C-Tug anyone?

[LanceB]

Anyone heard of a C-Tug trolley being used for a SIB? Looks a good idea if a little narrower than I would ideally like.

The problem is my Honwave T3.2 airdeck ...I want to be able to get the boat & engine to the water & launched without having to go for the specially designed dolly wheels that go over the extending airdeck (trim tab things) that the Honwave has as they are V expensive £160+

I've looked at folding launching trolleys but they are quite big still & expensive at around £150 but then I saw the C-Tug which is designed for sea kayaks & small dinghys really & wondered if t would work for my application:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-C-Tu...d=p3286.c0.m14

http://www.c-tug.com/

I spoke to the shop selling them & aparently they use them for smaller dinghys too! - they recon that it would need a bigger strap but that can be added easily & it should be fine. That's what I had hoped & had sort of figured myself from the looks of them as the boat has a rigid airdeck (& therefore hull) which could hopefully sit on the pads towards the transom.

Has anyone had any experience with these? Also what are your thoughts on it as a SIB (Honwave) trolley?

[tinker]

Hi, they look well made.

One thought, how will you drag the SIB up the beach or fore shore when you get to where you are going? The great thing about transom based wheels is the fact you take them with you on the boat. They also act as protection against your prop hitting the sea bed when approaching or leaving the shore (when left down)

IMO get the transom based ones, they really are a must with any SIB.

[astra]

Hello, it dont look like they fold up for storage or do they?

[LanceB]

Originally Posted by tinker

Hi, they look well made.

One thought, how will you drag the SIB up the beach or fore shore when you get to where you are going? The great thing about transom based wheels is the fact you take them with you on the boat. They also act as protection against your prop hitting the sea bed when approaching or leaving the shore (when left down)

IMO get the transom based ones, they really are a must with any SIB.

Good point... If I didn't have the Honwave Airdeck I'd be going for transome wheels without a question - the problem is the airdeck extends outboard of the transom on these (see picture) & I don't like the idea iof the wheels pictured too much - they also cost £179!!!

Hence the slightly radical ideas

[LanceB]

Originally Posted by astra

Hello, it dont look like they fold up for storage or do they?

Apparently they pack up very small as they are designed for Sea Kayaks really!! ...they will break down completely & go into locker on the kayak so they say

The website http://www.c-tug.com/c-productdetails.php shows how they assemble/disassemble

[JSP]

Does your outboard have to be stepped out too?

[astra]

No pics of them folded up, strange would of thought that would be a selling point

[chris123]

I've got one

My SIB is on the (very) heavy side. With transom wheels alone, the nose weight was very high, so I figured for locations with a big distance between trailer and water I could put a C-tug under the bow to make a 4 wheeler.

The C-Tug works very well for this - the pads sit nicely either side of the inflatable keel. The supplied straps were too short and quite lightweight, so I bought some 50mm webbing and buckles off ebay. The strap needs to be tight to stop the C-Tug 'falling over' - I have a couple of handles on my tubes that the webbing slots through nicely.

I would think with an airfloor SIB it might be a problem as all the weight of the SIB will be on two small contact patches and you won't have the stiffness of a solid floor, but it may be ok if you put the C-Tug near the transom.

You can take the wheels off the 'chassis' in a few seconds, and less than 5 minutes to dismantle completely.

Shame you aren't a bit nearer or you could try mine - if you are interested I can take a few pics at the weekend.

Cheers

Chris

[LanceB]

Originally Posted by JSP

Does your outboard have to be stepped out too?

No, the transom floats, trim tabs or whatever they call them?? are shaped - see photo

[LanceB]

Originally Posted by chris123

I've got one

My SIB is on the (very) heavy side. With transom wheels alone, the nose weight was very high, so I figured for locations with a big distance between trailer and water I could put a C-tug under the bow to make a 4 wheeler.

The C-Tug works very well for this - the pads sit nicely either side of the inflatable keel. The supplied straps were too short and quite lightweight, so I bought some 50mm webbing and buckles off ebay. The strap needs to be tight to stop the C-Tug 'falling over' - I have a couple of handles on my tubes that the webbing slots through nicely.

I would think with an airfloor SIB it might be a problem as all the weight of the SIB will be on two small contact patches and you won't have the stiffness of a solid floor, but it may be ok if you put the C-Tug near the transom.

You can take the wheels off the 'chassis' in a few seconds, and less than 5 minutes to dismantle completely.

Shame you aren't a bit nearer or you could try mine - if you are interested I can take a few pics at the weekend.

Cheers

Chris

Great!!! I thought everyone would think I was mad but I'm glad I posed the question now

I was thinking of the C-Tug being located on or very close to the transom. The hull is pretty solid as it's an airdeck/V-hull one-piece design on the Honwave SIBs with a slight V at the transom. There are also handles in just the right place to put the webbing straps through.

The boat is about 38Kg & the engine 27Kg...What do you recon?