Launching a Large SIB

[farooqmoazzam]

Hello experts!
I just purchased a 4.7m (15'4") SIB with aluminum floor. Haven't used it yet. I purchased a bigger one because I thought it will be more stable (!)

With floor it's heavy 250 lbs/110 kg.

I'm now wondering if it's practical or possible to launch it from the BEACH with transom by two persons. At some places the water line is less than 50m from the street and the sand is compact other than a stretch of 3ft/1m.

(Background info: Oman has a very long coastline with fishing as a traditional profession for many. But unfortunately equipment for leisure amateur boating isn't easily available. Not even a launching trolley.)

Is it feasible to launch with transom wheels or does it need another solution?
Thanks

[jeffstevens763@g]

I found that the transom wheels are too far back with a large boat so you’re lifting most of the boat so I trailer it much easier but you can use a bow dolly which is basically a third wheel to support the weight.

Welcome

[TmMorris]

You'd probably want good quality wheels and maybe consider carrying the motor to the water?

My 4m is 66kg and the engine 24kg. With tank and kit it's probably 110kg+ and it's fine on reasonable wheels but I'm not convinced it would the wheels would take much more and did beef them up by slotting solid aluminium rods through the stub axles.

Being nearly 5m and 110kg it'll be reasonable graft for one person.

[farooqmoazzam]

Originally Posted by TmMorris

You'd probably want good quality wheels and maybe consider carrying the motor to the water?

My 4m is 66kg and the engine 24kg. With tank and kit it's probably 110kg+ and it's fine on reasonable wheels but I'm not convinced it would the wheels would take much more and did beef them up by slotting solid aluminium rods through the stub axles.

Being nearly 5m and 110kg it'll be reasonable graft for one person.

Thanks for the ideas. Outboard is Mariner 15 hp 2 stroke about 42 kg. Waterline is fortunately only one-minute walk.

[HDAV]

Trailer made from an old axle and some timber/steel? Sand (especially soft sand is hard work, guess not much tide? Rise and fall of water level?

How will you transport bot? Deflated in car?

[farooqmoazzam]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

I found that the transom wheels are too far back with a large boat so you’re lifting most of the boat so I trailer it much easier but you can use a bow dolly which is basically a third wheel to support the weight.

Welcome

Thank you. Yes that's what I thought that it the wheels at the extreme rear then we need to lift to entire weight.
Even a bow dolly isn't readily available. I'll need to import it or ask someone to make it.

Are transom wheels that curl under the boat going to work better? I can try to get custom made with longish arms, if that can help?

[farooqmoazzam]

Not much tide and many beaches are very calm like a lake most of the time.
Yes. I was planning to transport deflated, although it takes a lot of space in my vehicle (Ford Explorer).
Probably larger SIBs defeat the purpose of having an inflatable boat).
As a last resort, I may ask someone to make a light trailer. But that will requires some convincing. Here people who know trade here usually don't want to do any newish work. I needed to ask more than 10 blacksmiths to make a simple outboard trolley!

[farooqmoazzam]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Trailer made from an old axle and some timber/steel? Sand (especially soft sand is hard work, guess not much tide? Rise and fall of water level?

How will you transport bot? Deflated in car?

Not much tide and many beaches are very calm like a lake most of the time.
Yes. I was planning to transport deflated, although it takes a lot of space in my vehicle (Ford Explorer).
Probably larger SIBs defeat the purpose of having an inflatable boat!

As a last resort, I may ask someone to make a light trailer. But that will requires some convincing. Here people who know trade here usually don't want to do any newish work. I needed to ask more than 10 blacksmiths to make a simple outboard trolley!

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by farooqmoazzam

Not much tide and many beaches are very calm like a lake most of the time.
Yes. I was planning to transport deflated, although it takes a lot of space in my vehicle (Ford Explorer).
Probably larger SIBs defeat the purpose of having an inflatable boat!

As a last resort, I may ask someone to make a light trailer. But that will requires some convincing. Here people who know trade here usually don't want to do any newish work. I needed to ask more than 10 blacksmiths to make a simple outboard trolley!

I guess the real question is why such a large sib and not a hard boat? Or put sib on roof of explorer drive to waters edge unload sib and mount motor 1m from water bow on water transom on sand and then heave!!!!

[909]

I launch from a beach without transom wheels all the time.

Use google maps satellite view and find a spot where you can park close to the water. If you can't park close, at least get the car as close to the water as you can...drop everything off... then park the car wherever you want. The goal is to drop off all your heavy gear as close to the water as possible, reducing the distance you have to manually carry everything.

