Towing SIB with things in.

Fishery Pokery · 13 July 2009, 15:06

The trailer I have has 3 bunks, one for each tube and one for the keel. Soon I go to Wales on holiday and I can't now take my normal trailer.
Would my Sib be able to take the weight of some holiday gear in it?
I will pack it carefully, but can and should I?
Cheers,
Geoff

m chappelow · 13 July 2009, 15:18

i reckon you will be ok as long as it cant move about ,i used to take the camping gear tent and all the chairs in mine ,just make sure that theres no sharp edges or points that can push into the tubes ,suprizing how things can move about on a long run ,and as long as its not too heavy ,

jyasaki · 13 July 2009, 15:52

I used to trailer my SIB with all the dive gear loaded in it. If it was a camping trip, camping gear would be added. Don't know how much - perhaps 300 lbs all in all?

Ensure that you don't overload the trailer, and it would be prudent to double check the trailer balance after loading. It would probably also be wise to keep the loaded gear to modest amount of weight (i.e pack bulky light stuff rather than smaller heavy stuff) in order to minimize weight on the supported tubes.)

jky

Fishery Pokery · 13 July 2009, 19:07

Thanks guys, thats great! I was just worried the bottom may fall out whilst not supportred by water. But I will be sensible with the load and careful.
Thanks again.
Geoff

jyasaki · 13 July 2009, 21:06

I assume your SIB has a floor of some type?

The weight will be borne by the contact points at the keel and the tube-bottom joint. Those areas should be where the bunks hit, no?

jky

thornbackflound · 13 July 2009, 21:11

Yes i would defo have the floor in place ,and the stuff strapped down in some sort of way

m chappelow · 13 July 2009, 21:47

getting off subject a bit here but i once had to tow an old d class sib through a number of towns about 5 miles for an annual charity fundraising event with the crowd throwing loose change into the boat along with other collectors with buckets who were empting into the boat that had been in pubs shops ect ,no kidding but the boat was fine it was the trailer that was under stress and it became dangerous to tow in the end ,think we had about £5000 in pound coins 50p and 2ps put it this way the wheels were bending ,,boat was fine though the bottom fabric looked like a bag of chisels .after we had shoveled the money out there was no lasting damage to the boat .

jyasaki · 14 July 2009, 15:22

A little off-topic, but that's apparently one of the problems with storing the boat nose down, where it doesn't drain. Rainwater that gets in collects and can easily overload the trailer (depending on how ruggedly it's built.)

jky

m chappelow · 14 July 2009, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

A little off-topic, but that's apparently one of the problems with storing the boat nose down, where it doesn't drain. Rainwater that gets in collects and can easily overload the trailer (depending on how ruggedly it's built.)

jky

a good valid point ,we have had a few boats in our yard that have been left over the winter months then found out that they are full of water owing to the bow being lower,usually we raise the trailer front up for the winter with an old oil drum or tyres , then some one borrowes them .even with a small sib you could have at least half a ton of water in it or more ,