Launching/Transom Wheels

Jasierock · 16 September 2020, 08:11

Hi All
Sorry if this has been asked before.
Has anybody fitted these (or similar) and if so, are they any good?
I quite like the way they hide away.

Fenlander · 16 September 2020, 08:34

Can't tell which size you are looking at... there are some made for small dinghies that are near useless for anything with the weight of an outboard and anything other than very smooth tarmac/concrete.

Then there are the larger ones which are better but are still pretty poor over potholes, kerbs, stones, soft sand etc with their hard clattery plastic wheels. They also don't put your sib and the OB far above damage hazards as you pull it along.

Not a fan really. If I wanted something of that type I'd be looking towards this design now available in several different makes/prices...

https://midmarine.com/product/rugged...nching-wheels/

Jasierock · 16 September 2020, 15:20

Thanks Fen, I thought that might be the case, a bit rattly and a bit low.The others look a better bet.

Fenlander · 16 September 2020, 15:24

But... just remembered you have an Elling... try and check with others what they've fitted to theirs in case they need any kind of particular fit.

Oldman2 · 16 September 2020, 17:05

Pacer marine have quite an assortment, I went for these https://pacermarine.co.uk/product/al...wheels-150kgs/ and used a chopping board to move the mounting plate 20mm further away from the transom to clear the 15mm lip at the bottom of the transom. Kaman had used these same wheels on at least 2 dinghys and was happy with them. I fitted sandhopper wheels on mine for crossing shingle.

I liked the way the load was spread over the whole 350mm backplate and modded mine with an extra pin hole so for rough ground I could lock the wheels down with 2 pins rather than just the one.

transom plate.jpg

Peter_C · 16 September 2020, 20:04

The Beachmaster wheels listed above I can vouch for as my friend put them on his SIB. Super easy to put up and down, and roll very well for a light weight SIB. Downfall is they are expensive.

https://www.beachmaster.co.nz/

pumpkinking · 16 September 2020, 21:51

Those Beachmaster types mentioned by Fenlander and PeterC look awesome.

I got my standard Excel ones home to find two nice cuts in the tyre side walls... almost as if someone took a Stanley knife to them. Quite irritating, not sure what I ran over/rubbed against to cause it...

Back to the beach masters, I’d love a set but they don’t look removable so I wouldn’t get the boat folded up and in its bag with those fitted... does that sound right? Anyone have them on their sib?

Fenlander · 16 September 2020, 21:56

There is a removable model beachmaster....

https://shop.chastheboat.co.uk/produ...smart_campaign

Oldman2 · 16 September 2020, 22:07

I think we had this convo about Beachmasters and the Elling recently elsewhere and the mounting points are so low down that it needs a 20mm cutting board mounted on the transom with mid and high fixings, then the Beachmaster lower mounting points fixed low down through only the cutting board. The upper fixes could of course go through both cutting board and transom if you wished.
The problem areas are the 15mm stand off lip on the base of the transom and the air floor with no space for fixings behind it.

Jasierock · 17 September 2020, 07:50

Well, there's some good options for me with a bit of fettling. One things for certain, I wont be going with the cheap rattly option!

pumpkinking · 17 September 2020, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

There is a removable model beachmaster....

https://shop.chastheboat.co.uk/produ...smart_campaign

Now these look brilliant... those studs are nifty! One for next year's wish list!

Oldman2 · 17 September 2020, 13:58

Ive seen the removable ones down as low as £150, worth a search about

Kate · 20 September 2020, 19:32

Yes, I have exactly these on a 2.4m rib tender and they are fab. Recommend highly as they are functional and tough. They make the steep hill I have to pull it up much easier. Word of advice though - once you've launched, do remember to lift the wheels out of the water onto their highest setting as they do drag a lot of power from your engine if they are still in the water in the down position. I've made this mistake more times than I care to remember!! That said, it's so much easier to take it out when you get back to shore if the wheels are already down. Lol.

Jasierock · 21 September 2020, 07:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kate

Yes, I have exactly these on a 2.4m rib tender and they are fab. Recommend highly as they are functional and tough. They make the steep hill I have to pull it up much easier. Word of advice though - once you've launched, do remember to lift the wheels out of the water onto their highest setting as they do drag a lot of power from your engine if they are still in the water in the down position. I've made this mistake more times than I care to remember!! That said, it's so much easier to take it out when you get back to shore if the wheels are already down. Lol.

Thanks Kate, great feedback. Re poor set up, I set off yesterday with the motor on the highest setting and couldn't understand why the boat was cavitating and bouncing

Splash gordon · 21 September 2020, 12:51

I recently refurbed an old IRC Mk3 and decided to fit these transom wheels. They stay attached all the time and fix in 2 positions.
Down for launching and up for navigation. The sit just above the waterline and font interfere with the OBM.
Im very glad i fitted them. I think they were about £120 in ebay.

Jasierock · 21 September 2020, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splash gordon

I recently refurbed an old IRC Mk3 and decided to fit these transom wheels. They stay attached all the time and fix in 2 positions.
Down for launching and up for navigation. The sit just above the waterline and font interfere with the OBM.
Im very glad i fitted them. I think they were about £120 in ebay.

Cheers Splash, my only reserve is the lack of detachability but I know you can get these that are detachable. maybe a bit HD for my Elling and 9.8 2 stroke.

Peter_C · 21 September 2020, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kate

Word of advice though - once you've launched, do remember to lift the wheels out of the water onto their highest setting as they do drag a lot of power from your engine if they are still in the water in the down position. I've made this mistake more times than I care to remember!! That said, it's so much easier to take it out when you get back to shore if the wheels are already down. Lol.

I loaded up the crew and we headed out of the no wake zone. When I went to punch it to get on plane, the boat just wouldn't go. Took me another couple of seconds to register the 49cm launch wheels still underwater were the problem DOH!

As we always had to put the launch wheels back down off shore, I did manage to never make a fool of myself coming back in at least.