Folding launching trolley

Milgrip · 08 July 2013, 19:27

Has any sib owner had experience of one of these folding launching trolleys?

I have a 3.3mtr sib with a 9.9 Suzuki 4 stroke. The sib weighs 48kg and the engine another 39kg and wondered if this type of launching trolley, which appears to give minimal support to the hull, is suitable for sibs carrying this sort of weight?

One of my concerns lay with the narrow hull contact area of the two support snubbers on the rear axle. Surely with the weight of the sib and the engine, they would tear right through the pvc hull, or is it on those where the bottom of the transom should rest?

My other concern are the Pneumatic wheels, how long would the bearings (which are probably non existent) last? From the car to the slipway is approx 20 yards, with about 15 hopeful launch times a year.
Are replacement wheels easily available?

I’d appreciate any advice on this or recommendations and any modifications that you may have had success with.

Please do not advise me on launching wheels and or trailers. I have already looked into those thanks and would welcome your experience on these simple folding launching trolleys.

whisper · 08 July 2013, 19:28

Go for a set of good quality fold up launch wheels

John Kennett · 08 July 2013, 19:39

Just out of curiosity, why don't you want launching wheels?

I don't think you'll get a lot of feedback about folding trailers, because launching wheels work really well and that's what most people tend to use.

Milgrip · 08 July 2013, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Just out of curiosity, why don't you want launching wheels?

I don't think you'll get a lot of feedback about folding trailers, because launching wheels work really well and that's what most people tend to use.

Sorry guys, what I meant was I had done my research on launching wheels and trailers etc. and now would like your views (if any) on these folding launching trolleys.

I also did a search on this forum on this subject and did notice that on any request for info on launching trolleys almost always led to a discussion on launching wheels.

lockieboi · 08 July 2013, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milgrip

Sorry guys, what I meant was I had done my research on launching wheels and trailers etc. and now would like your views (if any) on these folding launching trolleys.

I also did a search on this forum on this subject and did notice that on any request for info on launching trolleys almost always led to a discussion on launching wheels.

I don't think you'll get many views on launching trollies simply because they're not that popular.
I have a 3.8 meter Aluminium floor SIB with a 15hp OB and can't think of any purpose where a launching trolley would be superior to launching wheels.

Is there a reason your drawn to the trolley over launching wheels?

ShinyShoe · 08 July 2013, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milgrip

Has any sib owner had experience of one of these folding launching trolleys?

I have a 3.3mtr sib with a 9.9 Suzuki 4 stroke. The sib weighs 48kg and the engine another 39kg and wondered if this type of launching trolley, which appears to give minimal support to the hull, is suitable for sibs carrying this sort of weight?

That's designed for a hard boat - sailing dinghy, rowing boat etc. Weight is probably fine, but the point stress on a fabric hull is probably a problem.

Quote:

One of my concerns lay with the narrow hull contact area of the two support snubbers on the rear axle. Surely with the weight of the sib and the engine, they would tear right through the pvc hull, or is it on those where the bottom of the transom should rest?

You'll never get it aligned with the transom.

Quote:

My other concern are the Pneumatic wheels, how long would the bearings (which are probably non existent) last? From the car to the slipway is approx 20 yards, with about 15 hopeful launch times a year.
Are replacement wheels easily available?

These are commonly used on sailing dinghy launch trolleys. Never seen a hub wear out. They use wheelbarrow wheels. You can get replacements. The rubber will perish first!
You wont be pushing it fast enough to create any heat on the hubs so wear is minimal.

Quote:

[FONT=Arial][COLOR=black][B]I’d appreciate any advice on this or recommendations and any modifications that you may have had success with.

If you could find a better way to distribute the load this might work.

Milgrip · 08 July 2013, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

I don't think you'll get many views on launching trollies simply because they're not that popular.
I have a 3.8 meter Aluminium floor SIB with a 15hp OB and can't think of any purpose where a launching trolley would be superior to launching wheels.

Is there a reason your drawn to the trolley over launching wheels?

Hi Lockieboi Thanks for your comments, but I, am not drawn to the trolley at all. (Mrs Milgrip might argue with this) and I appreciate that trolleys may not be popular.

I (she) just wanted to see if anyone had any views or comments on the folding launching trolley as I, (she) already has sufficient info on the launching wheels and trailers and I, (she), has nothing to say against them. (Apart from "wouldn't one of those folding launching trolleys be a sight easier for me (I) to pull the sib out of these slipway craters", than the wheels we have fitted at the moment). And if you ask what wheels we already have , I (she) will totally ignore the question.

