvanised the frame & bought all the bits. That may be different for a lightweight unbraked one tho'.


As a thought, might also be worth looking at dinghy combi trailers.

[Razorfish]

thanks mate - I was thinking about building but came to the same conclusion as you.

Am I right in thinking that a small overhang is ok?

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Razorfish

Am I right in thinking that a small overhang is ok?

Not if you're trailering it with the engine fitted.

[9D280]

Yeah, you'll need to make sure the transom is supported if you trail with the engine on, but an overhang like toob cones or engine leg is OK.

Memory says you can have 1m beyond the lights before you get into extra marker lamps etc.

[Nos4r2]

This is going to sound very pikey, but if the sib was free,I assume you don't want to spend much and you're not:-
a)going to get the trailer wet
b)Not going to trailer with the engine on
c)not fussed how pretty it is

I'd be very tempted to knock one up out of an old caravan chassis.

I wouldn't do it for a rib, but for something as lightweight as a sib I can't see any real issue with it.