Heaviest boat/engine for solo launching

[glasgowdan]

Using transom wheels, how heavy is your setup if you launch it off beaches solo?

Currently using my Yam310 (45kg) and tohatsu (26kg). I'm considering a Voltaire 390 or wolfstar KW370 so it's comfier to take the occasional fishing passenger, but I'd still be launching myself almost all the time.

These are both about 65kg... is that a sensible weight boat to pull up and down various sites on transom wheels? I don't mind two trips to bring the outboard and boat separately.

Thanks!

[KarlTX]

My setup weighs just about the same and I wouldn't go pound more (for myself)

Pulling the boat on transom wheels is not a problem, now loading the thing in/out of the car is another story.

I don't know your situation, but I live on second story. I keep my Achilles in a closet and outboard on a patio... loading this thing in to my car is a major workout and I do it 10-12 times a season.

65kg SIB is like 150lbs, that is a LOT of weight to manage yourself.

[pumpkinking]

I have a 50 kg Volante 330 and 23kg Suzuki 6hp plus assorted gubbins. I wanted the Volante 390 so badly but decided I absolutely couldn’t manage it without a trailer and that ain’t happening any time soon. I’m happy with my choice!

[glasgowdan]

I'd love to try someone's 65kg boat to see.

Maybe I should use mine and put an extra water-filled 20 litre water drum in it.

[KarlTX]

Originally Posted by glasgowdan

I'd love to try someone's 65kg boat to see.

Maybe I should use mine and put an extra water-filled 20 litre water drum in it.

Stack your outboard on top of your packed sib and try to lift it, thats how heavy its going to be...

[Peter_C]

Launching is not the issue, it is the recovery. I could launch a 500lb (227kg) by myself. It takes two people to recover it though. 3 if the beach has a sharp drop off.

With an electric winch with remote mounted on the trailer, single handling was was fully doable even on a steeper drop off.

This beach launch on Big River I was able to launch and recover myself, but recovery took effort.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Peter interested to see some shots of your electronics console fixing etc.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Peter interested to see some shots of your electronics console fixing etc.

The console worked great for my last boat. It was cut on a CNC out of 3/16" ABS, but could be done with a table saw or tracksaw, plus a router. It weighed 36 lbs, and could be removed in less than 30 seconds. Most of the time was spent unplugging everything (GPS's depth sounder/bilge pump/lights/VHF antenna/12volt connections to the outboard). Today I wouldn't use an AGM battery, instead Lithium. The AGM had 300CCA with 28Ah, and weighed 23lbs. The size of the battery is good, but the weight is not.

Here are a bunch of consoles in SIB's.
https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/nice-l...sib-49728.html

The orange tool box is the Save-a-boat-dive kit, with a flat ABS piece screwed on so it too slides into an HDPE plate, in case of a flip. Already have a Pelican case for the next boat, which is my current save-a-dive kit. Salt water goes everywhere when getting back into the boat, as our drysuits and gear bring gallons onboard.


I eventually put on a spring loaded latch and got rid of the bungee cord holding it.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Cheers nice compact set up thanks for posting

[Mikefule]

Zodiac 310, ply floor, 9.9 hp 4 stroke engine. Never have any difficulty recovering it solo laden with anchor box, fuel tank, bow bag and so on. With decent pneumatic tyres, it's mainly about balance rather than dead lifting the weight — unless the beach or slipway is very steep.

If you have a nose wheel and can find an attachment point further up the beach (e.g. a tow ball on your car) then a lot can be achieved with a long rope and some carabiners. When I recover my sailing dinghy, which is far heavier than my SIB, I improvise a 3:1 or 4:1 tackle and can pull the boat up easily.