Lower trailer easier laubch/retrieval

[kaman]

I added larger launch wheels recently to aid launch and retrieval of my fairly beefy Honwave 3.5ae.
As I dry launch the bunks of the trailer were still about 2 inches too high for the sib to roll on a and off smoothly.
I have recently employed the use of my small shovel of late to scoop some sand/shingle out at the rear of the wheels.
I reverse back into the hole thus lowering the height of the trailer - voila the sib rolls on and off without dragging it accross tge bunks with the winch.

[kaman]

You can see that with the trailer wheels in the hole the launch wheels are fully deployed and have lifted the sib off the bunks

[kaman]

I use the winch attached to stainless steel eyelets on the transom to pull sib back onto the trailer.

I carry a shovel just in case I get stuck o the beach so I have been putting it to good use lately ermmmm digging myself I to a hole.

The car doesn't flinch pulling it out so happy days!

Another little step to relieve the stresses on my old back.

[philpot]

I'm all for taking out the strain

Phil

[kaman]

Yes Phil I totally agree.
I would rather lump the strain onto a turbo diesel engine when it comes time to pull the rig back out of the hole that I have ermmmmm......... just dug myself into.
I had been using a set of wooden ramps to assist but they were too awkward and always getting covered in sand.
The sunken hole method works a treat!

[The Gurnard]

Hi Kaman

Im all for taking the strain out of things too..but I still think you could make life easier ?

I just push the trailer into the water and float the SIB off and on. I would rather shorten the life of the wheel bearing than the life of my back.

It means I have to check and re grease them around once a month in the boating season..its not a big job.. then change the bearings at the start of a new season. I hose the trailer down when I get home ..at the same time as flushing the engine.

Guess we all have our own ways of doing things though

[kaman]

Hi Gurnard i hear what you're saying and I concur.

I did not want a trailer when I entered Sib land but conceded early doors that inflating / deflating was a pain.

Build a trailer for dry launch.

Add on all the goodies - it now weighs nearly quarter of a tonne.

Launch wheels and still dry launch despite the weight.

Reasons against dipping my trailer

1 Don't like salt water and mixing trailers / cars.
2 I Iike to be able to bring the Sib out of the water onto a remote beaches without worrying about it getting washed away while I'm exploring.
3 My old man gave me the same advice as you and i don't want to admit defeat.
4 Next step would be a 5m rib - and probably an air floor sib for exploring the hard to reach places.
5 I'm 37 years old and feel I've got few years dry launching left in me yet.

[Peter_C]

I never dip my trailer, and if I actually put my trailer on the beach, digging might be an option, but it still looks like more work than just dragging the boat on and off the trailer. Instead to help get it on and off easily, I put silicon onto my bunks when the boat is off of it. Seems to work for about six months, then it needs a refresh. The winch then pulls the boat right up onto the trailer. For even easier retrieval, I have a remote controlled electric winch project I need to finish. I also rounded the ends of the bunks over into a nice half round to again help ease it on, and off.

In order to fold the wheels down I have to slide the boat back .5 meter. Same with putting it back on the trailer. The bow does have to go really high to get it onto the trailer though. On flat ground I can easily do it myself.

[kaman]

Hi Peter

Digging two small holes for my trailer wheels isn't much of a chore on the beaches where I launch.
The trailer wheels are 8 inch rims and have really skin tyres.
I have taken about 6 scoops of sand/shingle from behind each wheel.
This equates to about 45 secs.
A further 45 secs to roll the car back a few inches into the holes.
This 90 secs is more than regained in the time / effort required to retrieve the sib back onto the trailer.
It has proved to be a very successful technique for me thus far.

Happy sibbing.