Making my own launch wheels, have materials questions.

[Wild_Bill]

The Zodiac-brand wheels look nice, but the price makes my eyes water. I've resolved to make my own. I plan on making the legs from 1.25 inch stainless square-section tubing. Can anyone tell me what thickness of steel I should be using (10-14 gauge)?

[Peter_C]

Size of tyres, design, mounting, weight of boat, planned type of surfaces for rolling over, all factor into the necessary thickness. No way would I go less than 10 gauge, but I am probably the wrong person to ask, as I overbuild most everything. I used 3/16" for the mounts and the legs, but I have 19" (49cm) tyres, that requires very long legs. My axles are 1" x 1/4". I spent waaaay more than a pair of Zodiac wheels, but there is really nothing made to roll my heavy boat across a soft sand beach. Building is not always cheaper.

What do you plan to use for tyres? Got a link to the tyres? Axle size? How do you plan on mounting them to the boat?

[steco1958]

shame you not in the UK, I have a set in my loft !!

[jep49]

I am just making some for my sib.Instead of using U tube and swiveling upwards i am like you using 2 tubes, one sliding inside the other, with some kond of lock pin. keeping the wheels out of the water when up limits the size of the wheels and the outer tube. But stronger than U tube, and as you say , far cheaper.

[XP_Dude]

Originally Posted by steco1958

shame you not in the UK, I have a set in my loft !!

If you're looking to get rid I will take them off you.
Let me know what you'd like for them.
Cheers.

[Wild_Bill]

OK, I ended up with 1.5 inch x 0.12 inch T-316 stainless square tube. Heavy-azz shiznit. I learned that T-316 stainless is more corrosion resistant than the more common type 304 stainless, and therefore preferred for marine applications.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_steel_grades

[Hightower]

316 Stainless for marine applications all the way!

I made a pair of launching wheels for my SIB a few years ago.

Couple of pneumatic jockey wheels from eBay and square box section ss with a U shaped bracket for it to sit in. This added sideways stability when moving the boat around and provided a position in which to drill the hole for the hinge.

I profiled a special "key" shaped hole in the box section to enable the hinge to drop in to a slot and lock in to position but to still provide rotational movement to the leg.

Inside and hidden from view is a length of bungee cord. This attaches between the wheel bolt and hinge to provide tension and thus stops the leg from falling out of position.

[Wild_Bill]

Nice work.