3rd wheel or extendable drawbar for beach launching Gnaraloo
Submitted by nick82 on Mon, 2013-08-12 20:43
Gday everyone heading up to Gnaraloo next year for the first time and wondering what your preferred method is?Ive searched this and only found a couple pics of people launching in the bay so just trying to get a idea what its like any info at all much appreciated.Boats a 17ft glass. cheers Nick
Quobbarockhopper
Posts: 393
Date Joined: 28/05/10
Mines 18ft glass and have a
Mines 18ft glass and have a swingdown wheel but have never needed it at the bay, IMO their overkill unless you are putting in at the blowholes. Ive seen plenty of 22ft+ models do it with ease. There's steel grates on the beach you use to give some traction, go in and out on a highish tide and if your reasonably quick about it and keep all tyres on the grates you won't have a problem. If your really worried, have a 2nd car with a snatch strap waiting up the beach a bit incase you get in trouble.
Xtreme Coolers
Posts: 723
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Hi Nick
I was recently up there and found the sand to be the softest we have experienced in 9 years. There was also a real lack of quality grates to use on the beach. As quobbarockhopper has mentioned, get the grates under trailer and car, try to be efficient and avoid the super low tide if possible as you will then find yourself down the drop off. Your boat and size should be fine. Knowing your 4wd and lowering your tyre pressure for the job is also a key. You will have a great time mate. Good luck with the weather.
Feel free to PM me for any more Ono you might be after.
Dave
Wannafish
Posts: 158
Date Joined: 20/05/12
I haven't been to Gnarloo,
I haven't been to Gnarloo, but I use a swing down spare as you can keep the car well away from the water and use a snatch strap to get it out no matter how soft the beach is (if necessary attach an extension strap too). I have used this method many times at Ningaloo, Binningup, Eagle Bay, Balla Balla, etc. It is good as there is no stress about the car being in the wash or bogged as the tide is coming in... It is also handy to have a 3rd hub and bearings all greased up and ready if needed...
trymyluck
Posts: 908
Date Joined: 06/05/12
A swing down wheel is a great
A swing down wheel is a great idea , and if u dont use it this time, you might next time, good investment I reckon.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8628
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Trailer
I'd be more worried about the trailer standing up to the drive in.
Mate has a workshop in town and he's been fixing an average of 2-3 trailer each week where they have broken down, cracked frames, springs, hangers, skids , you name it, so the track must be pretty bad or some drivers going too fast for the conditions.
sea-kem
Posts: 14866
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Sent Nick a pm about this.
Sent Nick a pm about this. Last time we went in the last 20k was a shocker and it still rattled our bones, shook a union loose on my steering shaft and lost all the fluid thats how bad it was. Do they ever grade that last part?
Love the West!
carnarvonite
Posts: 8628
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Drags
They used to have a couple of drags that you would tow behind the car back and forth to the bay to flatten the corrugations out and pull the sand in from the side to fill the holes but not sire if they are still there.
As we always set up a mooring on day one we'd hook the drag up every couple of days for the round trip but it doesn't seem to be done now days.
The shire is responsible for the track up to the homestead gate, from there on its the stations job.
nick82
Posts: 44
Date Joined: 15/12/10
Cheers for all the feedback
Cheers for all the feedback guys I'll probly get a 3rd wheel anyway and just have it setup on a stub axle also be handy for a spare.Ive got trailer stripped down at the moment and replacing hubs,springs and new drawbar which will be a bit longer which will help aswell.
Xtreme coolers Yeah i seen your last report of Gnaraloo and looked awesome great pics,looks like you have that place pretty sussed out if i catch half the amount of fish you caught will be very happy cant wait only 10 months to go. Cheers Nick
chookc
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 07/01/10
Last time we were there about
Last time we were there about 2 years ago we asked about the tyres to drag and they said beacause of insurance issues they were not allowed to let the public drag them anymore..