Tube hinges for a folding A-Frame

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Anyone have any experience / know where I could find some tube hinges that could be bolted on to the front legs of my A-Frame so it will fold forward.

I'm not too concerned over design, just that it works and is relatively strong. Current A frame is bolted to the transom at the rear, but the front legs are bonded to the deck - my idea is to cut the front legs above where they are bonded, and bolt in tube hinges. Looking at the angles, the frame will fold away from the transom OK and will fit over the rear jockey seats, resting on the helm seat when fully forward.

It's a 2 1/2" OD frame and I've googled all sorts of hinges and they don't seem to fit this tube size.

The frame is too high for my shed and I don't want to spend another winter working outside in the cold ( doing GRP repairs )

Any help appreciated.

thanks
Will

[jyasaki]

Might be easiest to have them made up at a local welder/machine shop.

jky

[biffer]

I could make you what you need but I'm concerned over the weight that you will put on top of the tubes, I would look at a better solution

[CJL]

Try doing it like this.....

[bedajim]

How often are you going to fold it to put it in the warm shed ?

[whisper]

I'll try and take some pics of my folding a frame tomorrow

[j.i.wilson]

If you elect to have them made I can highly recommend Stainless Steve in Lymington.

Easily found on Google.

His work is superb, you won't be disappointed.

No connection except satisfied customer.

Ian Wilson

Sent from my HTC One X using Rib.net

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Thanks for the replies Guys.

I've attached some photos of my a-frame setup for clarification. It is built to be used with a self righting bag - but that was in its previous life and I'm not planning on fitting another righting bag.

Biffer - What do you mean by "weight on top of the tubes"? - the weight of the Aframe bearing down ( or pulling up) on the hinged joints when it is in the upright position?

Bedajim - if it is possible, the boat can live indoors all year. The other solution may be to cut a bigger hole in the shed, but a folding a-frame would be easier.

Any photos of other folding a-frames welcome or ideas. And Yes, I need a stainless frame for my opti oil too.

thanks
WIll

[biffer]

My apologies, I though that you were looking to mount the frame on TOP of the tubes, the pics explain it all, what you are proposing is an easy job, you can have it folding forward, backwards or even removable, I bet you're not local to me though are you

[whisper]

Here's my SR4.7 a frame, hinged half way up because its massive!

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Biffer,

I'm "not local"

PM sent

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by whisper

Here's my SR4.7 a frame, hinged half way up because its massive!

Who made that Alex?

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

Who made that Alex?

Dunno, but it cost a fortune for all the work to be done as the rib was converted from new, it's like a mini Atlantic