Testing water for my Quicksilver HD430

[secondopsman]

Hi everyone,

After a mock build up today of my Quicksilver HD430 i have to be honest with my self and admit its just to heavy for us to handle.
Quick insight
We use this when we go away with our touring caravan so cant use a trailer.There are 5 (3 kids)of us and i tow a ringo.
I have made a folding launch trailer but at 115kg its just to heavy for the 2 of us to lift on the trailer ready for lauching.
So i have been swayed towards buying an airdeck(nearly 1/2 the weight) been looking at these.
PROWAVE INFLATABLES
was looking at the 4.2m as i could still use my current engine Mariner 30 Two stroke although i would prefer the 3.8m.
However as the norm i have to sell my current boat first so i was wondering if the more experianced people on hear could give me a rough guide on price please.As ref its a 2004 in excellant condition with manuals,oars,pump ect at its a 2004 with marine ply floor and holds air perfectly.
Many thanks
Pete

[9D280]

I guess at 114Kg that's boat+engine? or is that the hull alone? How does your trolley look? Is it a "plank" that the transom sits on, or something more exotic?

Two of us used to manoever a waterlogged dory by rolling it onto it's side (2 of us to lift one side, but as most of the weight is taken by the ground it wasn't too bad) then one hold it up as the other pushed the trolley underneath, then both roll it back down onto the trolley.

Other methods are to lift the bow and slide the trolley in. Typical sailing dinghy trick, even works with Wayfarers which are black hole creating heavy! Once the trailer support passes balance point put the bow down and it becomes a slide job. (and being a SIB, if you do that before adding the engine, the balance point will be a LOT further forward, so you will only be lifting for a fraction of the time. Also the transom tends to be the heavy bit. Once on, add engine & roll. I've moved an SR4 off & back onto its trailer using that method!

Both of those suggestions will only work if your trolley has a nice "bottom friendly" support.....

Post a pic of the trolley, we can maybe come up with other ways of mating them.

[BumbleAbout]

You could also fit launching wheels to the transom - many people launch their SIB's wheeling down a beach with these (they lift up when in the water).

It's worth using the search function on here for "launch wheel".

The folding launch trailers that I have seen are nowhere near 100kg though and some people use inflatable launch rollers instead.

[Max...]

I'd go with the others here and try to find a workaround - that's a great SIB and a Prowave would probably be a downgrade (?) - I use a very lightweight Zodiac Fastroller but even on that I use launch wheels - makes the whole thing much easier to handle.

[Nick Hearne]

Yep go with launch wheels should be fine, just think what you can wheel around in a wheelbarrow no problem, well this should work just as well if you have it well balanced! Try & get the ones that bend under the boat a bit.

[secondopsman]

I did think about the transom wheels but I haven't seen them on anything as big as a 4.3m.The weight of the boat complete with engine,and steering is in the region of 170 kg maybe a little more.I just had visions of trying to pull it across a bit of sand and it sinking up to the wheels and not being able to budge it.
Pete

[Max...]

Hmmmm, that is a lot of weight - depends where you launch of course, near me the beaches are all steeply sloping and a 170KG rig would be impossible with me and Mrs Max. If it's flatish, firm and smooth then you might be able to manhandle it...

[Poly]

170 kg sounds about the same as mine with none of the kit in it (fuel, anchors etc) and its not really doable with 2 people without a trailer of some sort, and even then just moving the trailer up all but the most gentle slope is very difficult. I doubt transom wheels are an answer for more than a few feet unless the surface is great and you are very strong.

If you are happy with packing up the boat for transportation etc but its just launch and recovery then you can probably come up with a launch trolley that is not road legal but had a tow hitch on it. It could fold / disassemble / go on van roof or supported on back as per normal bike or scooter arrangements for transport.

[secondopsman]

I have made a folding launch trailer (yet to be tested) but good point on making so it has a towbar attachment never thought of that.
Im at the stage were im working out how the boat should sit on the trailer as its a sib with a soft bottom.
I was thinking on the lines of some smaller type inflatable launch wheels mouted on top of the trailer to roll it on to.
I will put some pics up later of what i have so far.

[Max...]

Pete - might be worth looking at that old forum favourite, the Bombard 380, that would fit the bill nicely in terms of weight, engine and transportability.

[secondopsman]

Max
At present i cant really look at other options unless i sell my quicksilver.
But i have no idea what its worth really.
Ive made my mind up though to finish the launch trailer this weekend and see how i go before i make any decisions im going to regret as i am really attached to the quicksilver.
Pete

[bingosucks]

it`s only worth what someone is willing to pay for it !, it may be priceless to you but peanuts to someone else..i watched one on ebay and it went for £550 it looked pretty mint to... don`t forget the engine counter balances the boat with rib wheels. if you look at my album you`ll see how tidy launch wheels are with a good size wheel too ,with no extra wieght of a trolley

[xs 400]

my wife and i have a caravan an also transported a honda t40 (86kg) and yam 30hp 59kg and launched with transom wheels, but it was tough, this was in the lakes on slipways. agree with others stick with what you have.

[secondopsman]

Well ive been in to work today and after a fellow member on here emailed me some pics i have come up with this.

[secondopsman]

Which after a few mins turns in to this.
I have put 2 plastic launch wheels on either side in the hope that the extra width will stop it sinking in to soft sand as much

[xs 400]

awesome looks the business!! hope that solves your problem. role on summer!

[bingosucks]

wooaa dude ,thats mint ...i see your transportation problems lol no problems with planing though !..... do you fancy swapping with my sib

[mister p]

Patent it (oh you can't now, you've made it public). Make loads of them, market them and sell 'em.
Make sure they're adjustable, galvanized or even plastic (as it's only for the slipway).
Once that's done I'll have one. You'll have to hurry mister, that's a good idea and you need to get the drop anyone that sees it's potential.
You're onto something.
Just get the tow hitch onto it and you can launch almost any sib anywhere.

[secondopsman]

Cheers guys
The frame is adjustable and weighs about 12kgs.Its does have a plate to fasten the pressed steel type hitch on and it also has a jockey wheel.
All i have to do now is fettle a few welds up,drill some drainage holes so it doesnt hold water and im going to replace the bolts for quick release pins and R clips then its off to the galvenizers.
Pete

[secondopsman]

One thing that did cross my mind yesterday when i was building it was the wooden floor and its weight.
I noticed that the inflatable keel only touches in the centre of the boards and everything else from the centre outwards is in fresh air as it pushes the floor down.
As all this work is because of the weight i was thinking what would be the outcome if i drilled a series of 20mm holes in the floor to reduce weight.
I know i would have to waterproof the inside were i have cut it and i will be using a sponge type floor covering to stop anything dropping in the holes.
Anyone done this or have any thoughts,
Pete