Launch wheels suitability - Page 3

gotchiguy · 03 April 2013, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

Looking forward to hearing first thoughts on build quality etc.

Went and picked them up today, they were delivered to the office yesterday. Very impressed with the build quality, they look absolutely excellent. All stainless, including all nuts and bolts which you can sometimes expect to be mild then create big rust stains. So hopefully none of those

Little bit worried that the bolts are not going to be long enough for the transom... I went for the max (50mm) option on them but that may not be long enough according to anchorhandler's pic, should have checked last time I was over there! The wheel bit is spring loaded meaning that if you hit a bump on land they wont pop up and if you hit a bump on water they wont fall out and down.

Any other questions don't hesitate to ask, I will do a little video when they're fitted.

IanH · 04 April 2013, 08:07

Thanks. That's really useful. I do have few quick questions...

I had realised that there was a spring from the install diagrams and have slight concern over the longevity of this.

1. Is the spring stainless steel and in your opinion, up to the long term job?
2. If I can't wash the boat down after every run, do you think that mud may ingress in the spring mechanism and when dry, cause it to seize?

I see you went for the solid tyres over pneumatic.

3. Do they still feel soft/rubber like a pneumatic tyre and not going to make the hard plastic sounding noise when run over brick paving?
4. Is there any squidge in the tyre that would make it better over soft surface?

Finally, I realise that you may have issue with length of bolts through transom.

5. If my transom is about 25mm thick, is there anything (dome of nut etc) to stop me going slightly over long (30mm) on the bolt length rather than risking being slightly too short and going with 25mm length.

Thanks

Ian

Gotchidad · 04 April 2013, 16:12

1. Only time will tell with that to be honest really. It's only a smallish diameter spring but it isn't being stretched a whole lot relative to its length so I can't see it wearing out very quickly, depends how much you use them I suppose! Can't see it very well, but yes, it does look stainless like the rest, I would be very surprised if it wasn't.
2. Doubt it, our sib is washed down once a year but I can't see it being an issue. Just brush it off with a brush once it's dried when you get home if you're really worried.
3. Definitely not going to make the hard plastic noise, think they were the best option because there will be no risk of puncture and the colour scheme matched the boat better!
4. Yes there is a little bit of squidge, it isn't hard plastic at all. Feels quite durable though.
5 I reckon you're best off just getting the 25mm one, the gap between the front plate and the rear rubber seal is exactly 50mm on ours, before you loosen the nut from max which it clearly would be when fitted.

I am a little worried about the length of the bolts but we will have to see how it goes, I'll offer it up in two weeks time and see if it's going to fit. We have always glanced at launching wheels in chandlers but could never find a set that fitted our needs... Either they were useless little hard plastic things which would a) break and b) be useless or the big metal pneumatic ones which would be a pain to remove each time now we mainly use the cadet as a tender to the RIB. These ones really are well built and fit the bill.

(Gotchiguy)

IanH · 04 April 2013, 18:39

Was it pictures from http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/zodiac-...ess-53375.html where you got >50mm thick transom? If so, looks to be <25mm in which hopefully would allow you to trim the bolts to length and recut the thread if needed with a die (from tap and die set).

gotchiguy · 04 April 2013, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

Was it pictures from http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/zodiac-...ess-53375.html where you got >50mm thick transom? If so, looks to be <25mm in which hopefully would allow you to trim the bolts to length and recut the thread if needed with a die (from tap and die set).

Sorry I don't understand what you mean? Our bolts are about 55mm but if the transom is 50mm then it's going to be just....not sure grinding down to 25mm is going to be in order!

IanH · 04 April 2013, 19:11

You mentioned above that you got transom dimensions from anchor handler. I tracked what I think was that post down (linked in my above post) and his images show transom thickness approx 23mm if I am not mistaken, ie 50mm bolts are way too long.

gotchiguy · 05 April 2013, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

You mentioned above that you got transom dimensions from anchor handler. I tracked what I think was that post down (linked in my above post) and his images show transom thickness approx 23mm if I am not mistaken, ie 50mm bolts are way too long.

