Launching Wheels

[AdrianTurner]

Does anyone here have experience of using 'Waveline Dinghy Wheeler' launching wheels?



They look to be just what I need but my concern is whether they give enough ground clearance. A tad under 6 inches.
I would be using them on a 2.7m slatted deck SIB with a 4HP 2 stroke mounted on it. Main place for launch would be down a concrete slipway, short section of sand/pebbles and, depending on tide, a large expanse of frim wet sand.



All thoughts appreciated.

[Max...]

Forum consensus on these has always been they are a bit **** to be honest. Maybe for a short smooth glide on concrete but these type come a cropper on typical beaches, much better off with larger pneumatics or sand hopper types.

[Fenlander]

Yep as Max says....

They're noisy and plasticy... more suited to very smooth tarmac than bumpy concrete, sand, pebbles etc. Being such small diameter they tend to come to an abrupt stop if they hit the smallest undulation compared to even a smaller size rubber tyre.

Pretty well any stainless/alloy leg flip up type with pneumatic tyres would be better.

[AdrianTurner]

Originally Posted by Max...

Forum consensus on these has always been they are a bit **** to be honest. Maybe for a short smooth glide on concrete but these type come a cropper on typical beaches, much better off with larger pneumatics or sand hopper types.

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Yep as Max says....

They're noisy and plasticy... more suited to very smooth tarmac than bumpy concrete, sand, pebbles etc. Being such small diameter they tend to come to an abrupt stop if they hit the smallest undulation compared to even a smaller size rubber tyre.

Pretty well any stainless/alloy leg flip up type with pneumatic tyres would be better.

Thanks Guys, I keep looking.

[paddlers]

As above get the longer pneumatic type. The slip you show has an abrupt shelf at the bottom and it wouldn't take much to stop those small wheels. Also the longer legs give a lot more clearance for the outboard legTrem type on my 3.5 Honwave AE

[Mikefule]

I had something pretty similar on my previous boat. They were OK but not brilliant. I have pneumatic tyred wheels on detachable hinged legs on this boat and they are much easier to use. I wouldn't go back to the hard plastic ones.

[AdrianTurner]

Cheers guys, I like the look of these









as they do not protrude above the transom, anyone using them here.

[lightning]

Originally Posted by Max...

Forum consensus on these has always been they are a bit **** to be honest. Maybe for a short smooth glide on concrete but these type come a cropper on typical beaches, much better off with larger pneumatics or sand hopper types.

Not in my experience.
I have them on my 2.85m Zodiac and have used them dozens of times over five years.
In Cornwall it was a 100m along an unmade road to the water, in Scotland l had to pull it up a beach, across a verge and up a gravel path to where we were staying, in Norfolk it was across a large lawn to the water, in Windermere across a car park and down the jetty, at Loch Linnhe across a large gravel car park across the hotel garden and down a jetty....etc.

At all locations the engine was installed on the transom and the wheels worked great.
An added bonus is the SIB can still be rolled up and put in its bag without having to remove the wheels.

For a larger SIB or RIB yes the bigger wheels but for a small SIB the small dolly wheels are fine.

[kaman]

Yep Lightning I concur fully with your synopsis.
I think once you go much above 2.5m and 6hp you definitely need the large pneumatic wheels when going over gravel, sand and undulating surfaces.
I would use the small wheels on my Seago Eco 260 with Suzuki 2.5hp 4 stroke on the back but no way would I use them on my Honwave 3.5ae with a 20hp Tohatsu 4 stroke.

[Wozizname]

Originally Posted by AdrianTurner

Cheers guys, I like the look of these


Attachment 109352

Attachment 109353

Attachment 109354


as they do not protrude above the transom, anyone using them here.

I've the same and the brackets, tubing and mechanism are of good quality however the wheel bearings are a simple ball bearing type which you'll need to pack with marine grease to make them last any length of time.
You could re-bush the wheels with plastic inserts though

[AdrianTurner]

Thanks again guys , still not sure which to go for

Option 1: should suffice for my 2.7m + 4HP 2 stroke.

Originally Posted by kaman

Yep Lightning I concur fully with your synopsis.
I think once you go much above 2.5m and 6hp you definitely need the large pneumatic wheels when going over gravel, sand and undulating surfaces.
I would use the small wheels on my Seago Eco 260 with Suzuki 2.5hp 4 stroke on the back but no way would I use them on my Honwave 3.5ae with a 20hp Tohatsu 4 stroke.

Option 2: without doubt, more than capable but almost twice the price.

Originally Posted by Wozizname

I've the same and the brackets, tubing and mechanism are of good quality however the wheel bearings are a simple ball bearing type which you'll need to pack with marine grease to make them last any length of time.
You could re-bush the wheels with plastic inserts though

[AdrianTurner]

Wozizname
Are you able to roll the SIB up with wheels attached or do you need to detach them?

[kaman]

Adrian if it were me with the set up you described and if launching in the conditions you describe I would be happy enough using the plastic wheels.
A Sib and outboard of that size can be easily man handled by two adults without wheels.
I don't know your age or physical stature but I can easily carry my small slatted floor sib on my back tortoise style to the water.
The choice is yours.
I think the cheaper option would suffice for me - only you can make the call with regards to what's gonna work for you.

[Wozizname]

Mine are fitted to a folding RIB but I've owned a SIB and cannot foresee any problems with folding once the arm and wheel are removed.
The original assembly has a pivot bolt but to ease removal of the pivot I replaced it with an 8mm stainless pin like this

or you could replace the bolts nut with a stainless 'wing nut'.
As you can see the assembly is in good condition after 8-9 months salt water use, about the same amount of outings but hosed off afterwards.
Good bit of kit and if mounted low on the transom will allow the fitment of even larger wheels if required as shown here (middle and right assembly's)

Ignore the assembly on the left......or it maybe another alternative you may have overlooked......they weren't suitable for my set-up.

[duggie12]

Hi Adrian. I have these wheels on a 4m honwave and 15hp (140kilos ish in total) and find them great on a hard surface but useless in soft sand or whatever. But with the weight you'll be dealing with I think they'd be perfect. I don't find the clearance an issue and they are nice and small and fold up easily. Would def recommend them.

[AdrianTurner]

Originally Posted by duggie12

Hi Adrian. I have these wheels on a 4m honwave and 15hp (140kilos ish in total) and find them great on a hard surface but useless in soft sand or whatever. But with the weight you'll be dealing with I think they'd be perfect. I don't find the clearance an issue and they are nice and small and fold up easily. Would def recommend them.

Sorry duggie12 which wheels do you have,
these


or
these ?

[willk]

I use the wee crappy wheels on my 2.7m with a 26kg engine. They are fine on hard surfaces and hard sand. Absolutely useless on soft sand or any form of gravel. Which is OK as I launch off a slip and occasionally recover onto hard sand. I've used my set since 2010 and I've had to replace one "axle" pin with a stainless bolt. They suit me well as they roll up along with the boat.

[duggie12]

The top ones, the dolly type

[AdrianTurner]

thanks guys, you've all been a big help.

[jambo]

Ive had both and if you need to go over rough or soft sand get the big ones.


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