Launching wheels - Any thoughts?

[Flamair]

As I've posted elsewhere I own a Yamaha 310STI and am.currently using it with a 2 stroke 8hp Yam outboard. I've always managed without launch wheels as there has always been at least two of us but, for this year, think I may venture out solo from time to time. As such, what do you all recommend launching wheels wise? I don't want to go crazy cost wise. I'm looking at the Boatworld galvanised 220mm wheels at £49.99. They seem.very good value to me. Any great reason to not buy?

Most of.my.launching will be over shingle or down proper concrete ramps, mainly in the Lakes, but also river and possibly the odd estuary.

Any thoughts welcome.

[jeffstevens763@g]

i wouldn't go galv it wont last stainless much better IMO

[Fenlander]

Just looked at the website and they looked like aluminium and sure enough that's what it says in description. But... 220mm wheels are far too small for use in shingle and I'm not sure the legs are long enough to upgrade the wheel diameter.

[Flamair]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Just looked at the website and they looked like aluminium and sure enough that's what it says in description. But... 220mm wheels are far too small for use in shingle and I'm not sure the legs are long enough to upgrade the wheel diameter.

Thanks Fenlander.

What's the minimum sized wheel you'd consider suitable?

Though I don't want to go crazy money wise, I certainly don't want to go cheaper for s product that does not work.

Any recommendations?

[Steve509926]

I have C Tug wheels on my SD360 with a 15hp 4-stroke. Good on the hard stuff, sand, small and medium size shingle / pebles. Not so good on big pebbles.

Easy to stow away and don't impead the outboard when on the transom, and they won't rust.

https://www.cactusnav.com/railblaza-...UaApw8EALw_wcB

[Fenlander]

I'm not the shingle expert as we tend to avoid it but know when we encounter loose surfaces wheel dia and width are both important.

This is my current wheel selection (bit obsessive I know). The smallest are 250mm trolley wheels and I've had those on Zodiac launch wheels... they were not great in any sand or shingle.

The large yellow wheels are the current ones on my Aerotec legs. Lightweight puncture proof and will roll over most surfaces despite being quite narrow. About 350mm dia. Little/no buoyancy so easy to push under water.

The two conventional red wheels with air tyres are what I'd call standard size for strong transom wheels (360mm dia) and roll over most stuff but can still fall through shingle. Both are so buoyant they are hard to push down into the water.

The flat tread red one is a sandhopper of about 260mm dia. Not too bad on sand/shingle but hard work for longer road trundles... harsh on bumps and don't pull over kerbs or through potholes well. Pushes into water easily.

[Steve509926]

Just a few transom wheels David!

More wheels there than a certain "SR" claims to have SIBs

[Fenlander]

Perhaps sadly... but there are others however they didn’t bring anything more to the party so left them out for... errr... clarity. I love a wheel.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

......... I love a wheel.

That and fire brought man out of the Stone age

[Fenlander]

Don't get me started... I was an early adopter... this was the first wheel I could call my own passed onto me 61yrs ago... solid wood iron banded.

Hmm... hard wearing... puncture proof... minimal positive buoyancy... that gets me thinking..... I wonder??

[pumpkinking]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

that gets me thinking..... I wonder??

Fit two wooden ones to the rowlocks and BAM YER GAHT YERSAILF AH STEEEMURR!!

[Apeogre]

I came here today to look for this exact subject. I hadn’t thought about difficulty pushing underwater when trying to mount them.


I have an Excel 335 with a tohatsu 9.8 I’ll be managing solo most days mostly down ramps and the occasional sand beach. Any tips for wheels on this boat? I am also looking for more narrow wheel mounts as I want to mount a transducer on the transom. The railblaza wheels look great but look like they manage to take up a lot of real estate.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Apeogre

I came here today to look for this exact subject. I hadn’t thought about difficulty pushing underwater when trying to mount them.


I have an Excel 335 with a tohatsu 9.8 I’ll be managing solo most days mostly down ramps and the occasional sand beach. Any tips for wheels on this boat? I am also looking for more narrow wheel mounts as I want to mount a transducer on the transom. The railblaza wheels look great but look like they manage to take up a lot of real estate.

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to mount a transducer. Here's the C Tug fitted to my SD360.

[Fenlander]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Yes those larger 360mm dia air filled tyres take some pushing down and depending on the catch mechanism can also be a devil to "unlock" to fold back up (some you have to push down a bit to unclip before rotating upwards). That is why I've sought out wheels that have either a slight negative or slight positive buoyancy so they are easy to deal with in the water.

The first thing to decide is if you want transom wheels that flip up and stay on the boat or the type I prefer where you unclip and take back to car/tent/cottage/etc.

Whichever type you have I prefer those with upper and lower fixings to spread the load... some have their fixings over quite a small area of the transom.

My favourites of the generic types are the Trem models which can be had in flip up normal and heavier duty plus a version that is removed when on the water. My all time favourites are the Zodiac OE such as for my Aerotec which are super strong but do not flip.

Having said that there are a huge variety and mostly folks are happy with whatever they fit.

For my wheel journey (ha ha) see...

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/best-w...els-72495.html

[Fenlander]

Here is my crude but effective transducer mount next to the transom wheel leg.

[Apeogre]

Steve, thanks for the photos! How do you find wheeling them around?

Fenlander, I will be folding my boat up, so useful and stowable is key. Looks like a good setup. Thank you. Also, you have quite a fair number of wheels!

[Steve509926]

As #5 - good on hard stuff, packed sand, OK on small/medium shingle. Not good on big pebbles. Impossible over kerbs and they don't like pot holes.
I tend to use slips wherever I can. The rare occasion I've launched on a shingle/sand beach I've never had a problem.

[Apeogre]

Ah missed that. Perfect. Thanks

[Flamair]

Thanks for all that information !

I'm going to look at some bigger wheels than I originally thought. No point getting some that simply don't work, no matter how cheap! The Boat World stainless range looked good, but are again only 250mm wheels. These come in at £119 for the removable type. Im thinking these are a bit small as well.

I've also looked at the Trem wheels. Around £109 for the 560mm leg and 360mm tyre. But the one review I've read pretty much slates them as being poor quality and almost unfit for purpose. What are peeps' experiences? I've read decent comments on here about them. Do they come complete with bolts etc to install? I've found a lot of launching wheels don't seem to come with fittings which, to me, seems like a motorcycle being delivered without handlebars!

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to mount a transducer. Here's the C Tug fitted to my SD360.

I had a set of very similar wheels to those and all they did was pick up small stones that jammed in the gap between the wheel surface and 'frame' and stopping them from rotating. You then ended up just dragging them which was not good