docking poles DIY style

[Xk59D]

should have my new docking poles finished tomorrow and since info on DIY ones is thin on ground thought i'd add this incase anyone wants ideas for their own.

was going to get the bolt on ones and just pay the 200 quid but i thought ach i'll try and make a set.

FYI everything is galv tube and stainless hardware.

setup as follows-

16x 1.25" mounting tube which bolts to the trailer. (doesn't stick out past the arch)

60x1.75"" tube inclusive of a 90 degree bend at 12" for my app.

plumbers pipe lagging for round the upright.

plates will be welded onto the mounting tube tomorrow so it can all be bolted securely to the trailer-width is adjustable by upto 16" total.

2 drop pins hold the uprights on securely which allows easy removal for towing. (you will see screwdrivers in them jus now as the pins are not here yet).

the mounting method in these pics was purely to get a size for the plates to be welded onto the tubes so don't copy this folks, it won't work :-)- i'll update pics when the plates are on and it's all bolted together.

hope this maybe of use to someone who fancies making a set.

cheers

[m chappelow]

we just use aluminium or steel scaffolding poles and the clips that go with them .
though they dont look as tidy as yours .
mart.

[Xk59D]

i did consider that but i decided to get something that looked the part since the cost isn't that much to make these........thats assuming they work well.

the difficult part is figuring out a secure mounting method that won't move. i couldn't find any info on how the proper ones attach via google so i'm figuring it out as i go.

me and my old man should have it done soon so will post pics back of exactly what was used and better pics incase others want some ideas for their own app.

cheers

[Nasher]

Well done they look as though they will work well.

I've had a similar project planned for a couple of years but have not got around to it yet.

Like you it's the mounting that's been worrying me more than anything.

Nasher.

[Hightower]

I wouldn't benefit from docking poles. I'm guessing you'd have to be in the water fairly deep for these to work with rollercoaster trailers or for the poles to project out from the rear quite a way. As soon as I've got tension on the winch cable the RIB is lined up and ready to go. However it's getting to this stage that docking poles would be most useful, but they'd have to be sticking out behind the trailer by as much as 8' to be any use (to stop the rear end of the RIB being blown out of alignment by cross winds/current).