You're right. I thought that his measurements were in inches when they are actually cm!

Stupid french.....

Well looks as if I'll be testing out the returns policy next week then.....

Erin · 05 April 2013, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

You're right. I thought that his measurements were in inches when they are actually cm!

Stupid boy.....

Don't you have hacksaws in France?

gotchiguy · 22 April 2013, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Don't you have hacksaws in France?

They were only tapped to a certain length and we don't have any means to retap, not least because it's stainless. More bad news though, I sent back the whole assembly but they only sent the brackets!!

IanH · 26 April 2013, 11:03

Omitting the mixup over transom thickness and incorrect return, would you still recommend these wheels?

I'm hopefully in a position to buy these now and they are the last significant* purchase that I need to make before being good to go.

* insurance and harbour fees excluded.

gotchiguy · 26 April 2013, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

Omitting the mixup over transom thickness and incorrect return, would you still recommend these wheels?

I'm hopefully in a position to buy these now and they are the last significant* purchase that I need to make before being good to go.

* insurance and harbour fees excluded.

From what I saw of the complete ones they are really well made and all stainless. You can see from the pictures I took that they do look the part. Obviously I haven't actually fitted them yet but I wouldn't hesitate to get them if I was you

IanH · 26 April 2013, 18:49

Thanks. I'm going to double check my transom thickness and order over the weekend.

gotchiguy · 26 April 2013, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

Thanks. I'm going to double check my transom thickness and order over the weekend.

Do it in cm, conversions lead to headaches!

IanH · 26 April 2013, 19:25

I think I will post them an image and tell them what boat it is so they can confirm my reckoning of 25mm. They will know how much the gasket will need.

Did you go for 25mm in the end for your Zodiac?

gotchiguy · 26 April 2013, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

I think I will post them an image and tell them what boat it is so they can confirm my reckoning of 25mm. They will know how much the gasket will need.

Did you go for 25mm in the end for your Zodiac?

Yes I have done now. Don't know what you mean about the gasket, it's just a standard piece of rubber but it should do the job

Was planning to fit these myself but only if I have the right drill bit....

gotchiguy · 30 April 2013, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Yes I have done now. Don't know what you mean about the gasket, it's just a standard piece of rubber but it should do the job

Was planning to fit these myself but only if I have the right drill bit....

This is turning into a right old saga. I've got wheels, I've got brackets and I;ve got a boat to put them on, but I ain't got no bolts to fix them together..

Precious Little's Got No Water - Come Fly With Me Episode 4 Preview - BBC One - YouTube

IanH · 30 April 2013, 20:15

Well I ordered mine today. Fingers crossed...

IanH · 07 May 2013, 16:22

Mine arrived today. Think they took 6 days to arrive, mostly sitting in German export centre by the looks of it.

They do look really nicely made. Cost me just over £140 by time PayPal dealt with the FX transaction.

If anyone is considering the PU wheels and intend to store their boat folded, the wheel covers would be very useful as I had ordered as there is a note in the instructions about not storing PU in contact with PVC for extended periods of time as the PVC may discolour.

I hope to fit in a few days.

JCW · 07 May 2013, 18:16

Thanks for the information Ian. I have ordered a PU set with covers for my 25mm zodiac transom. If they turn up this week I will fit them.

IanH · 10 May 2013, 13:08

Fitted mine this morning. Pretty easy job. Large set square, pencil, ruler, 8mm wood drill and 13mm spanner.

They did not mention a sealant to use but came with a large grommet behind each plate. Do you recommend me adding a sealant too, if so, what type?

Have not played much with them up, but couple of comments with them down.

My engine is fractionally too low so the skeg touches the ground on tilt angle 1. However, I think my engine is too low (I'm going to start another threat on that one) so that its probably not going to be an issue.

Whilst the wheel/rotate mechanism is sprung loaded, the hinge unit is not. Once weight is on the wheel its not a problem, but not sure about going over kerbs.

Other than that, they look really good.