boat questions
Submitted by oldsalty on Tue, 2010-03-30 09:15
Hi everyone,
I am in the process getting my boat ready for an extended trip along the north west WA coast this winter. Its a tabs territory pro 485 side console 80hp which has mainly been used on the east coast where boat ramps and conditions are pretty user friendly.
I have seen some interesting beach launching at places in the NW and am thinking i need,
A tyre jockey wheel for beach launching plus some heavy rope if u get in trouble,
The boat will be used mainly for light off shore work as it was on the east coast but is there anything in particlular you guys use that i may not know of for over there?
any info much appreciated
Oldsalty
bear
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 30/03/06
Saw Wolfie's setup at
Saw Wolfie's setup at Exmouth for beach launching. Very impressed. Swing away draw bar extension so you could get the boat deeper and keep the car on the firmer sand. Added to that was a set of bog mats that were the trailer walkway and could be removed for placing on soft sand to drive on. Using your head for sure.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
swing away bar with a
swing away bar with a break-neck makes life a lot easier.
jockey wheels always dig in, so don't bother, if you need to tow your trailer out and not have it on the hitch, rather make yourself a drum roller and then use a long pice of chain, not rope. ( rope can store kinetic energy and if it snaps can do a load of damage)
A drum roller is simply a large 20 or 40litre plastic drum thats been filled with foam and has a bar through the middle to act like a lawn roller.
All you do then is connect the spindle going through the middle to your trailers draw bar and it acts like a jockey wheel with a huge foot print that does not dig in.
We use to beach our boat when coming in, then tow it up the beach to high ground using four inflatable beach rollers that you feed under the keel while pulling with the 4x4. This way you can never get caught out in the danger zone. We'd then use the beach loaders to get the bow up and onto the trailer and winch it on. Hard work, but beach launching is never easy .
I'll see if I can find some pics of how the boys do it off the Mozambique and Natal coast in Africa.
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
some links
http://www.praktek.com/mcart/index.cgi?code=3&cat=8
these type of rollers
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Billcollector
Posts: 2084
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Drop down spare wheel is the
Drop down spare wheel is the easiest for that size boat. loads of boaties use them up here. try your local marine dealer or google martins trailer parts
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
You might be able to buy an
You might be able to buy an off the shelf swing down spare tyre for your trailer. A proper winch extension strap from say ARB and shackles to suit.
You can get inflatable rollers from marine shops too which can be placed under the keel whilst dragging the boat up.
A second anchor 4 the boat is handy.
A good tide chart would be invaluable and watch/talk to the locals.
You will need Tony to come along to carry all the gear that he suggested (over engineering again haha).
Cheers Pete
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
back in ya hole
back in ya hole pipe-jocky!
Yes spare wheel works well on a drop down, and then you have a spare axle and bearings too for the road if something goes cr@p on you,
but I'd still get a few inflatable rollers,
II have done many beach launches on very soft sand in the past and seen some tears when they get bogged on an incoming tide...
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
oldsalty
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 16/02/10
Thanks very much
Thanks very much guys,
I guess ill see how i go, probably a drop down spare wheel will do the trick.
I regards to lauching i have seen some scenarios where the waters edge is at the base of a dune. Is it best to back down or lower ur boat and trailer down by rope and also drag it back in by rope, i have seen it but cant remember the method they used?
cheers
Oldsalty