With all due respect I (she), is simply asking out of pure interest about folding launching trolleys.

I (she) happens to have an enquiring nature, and is asking about those on this forum, who's opinion I and she respect, that may have bought folding launching trolleys and they (or their wives), views upon them.

Cheers guys.

prairie tuber · 09 July 2013, 00:39

If you will be launching and landing from smooth surfaced ramps/slipways, launching wheels would be much more handy. If you plan on moving the boat over rough terain (such as a portage trail) then a trolley with large turf tires would definitely have merit.

Pulling a boat with launching wheels by the bow handle over a rocky trail can put huge stressors on the transom. One way to reduce this however would be by running running some low stretch nylon webbing from as low on the launching wheel legs as possible up through the bow handle (forming a vee) and pulling on the strap rather than the bow handle.

When I see trolley or launching wheel pictures I save them for future reference (still trying to decide myself on what to go with). Below are some ideas that might help:

seasdes · 09 July 2013, 02:20

Ihave a JP MArine Patrol 3.8. I tried launching wheels. However the transom mounted wheels mean that the boat is front heavy. I then made up a trailer as shown earlier in the thread and the boat is nicelly balanced. The only problem was that the wheels were too small a dia which meant that they caught up on rocks and the ends of concrete ramps. The larger ballon type wheels (at least 400 mm dia) should be OK.

I decided for a number of other reasons to get a road registerable fold up trailer.
Hence I got the Real Ezy folding trailer that has independant suspension. Not cheap but life is now a lot easier.

Peter_C · 09 July 2013, 07:21

My launching wheels are 490mm, and do a pretty good job of floating across most any beach, and rocky river bed. If front end weight is an issue, a front dolly could always be used. That is what our local rescue boat uses for launching and recovery.

stray · 09 July 2013, 10:50

Hi, I have the exact same trolley to use with my 3.4 Zodiac Fastroller. It was modified by the previous owner to hold the sib better by extending the side holders with some Aluminium pipe and extending the handle with a curved teebar section for easier pulling.
This all works fine, But, I just use launch wheels because they are less of a faff ( even though the Zodiac ones are awkward to get off and on ) and I don't have to worry about leaving them on the beach.

Landlockedpirate · 09 July 2013, 13:01

Hi, I have a launching trolley rather than wheels. My main reason is my ability to buy a variety of different Sibs over the course of the season, using a trolley is just a lot easier than fitting wheels to them all

I find a trolley easier to pull than wheels, balance is better and the bigger wheels mean pulling it over a field or shingle beach is simpler. I also like the fact that once you drop the boat in there are no transom wheels to swing or remove.

The wheels wont wear out and if you have a problem they cost less than £10 on ebay.

Does a sib fit on a trolley ? Some do, some dont. If you are worried about the small contact points you can always fit bigger pads to spread the load, I dont bother but I do make sure the main support is around the transom area.

prairie tuber · 09 July 2013, 13:35

Peter C, Stray & Landlockedpirate:

Pictures Please!

Max... · 09 July 2013, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Peter C, Stray & Landlockedpirate:

Pictures Please!

+1

Milgrip · 09 July 2013, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Peter C, Stray & Landlockedpirate:

Pictures Please!

Me too

stray · 09 July 2013, 15:06

If you look at the first photo you can just see the modified handle and side bars. Second photo a better view of the side bar mod.

That's all you're getting, cause I'm off on my holidays in a couple of hours.

But I can't take the boat this year.

Milgrip · 09 July 2013, 15:32

Thanks for the images Stray, what a simple but effective idea!

Enjoy your hols & may the sun shine brightly.

secondopsman · 09 July 2013, 16:15

Have a look at pictures on post 13 and 14v here
http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/testing...0-46127-2.html
The T bar handle one the front was interchangeable for one with a towing hitch so I could use it on slipway if required.
I had similar issues and made one from box section and had it galvinised.
Worked really well.

Peter_C · 10 July 2013, 07:05

Here are a couple of mine...I wasn't planning on spamming the trolley thread with launching wheels

The key to making my boat mobile was being able to remove as much weight as possible quickly, before hauling it back up the beach.

Hopefully before long I can complete this project where the black wheelchair part will be used to drive the boat around on land. As shown it will be a beach cart for hauling my dive gear and me around.