Seamax wheels -first impressions

[Pikey Dave]

Finally got around to fitting the Seamax wheels to the new Volaire that replaced Piglet.
First impressions:-
They are much better quality than the original pressed stainless steel affairs that were fitted to the original Piglet. The construction feels quality & reassuring.
There’s much more adjustment available to ensure a setup to suit most situations.
I still had to make a packer to go between the transom & the wheel mounts, this is an issue with the Volaire rather than the wheels. I could have avoided the need for a packer if I’d been happy to use the lower angled locking position (see photo). Using a packer also allowed me to lower the mounts over the edge of the fabric tape on the base of the transom. The packs also provided a mounting point for the sounder transducer.
There’s still a noticeable amount of lateral play in the legs, but that’s down to the number of components & clearances, not an issue, just offends my engineer OCD.
I had to source longer fixings than the ones supplied to take into account the thick Excel transom & the 20mm packers.
I used Amazon international for the wheels £186 all in including delivery & duty from Canada.
I use Westfield Fixings for my nut & bolt requirements, very good service & selection.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Finally got around to fitting the Seamax wheels to the new Volaire that replaced Piglet.
First impressions:-
They are much better quality than the original pressed stainless steel affairs that were fitted to the original Piglet. The construction feels quality & reassuring.
There’s much more adjustment available to ensure a setup to suit most situations.
I still had to make a packer to go between the transom & the wheel mounts, this is an issue with the Volaire rather than the wheels. I could have avoided the need for a packer if I’d been happy to use the lower angled locking position (see photo). Using a packer also allowed me to lower the mounts over the edge of the fabric tape on the base of the transom. The packs also provided a mounting point for the sounder transducer.
There’s still a noticeable amount of lateral play in the legs, but that’s down to the number of components & clearances, not an issue, just offends my engineer OCD.
I had to source longer fixings than the ones supplied to take into account the thick Excel transom & the 20mm packers.
I used Amazon international for the wheels £186 all in including delivery & duty from Canada.
I use Westfield Fixings for my nut & bolt requirements, very good service & selection.
Attachment 143883Attachment 143884Attachment 143885Attachment 143886Attachment 143887

More photos
This would have avoided the need for a packer

I used the mounting fixings to fix the plate for rod holder & fuel filter, this is a quick detach for when we pack her up.

[User name]

Love the little details on the packer. 99% of people would have just bolted it over the fabric and called it done.

[Steve509926]

Look really good, very neat PD. The wheels look excellent quality.

I think you have done the right thing using a packer. The wheels sit further under the transom which will balance things much better.

When the wheels are raised, do they clear the spray fillets or just push them to the side slightly?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Look really good, very neat PD. The wheels look excellent quality.

I think you have done the right thing using a packer. The wheels sit further under the transom which will balance things much better.

When the wheels are raised, do they clear the spray fillets or just push them to the side slightly?

If I use the “off vertical” position, they are clear, this also gives more space in the boat.

[Steve509926]

They look as though they will give a lot of ground clearanceeven with the leg of the OB down.

Be good to hear your views after using them in action.

[Brinormeg]

Yes……another transom wheel thread to brighten my early Sunday morning up.

But seriously though…..a very tidy job PD.

I figure the use of packers was the best idea
In my head there would be less force on the legs sitting straight up and down rather than at an angle.

My curved excel ones are rubbing underneath the sib air floor now so need to do something before next year. I could turn them around the other way, but it’s just a matter of time before they collapse I feel!

Yours seem to have more clearance and can always be adjusted higher too if needed (if I’m correct in the way I thing they can be extended)?
Is it just a spring push pin for that adjustment or are they bolted somehow?
Is some of the play you speak of coming from there, and could an extra bolt of some sort tighten everything up a bit?

When I bought my sib I asked Terry to fit the wheel spacers, which they did with box section, functional……but do look a bit pants compared to your efforts.
Your spacer design definitely look much better, especially with the nice touch of having the curve behind the trans to mimic that of the wheel bracket.

Where did you get the packers?
The last similar looking stuff I bought off eBay for a project was ok, but it was a bugger to work with as it was so slippy.

