Quicksilver option - any suggestions?

[Tonus]

Thanks for the advise Windsurfer - I'm going to go for the Air deck Quicksilver which will give me lightest setup and the best chance of easily handling it.

I've got a Trem bow trolly too which might be worth a go with the new boat as it has pretty chunky tyres... more pulling and less lifting and sinking I hope!

I'll keep the winch idea on the back burner - your thread is a good read...

[Fenlander]

Be really interesting to hear how the airdeck changes things for you... fingers crossed it does the trick.

Did you buy the same/similar bow trolley to mine?

[Tonus]

I think it will be a help getting me and whoever in the family is free out more. I had a feeling as soon as I bought the 435 Excel that it might be too big a first boat...



Yes Fenlander I bought the trolley after looking at yours and reading the threads... got it when I was considering pulling the setup to another slip 250m away, but I think it'll be useful down the line and worth trying across the shingle.

[Fenlander]

Are you going to try and get the handle bent up? I'd still like to do mine for a more natural height or my hand.

[Tonus]

Yeh I've got a mate who has a pipebender so might do that... The handle could do with being a foot longer I reckon.

I'm new to all this gear but anything I've seen from Trem looks really well made.

[Fenlander]

I looked into it and thought you'd need someone with the pipe benders for steel commercial wiring conduit and it's a rather short bit to get in the tool. The other option is to have someone make up a slightly longer handle bent up a bit and to fit back to the original with a sleeve and retaining pin. Then it could be taken off to go in the car to make more compact.

Be interested how you get on if you beat me to it.

[Tonus]

Haha I think you might be a little more practical with metalwork than me!
I think my trolley is faulty actually - the allen key bolt that should stop the top/D ring hook part from rotating doesn't work - you can tighten it but it still rotates... doesn't seem to affect the performance much though.

[Fenlander]

I've already modded that. I needed the minimum height to balance out the support between bow handle and where the bow rests on the forks so I cut down the D-ring stub pivot as short as possible and have replaced the allen grip bolt with a drilling right through and nut/bolt.

[Oldman2]

Where's the photo's please or it didn't happen I really like pictures to go with tech mods.

[Fenlander]

Like this, bolt goes right through with a self lock nut the other side.

[Fenlander]

>>>Where's the photo's please or it didn't happen

Response time 1 min!!

[Fenlander]

As supplied you can see the upsweep of the tube to the handle hook was longer and just with a grub screw to stop the hook lumping out.

[Oldman2]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>>Where's the photo's please or it didn't happen

Response time 1 min!!

Very good, I got the nut & bolt to stop it swiveling, it was the chopping down the D bit I was having trouble imagining.


Next time the boats hanging on the end can I see that too please, unless of course you have a "here is one I did earlier"

[Fenlander]

Yep here it is...

[Fenlander]

A totally unexpected feature of the Trem trolley was it takes our Zodiac OE transom wheels with puncture proof tyres as if made for the job. So once the boat's floating and the wheels are off Mrs F pops them on the trolley for an easy trundle to car/cottage. It's actually made it easier than when she'd have to carry the wheels back.

[Oldman2]

Thank you very much, all is clear now.

[Fenlander]

As shown here...

[Tonus]

Here's the un-modded trolley to compare...

[Limecc]

Initially fancied a F-rib myself but for our first boat went with an Excel 390 and found the same weight issues as you. Maybe they have an alloy hull boat that would work?

Moved a step closer to our ideal boat with a 4.2m rib and trailer, ok for me and mrs L but too tight for room with a couple of friends or family. Now that's been solved with a bigger boat but I can't handle the trailer single handed anymore. Downsides to all choices, have to prioritise what matters most I suppose..

[Tonus]

Yeh exactly - it's a balancing act. I only started boating this Summer so the learning curve has been huge but I'm really getting into it.
It's possible that this Air deck that I've ordered will take me too far the other way and be too light or suffer with vibration issues or something... but hey, you've got to dive in and make a few mistakes right?!

If I could have borrowed or got my hands on a few different boats it would have been so much easier to decide but as you say, your needs and circumstances can change too.


All the best


T