Alternative to Beachmaster wheels

Nick Hearne · 28 September 2018, 10:45

I have always liked the idea of Beachmaster wheels but the price always put me off!
Then I noticed some copies on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183083772280
I have a 3.8 Bombard Aerotech
£120 delivered and I thought it was worth a punt well I had them on all summer with the boat being used for 5 weeks over the holiday period and they are just great.
I did have one slight problem and this was my fault as I first mounted then too high and the rubbed the underside of the boat but I have corrected them now.
In 5 weeks of using the boat to get to the beach pretty much daily I did not use the anchor once as now just pop the wheels down and pull it up the beech
I did have the Zodiac wheels which were great once fitted but never used them in the same way as it was just too much hassle fitting them just to pull the boat up the beach.
I have now sold them and covered the cost of the new wheels and fittings I used.
I used these inserts https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blind-Sel...ar=&hash=item0
And these to bolt them on https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M8-8mm-CA...ar=&hash=item0
So once wheels are removed I can still pack the boat away as normal.
All in all very happy and would recommend to anyone who does a lot of beach hopping.

Fenlander · 28 September 2018, 10:58

Very interesting review, thanks for posting. Do you have any images of them fitted to the Aerotec?

Nick Hearne · 28 September 2018, 11:05

Now if only I have thought of that before I packed it all awaly

This is the best I can find sorry!

lightning · 30 September 2018, 09:18

I am looking at the Beach Master wheels too, and have seen the Ebay copies at under half the price. (By the time you’ve paid customs VAT and postage the Beach Masters are over £300)

Trouble is l like the idea of the quick release and the copies don’t have that.

How long does it take to fit/remove yours when you assemble/put away your boat?

Fenlander · 30 September 2018, 09:56

>>> if only I have thought of that before I packed it all

Oh the times someone has asked about a detail that would be so well explained by a photo... just days after its gone in the bag on the shelf.

Thanks for the pics... they look great value for the convenience.

John Kennett · 30 September 2018, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightning

How long does it take to fit/remove yours when you assemble/put away your boat?

I had the regular Beachmaster wheels with a similar setup to Nick’s. It’s four bolts per side so only takes a couple of minutes.

warder54 · 30 September 2018, 18:17

Brilliant, may fit theses over the winter! What size inserts and bolts did you use please?

lightning · 30 September 2018, 22:00

I suppose you could use bolts with wing nuts then you wouldn’t need any tools.

Only thing you’d have to watch is water getting into the transom via the holes as you wouldn’t be able to seal them properly.

Nick Hearne · 01 October 2018, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by warder54

Brilliant, may fit theses over the winter! What size inserts and bolts did you use please?

Hi I used M8 and used waterproof PVA glue to seal them in!

Nick Hearne · 01 October 2018, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightning

I suppose you could use bolts with wing nuts then you wouldn’t need any tools.

Only thing you’d have to watch is water getting into the transom via the holes as you wouldn’t be able to seal them properly.

Thought of wing nuts or normal bolts but there isn’t the room using the original holes in the plate of the wheels.
Very quick to fit and remove with an alien key, gave it a lot of thought before I came up with this solution

warder54 · 01 October 2018, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Hi I used M8 and used waterproof PVA glue to seal them in!

Many thanks, will probably buy in Nov and fit over winter. I do like the original F-Rib ones but fed up with getting wet wrists removing and re-fitting on the water!

Blankton · 24 April 2023, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

I have always liked the idea of Beachmaster wheels but the price always put me off!
Then I noticed some copies on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183083772280
I have a 3.8 Bombard Aerotech
£120 delivered and I thought it was worth a punt well I had them on all summer with the boat being used for 5 weeks over the holiday period and they are just great.
I did have one slight problem and this was my fault as I first mounted then too high and the rubbed the underside of the boat but I have corrected them now.
In 5 weeks of using the boat to get to the beach pretty much daily I did not use the anchor once as now just pop the wheels down and pull it up the beech
I did have the Zodiac wheels which were great once fitted but never used them in the same way as it was just too much hassle fitting them just to pull the boat up the beach.
I have now sold them and covered the cost of the new wheels and fittings I used.
I used these inserts https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blind-Sel...ar=&hash=item0
And these to bolt them on https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M8-8mm-CA...ar=&hash=item0
So once wheels are removed I can still pack the boat away as normal.
All in all very happy and would recommend to anyone who does a lot of beach hopping.

Hi Nick. I see you are still a member. Do you have an update on this after 5 years. I was just looking at the fixing method you used, it looks very neat, but I was a bit worried about how robust it would be.

I am quite tempted by some of these knock-off wheels. I think they now do a knock-off quick release option, but your solution looks neater.

Steve509926 · 25 April 2023, 13:26

Hi Blankton, think the last post Nick did was back in 2018!

The quick release copy beachmaster wheels work very well. I can recommend them for ease of operation, but haven't had them long enough to say anything about durability.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/beachm...ion-89002.html

Blankton · 25 April 2023, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi Blankton, think the last post Nick did was back in 2018!

Correct, that's why I asked the question - to see what the long term outcome was. According to his profile he logged in a week or so back, so it seems a good chance he will see this and give an update.......

Steve509926 · 25 April 2023, 14:37

it would be interesting to see if he's has any quality issues.

Tidework · 02 May 2023, 12:04

Great to see, I've just bought an aerotec that has the og zodiac wheels, they are terrible and I loathe the time when I have to put them on the lug the boat up the beach.

Does anyone else have any experience of putting these on an aerotec? When I measured up, they would have to mount into the PVC material at the bottom of the transom, which I don't want to drill into for fear of letting water in.. I have also just reglued the bottom of the transom back on so would really like to avoid this but would also like these style of wheels!

Fenlander · 02 May 2023, 12:51

If they are the proper Zodiac OE wheels with the lug on the lower outside of the Aerotec transom and the existing hole in the transom for the wheel leg top fixing they are so very easy to use as long as you fit neutral buoyancy wheels (the Yellow ones). What doesn't suit for your use?

Tidework · 02 May 2023, 13:29

Hi Fenlander, thanks for the quick reply, I will investigate those. Firstly the buoyancy thing as you mentioned, secondly they are large to store on board and third the hand wind nuts collide with the steering cable setup I have on my boat. I have to lift the cable to provide enough room to wind the nut which gets annoying, not something id be able to do inside the boat without waders on.

Fenlander · 02 May 2023, 16:54

I agree, if you are taking the wheels with you the large OE Zodiac ones are a nuisance to store in an Aerotec given it's not the roomiest of SIBs. Of course I guess you know they will fit bolted, wheels uppermost, to the transom splayed out resting on the tubes? Not for me but it is an option.

Steve509926 · 02 May 2023, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidework

When I measured up, they would have to mount into the PVC material at the bottom of the transom, which I don't want to drill into for fear of letting water in

Hi, I wouldn't be to concerned drilling through the pvc, I had to do so when I fitted the Beachmaster wheels to my SD360 - https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/beachmaster-type-wheel-users-question-89002.html
Providing its a clean cut (new wood drill bit) you use decent size penny washers and seal the holes well (I now use CT1), you won't have a problem with water ingress.