Be interesting to see how you get on with them and if you can deploy them from within with the sib which is something we were after.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Brinormeg

Yes……another transom wheel thread to brighten my early Sunday morning up.

But seriously though…..a very tidy job PD.

I figure the use of packers was the best idea
In my head there would be less force on the legs sitting straight up and down rather than at an angle.

Agreed

My curved excel ones are rubbing underneath the sib air floor now so need to do something before next year. I could turn them around the other way, but it’s just a matter of time before they collapse I feel!

Yours seem to have more clearance and can always be adjusted higher too if needed (if I’m correct in the way I thing they can be extended)?
Is it just a spring push pin for that adjustment or are they bolted somehow?
Is some of the play you speak of coming from there, and could an extra bolt of some sort tighten everything up a bit?
[I]Yup, the adjustment is a spring loaded push button. The play is mostly the clearance between the mounting bracket & the leg, there's not much to be done about it tbh. It could be shimmed out, but that would add complication when fitting/removing the legs for packing away. If the legs were going to stay on permanently, I could get rid of the play.[/I]

When I bought my sib I asked Terry to fit the wheel spacers, which they did with box section, functional……but do look a bit pants compared to your efforts.
Your spacer design definitely look much better, especially with the nice touch of having the curve behind the trans to mimic that of the wheel bracket.

Where did you get the packers?
The last similar looking stuff I bought off eBay for a project was ok, but it was a bugger to work with as it was so slippy.

I used 10mm ABS sheet for the packers. This is used in industrial electrical installations for mounting switches & joint boxes on to. I used to fish offcuts & scrap pieces out of the Sparky's skips when I worked on-site.
It's a pleasure to work with, it machines well, is easy to glue & cleans up well with MEK

Be interesting to see how you get on with them and if you can deploy them from within with the sib which is something we were after.

I'll let you know when we've had chance to try them in anger. Might have a run up to Ullswater later in the year if the weather holds

[jeffstevens763@g]

Very neat job Dave

[Pikey Dave]

While I was on a roll, there was another itch I had been waiting to scratch.

[Fenlander]

Did you make that yourself? As I said in my recent day out thread ours has been life changing for me making any length of trundle effortless.

[Peter_C]

Nice plastic fabrication skills! I have a love/hate relationship with plastic as I love working with it, but hate the environmental impact, but dust collection limits that. One can do so much more with plastic than wood.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Did you make that yourself? As I said in my recent day out thread ours has been life changing for me making any length of trundle effortless.

I made the plastic bit that fits in the outboard trolley. The trolley came off eBay a couple of years back. I’ve kept looking at the trolley & thinking it wouldn’t be a big job to make it dual purpose. So I set to today.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

Nice plastic fabrication skills! I have a love/hate relationship with plastic as I love working with it, but hate the environmental impact, but dust collection limits that. One can do so much more with plastic than wood.

I know how you feel, I like working with most materials, metal/wood/plastic, all my plastic materials are scavenged/up cycled/reclaimed.

[Tonus]

I've launched twice with my Seamax wheels and they are the business. No issues so far. Yesterday I deployed them while on the water and they are the easiest yet.
Rolled them over loose stones to get to the slip and they were solid. They are just 'under the boat' enough to counter balance the engine a fair bit.

[Nasher]

These do look a bit like the ultimate set of wheels.
And a really lovely job you've done of installing them.

Might need to look at sourcing a pair.

[ManxJason]

I've purchased 3 sets of these wheels.. and have had hands-on with 3 others sets most commonly available online.

The Seamax wheels are far superior to any others I've seen on the market. The fact that they come with a full technical specification and safety info, is a great start - unlike many others. They're rated to 270KG, unlike the Talamex clone which are only rated to 120KG.

Genuinely I wouldn't use any other wheels, unless I was really strapped for cash or had a much lighter outfit.

In fact I did an installation video on them: https://youtu.be/L903Wwp9JN4

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I use Westfield Fixings for my nut & bolt requirements, very good service & selection.

There's no way you need to BUY nuts and bolts, did your shed get stolen?

[Pikey Dave]

Sod’s Law, never have the size/head type you need

[paddlers]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Sod’s Law, never have the size/head type you need

100% I always order double what I need for every job , trays of everything from M4-M12 and I'm exactly the same !!