demountable launching trailers

nik · 06 January 2006, 19:18

Hello,
I have seen these for dinghies, where you can launch your boat without having to dip your road trailer wheels in the water. Then for recovery, you can winch your launching trailer onto your road trailer and move off.

I am asking this because of the issue of salt water in bearings. It may not be feasible because of weight.

So, has anyone seen one of these for a power boat.

Nick.

Rogue Wave · 06 January 2006, 19:30

no

BUT IT MAKES A GREAT DEAL OF SENSE!

Hightower · 06 January 2006, 20:32

Go make youself loads of money and design one.

It would be feasable but would add to the trailer cost as you'd need a cradle on a trailer with rollers for the cradle to sit on so that you could launch and recover easily.

Rogue Wave · 06 January 2006, 20:35

Andy Mate,

are you very bust right now ish!

I've just aquired a very tasty 1.5 ton galvanised trailer chassis which might make an ideal sled carrier.

you really must come over and see our new Unit!

Hightower · 06 January 2006, 20:52

You telling me I should get out more

?

I'd like to come over for a coffee and to check out the new facilities.

Downhilldai · 06 January 2006, 22:51

Do you really think a sizeable RIB can be manually launched on a trolley??? 750kg+ can be a bit of a handful!!!

Or, are you thinking of something more technical, which connects somehow to the main trailer?

Rogue Wave · 06 January 2006, 23:07

yep

something like a sliding roller coaster frame that slides and tilts say three metres of the back of the trailer

Hightower · 06 January 2006, 23:11

You'd need some launching tolley wheels at the back, just so happens I know someone that has some

nik · 07 January 2006, 11:07

I guess this would be more appropriate for smaller ribs, but for launching you have gravity on your side and for recovery, you can have the road trailer at the waters edge and winch boat plus trolley onto trailer.
Nick.

Mark Halliday · 07 January 2006, 12:34

Beaver-tail flatbed or car trailer & cradle on castors?

An electric winch on the flat bed would help.

A mate had something like that for his 23 ft yacht.

Jono · 07 January 2006, 12:50

I had that set up for launching my old Hunter 19 fin keeler. Sat on a cradle with launching wheels that mounted/demounted off a road trailer by winch/gravity.

Tim M · 07 January 2006, 17:21

SBS did make a system that was for heavier boats (ie small/medium sized RIBs). The main trailer was a bit like a car trailer with two tracks on, and then ramps at the back. On top of that sat a trolley with four wheels. It had a draw bar on the front with a regular tow hitch. You winched the trolley off the main trailer and then lauched as you normally would using your car. At the end of the day you winch the trolley back onto the trailer and tow it home.

wavelength · 07 January 2006, 20:54

One of our clients has his 6m rib on a conventional roller coaster type trailer that he uses for launch and retrieve and to run from the slip to the car park where he then winches the lot onto another road trailer similar to a single car transporter trailer for transport home. (Mind you he does run a commercial vehicle breakdown/recovery/workshop business so it was no doubt something to make in a spare minute!). Straps the lot down and never gets his road wheels wet. Personally I use lots of good waterproof grease and bearing buddies which is fine for the bearings but it would be really, really, nice to have trailer brakes and cables that have never seen salt water!

Nate · 07 January 2006, 23:47

Got one on (under?) a two ton trailer-sailer yacht (bigger than most ribs then...). Made by SBS, it consists of a break back road trailer with a galvanised launch trolley running on four wheels which locate in longitudinal tracks on the main chassis. Boat rides quite high when towed, but the whole package works perfectly. Main obstacle these days would be cost - this device cost 2.5k ten years ago - comparing it to my two year old Admiral reveals considerable differences in quality of manufacture...

Cookee · 08 January 2006, 12:29

20 ton Volvo with a Hi-ab crane!

Rogue Wave · 08 January 2006, 17:03

I presme you run your truck as a showmans caravan i.e cheap car tax. but do you need an Operators licence and tacho to drive it?

Jono · 09 January 2006, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I presme you run your truck as a showmans caravan i.e cheap car tax. but do you need an Operators licence and tacho to drive it?

Troublemaker...................................... ..

Cookee · 09 January 2006, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I presme you run your truck as a showmans caravan i.e cheap car tax. but do you need an Operators licence and tacho to drive it?

No - it's too restrictive - I run it on a private heavy goods licence - same price as the pickup! I use the tacho, but I don't believe it's compulsory. No need for an operators licence either!

Rogue Wave · 09 January 2006, 19:27

Thanks Cooks! I must admit it's an interesting option

Paul Beaurain · 09 January 2006, 21:33

Hi Cookee

How do you actually launch, does it limit where you launch?

any more images?

Thanks Paul