From the drop off spot , carry all the equipment as close to the water's edge as possible, and setup on the beach. Carry the boat , outboard, floorboards separately. As long as the parts are separate, it's possible for one person manage everything by himself without transom wheels.

Inflate the boat, put it in the water and drop an anchor. Load the outboard while your boat is in the water, connect your gas and you're good to go.

Reverse the process to pack up. Simple.

[TmMorris]

Originally Posted by farooqmoazzam

Thanks for the ideas. Outboard is Mariner 15 hp 2 stroke about 42 kg. Waterline is fortunately only one-minute walk.

My typo last night. My put out is 34kg. A Mariner 15 2 stroke.

If you need to get all the metal parts fabricated then can you get the car down to the waterline and put everything together?

Hyperlon beach rollers might be of use in some conditions?

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by farooqmoazzam

Thank you. Yes that's what I thought that it the wheels at the extreme rear then we need to lift to entire weight.
Even a bow dolly isn't readily available. I'll need to import it or ask someone to make it.

Are transom wheels that curl under the boat going to work better? I can try to get custom made with longish arms, if that can help?

My wheels did point under the boat still very heavy

[billows]

With transom wheels you will be lifting roughly half the boat weight assuming the boat is uniform, which of course it isn't. With two, one can lift the bow and the other push from the rear.

[Poly]

My boat is a similar weight to that. It might be theoretically possible on the perfect beach to move it - but as soon as you put an engine on it, or fuel tank and gear in it you will go from maybe being able to do something if you are lucky/careful to having no hope. If you happen to take a wave over the back you’ll need to bail it out to move etc …. Don’t do it!

There are some folding trolleys around that might be better (and hassle of import may be easier than getting made locally) but I’d still want to be able to pull out with the car for those days you have the engine on a few buckets of water in the bilge and anything other than a perfect slipway!

[farooqmoazzam]

Originally Posted by HDAV

I guess the real question is why such a large sib and not a hard boat? Or put sib on roof of explorer drive to waters edge unload sib and mount motor 1m from water bow on water transom on sand and then heave!!!!

That's a very valid question! I opted for SIB because of easy storage and mobility, but a large SIB isn't really easy to carry and assemble. If one must use a trailer then why not a hard boat... Which can be even pushed into water with the car.

I thought of the roof but lifting that size/weight at over 6 feet height is challenging. And unlike kayaks or rigid boats, it's not rigid enough to slide.

[farooqmoazzam]

Originally Posted by Poly

My boat is a similar weight to that. It might be theoretically possible on the perfect beach to move it - but as soon as you put an engine on it, or fuel tank and gear in it you will go from maybe being able to do something if you are lucky/careful to having no hope. If you happen to take a wave over the back you’ll need to bail it out to move etc …. Don’t do it!

There are some folding trolleys around that might be better (and hassle of import may be easier than getting made locally) but I’d still want to be able to pull out with the car for those days you have the engine on a few buckets of water in the bilge and anything other than a perfect slipway!

Thank you! So a trolley looks like the best way.
Do you have any videos of your boat in public domain?

[farooqmoazzam]

Originally Posted by TmMorris

My typo last night. My put out is 34kg. A Mariner 15 2 stroke.

If you need to get all the metal parts fabricated then can you get the car down to the waterline and put everything together?

Hyperlon beach rollers might be of use in some conditions?

Yes, prolly getting it shipped could be easier. Thanks for the idea of the roller. I'll see if that's feasible.

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

My wheels did point under the boat still very heavy

Thanks for the feedback, so the curled ones aren't going to make much difference.

Originally Posted by billows

With transom wheels you will be lifting roughly half the boat weight assuming the boat is uniform, which of course it isn't. With two, one can lift the bow and the other push from the rear.

Thank you. Yes, I think I need to go and try it out.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by farooqmoazzam

Thank you! So a trolley looks like the best way.
Do you have any videos of your boat in public domain?

there will be pics/video of my boat on the site somewhere - its not a sib, its a 3.9m plastic hulled boat... she lives on a trailer.

[Ribstore]

Originally Posted by TmMorris

You'd probably want good quality wheels and maybe consider carrying the motor to the water?

My 4m is 66kg and the engine 24kg. With tank and kit it's probably 110kg+ and it's fine on reasonable wheels but I'm not convinced it would the wheels would take much more and did beef them up by slotting solid aluminium rods through the stub axles.

Being nearly 5m and 110kg it'll be reasonable graft for one person.

I'm not sure which wheels you have, but there are wheels which are rated for heavier than 110kg. Ceredi make a 200kg max weight set: https://www.ribstore.co.uk/products/...7eeeff60&_ss=r

[Limecc]

Faro, I was in your position. Large heavy SIB. Realising our mistake early and selling it for a RIB was the best thing ever.