Positioning SIB on trailer

[slipperyox]

I have recently kitted out a trailer with 2 HDPE runners for a sib.

However, due to a screwup, I can't widen the runner boards wide enough to sit the tubes central on...

The current setup is one tube on a runner, and the aluminium floor beading on the other runner...

Will this suffice?
Its a honwave 3.5 alu floor...

[Steve509926]

It isn't ideal. However, looking at your pictures, why can't you unbolt where I've marked and make the span wider?

[slipperyox]

problem is the front ones are at their max...

[tinker]

Turn the brackets 180 and.you will get another inch or.2.

[chipko]

If anything you need to reduce the width. Best to position both bunks under floor and tight up to the tubes, just like in your first pic. Also ensure bunks extend under transom for support if you intend to tow with motor mounted.

[User name]

It looks like it'll sit nicely on the floor seam if centred. It doesn't need to be centred on the tube itself.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by chipko

If anything you need to reduce the width. Best to position both bunks under floor and tight up to the tubes, just like in your first pic. Also ensure bunks extend under transom for support if you intend to tow with motor mounted.

Agree!

They should stick out past the transom to fully support it. If towing with an outboard attached I like to have a "transom saver" to put a large portion of the outboard weight onto the trailer directly. Even use one on my current RIB.

The bunks should have nice rounded corners too. Sanding or my preference using a router to soften the edges. Totally disputable, but I like carpet on soft bottom inflatable to give a little cushion to the fabric.

Are you sure that is HDPE? Looks like some form of plastic decking material with the tongue and grove.

This setup worked for my previous boat.

[slipperyox]

thanks all.
Floor it is then.
It is HDPE, but yes a tongue and groove version.
I'll route a curve to the edge and go again .
The bunks down go back to transon, but I dont carry an outboard on it anyway.

[slipperyox]

Another query regards floor support..
Floor inflated or not?
The honwave has a central sausage that inflated to create the V...

[chipko]

I’d recommend sausage keel deflated whilst on the trailer. Floor is stretched drum tight when inflated and long term storage on the bunks will stretch it. The last thing you want is a soggy bottom!

Would also recommend keeping tubes inflated at 50 to 75% pressure to keep firm and allowing for any solar gain/ temperature fluctuations.

[Peter_C]

I always deflate my boats to a basically zero pressure, to the point they start to loose shape in the cold and take form during hot weather. Same with the keel and speed tubes when I had a Zodiac. *shrugs* Also loosen straps to zero pressure, especially anything that is glued to the boat tubes as the glue can come loose over time from heat.

One thing that may be required moving the bunks inboard to the bend where the floor meets the tubes is the bunks may need to have a little angle to match the transom. This may or may not be possible as is. If not currently possible it could be accomplished by grinding a longer slot where the U-bolts go thru at the mount. I would use an air power die grinder, but an old skool rat tail hand file will get the job done.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

I always deflate my boats to a basically zero pressure, to the point they start to loose shape in the cold and take form during hot weather. Same with the keel and speed tubes when I had a Zodiac. *shrugs* Also loosen straps to zero pressure, especially anything that is glued to the boat tubes as the glue can come loose over time from heat.

One day you'll have to visit the UK Peter - "hot weather" & "heat" are words that are slowly disappearing from the English vocabulary.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

One day you'll have to visit the UK Peter - "hot weather" & "heat" are words that are slowly disappearing from the English vocabulary.

Well we did pass thru the UK on our way to Berlin a couple weeks ago, but never stepped outside the airport. Normandie was windy and cold, but now we are in the Southwest of France where it is hot. I'll be digging two ditches tomorrow so I can eat more of my favorite cheese. Hiked around the hills for 17km yesterday after eating too much.

Had a great time in Arromanches with new friends from the UK and a Dutch guy that joined our group. We talked about everything under the sun. I got asked a lot of questions about politics, and was quite surprised by the discussion. Fortunately we all seemed to have some great boating stories to laugh at each other.

At some point I would like to visit the UK. Though if they are from Aberdeen I might keep asking "Could you please repeat that I can't understand you with your accent", as I said to the guy next to me on the airplane multiple times.

To Allies

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Well we did pass thru the UK on our way to Berlin a couple weeks ago, but never stepped outside the airport. Normandie was windy and cold, but now we are in the Southwest of France where it is hot. I'll be digging two ditches tomorrow so I can eat more of my favorite cheese. Hiked around the hills for 17km yesterday after eating too much.

Had a great time in Arromanches with new friends from the UK and a Dutch guy that joined our group. We talked about everything under the sun. I got asked a lot of questions about politics, and was quite surprised by the discussion. Fortunately we all seemed to have some great boating stories to laugh at each other.

At some point I would like to visit the UK. Though if they are from Aberdeen I might keep asking "Could you please repeat that I can't understand you with your accent", as I said to the guy next to me on the airplane multiple times.

To Allies

Enjoy your trip. Did you visit the 360 Cinema in Arromanches?

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Enjoy your trip. Did you visit the 360 Cinema in Arromanches?

Thanks! Got only one ditch dug in the hard rock infested dirt today for the sister in-laws house to move water away from it. Did break a pick handle and being in France is nothing like the USA where hardware stores like Home Depot are open from 6:00am-10:00pm most every day. Good exercise, but I wished I had my mini excavator the whole time.

We have an infant that had his 1st birthday today, and we didn't think the 360 movie was appropriate, especially since we have a zero screen time policy (Which doesn't work very well on an airplane). I was bummed to miss the movie, and yet we stayed in a nice ladies house right at the bottom of the hill. She offered to babysit, but timing didn't line up.

[Steve509926]

Sorry Peter, I'm on a shitty stag do in Blackpool (don't ask) and I can't even comprehend what planet your on! bur it sounds much more interesting than Blackpool!

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Sorry Peter, I'm on a shitty stag do in Blackpool (don't ask) and I can't even comprehend what planet your on! bur it sounds much more interesting than Blackpool!

Sorry Steve, I don't speak "English" I speak "American"?? Had to look up what you meant. Reddit was not kind to Blackpool, and it has a reputation of a place I wouldn't even want to visit

I am biased, but France has lovely ladies and with hot weather there is a lot to admire. My wife, sister, and friends were out until 2:00am dancing last night I on the other hand was on daddy duty, and missed out, so you could say the boy and I were stag last night.

The wife wants to buy a house here in France, but I think I have her convinced it is easier to stay with her parents or sister. I like to visit, but want to live in California, where there are oceans to scuba dive in and lots of boating adventures to go on. Plus it would be best to invest in a rental property nearby to our home for performing repairs and dealing with tenants. Although I did say she could buy her aunts very old stone house on a nice piece of property. It needs a lot of work though.

Here are some of the folks that were visiting Arromanches from the UK. I'd never seen so many American WWII vehicles at once. The little tank thingy in the background is British though.

[User name]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Here are some of the folks that were visiting Arromanches from the UK. I'd never seen so many American WWII vehicles at once. The little tank thingy in the background is British though.
https://www.rib.net/forum/attachment...1&d=1717931298
https://www.rib.net/forum/attachment...1&d=1717931230

Looks like a British Daimler Dingo. A sort of cute little armoured car rather than a tank. Love the Willies Jeep though. Such an iconic shape.

[slipperyox]

Tour France most summers on my motorcycle, and love it.
Will probably buy somewhere there before retirement, but the property tax can be insane pending on address.