Stone protection
Gday fellas,
I’ve recently picked up my new rig, an immaculate Caribbean Concorde with a pretty new 115 Suzuki. My first glass boat, and I’m pretty pumped with how she’s gone so far. The previous owner has kept her PRISTINE, to a point where you would actually think the hull is brand new.
My only drama is I’m heading to gnaraloo in a few weeks, and I don’t think I’ll have enough time to whip up some decent stone deflectors. I’m hopin you blokes might have any quick or simple ideas of minimising stone damage from the tracks.
I was thinking of maybe wrapping the whole underside of the trailer in shadecloth, to stop the stones flicking up? or maybe a full height, full width temporary mud flap, that could go behind the Ute?
Keen to to hear ideas, or methods you’ve been successful with.
Scotto.
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Tupperware
You've gone soft Scotto.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Why thank you BJ,
And yes, it is a very soft ride ;)
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Haha
Looks to be in good nick.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
rossco21
Posts: 108
Date Joined: 15/06/10
With my last cruiser i made
With my last cruiser i made up a bar that bolted to tow bar with three mudflaps on it. Cutout for the towball and cut out for the exhaust. Worked bloody good. but now we have just made a proper boat bra up ourselves.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Hey, nice rig
A baby Reefie
Fixed stone deflectors on the trailer must be a PITA when launching/retrieving, probably why you don't see many. I had an upholsterer make up a boat bra, for use on Exmouth/Ningaloo/Tamala trips. It's vinyl outside, with a thin layer of foam, and shadecloth-type stuff inside. It fixes to the bowrail and down to the trailer, wraps around the front , velcroing together under the winch attachment point. Stones can go all directions when stirred up by vehicles--just look at the number of towing vehicles who have their rear window broken by stones bouncing back. Full-width mudflaps have their own issues, and putting shadecloth under the trailer probably won't accomplish much. I'd try to do a boat-bra type thing, such as I have just described , by tying shadecloth in the way that I have described. Or get one made, mine was massive, really well built, and cost me , IIRC, $660 from a Gero trimmer.
It might be worth giving Drew, the guy that makes the Big Fat Snapper sea anchors, a call. He's really helpful, does a really wide range of stuff, including boat covers and all kinds of Industrial stuff. He's at www.bigfatsnapper.com/index.html or phone him on 0415 889 887
rossco21
Posts: 108
Date Joined: 15/06/10
Yes with the fixed stone
Yes with the fixed stone deflectors being permanent they are in the way. We did our first launch and retrieve practice runs to see how they went on the weekend. They werent too bad to work around. BUt what we did was attached the actual mesh type insert by means of those toggles you use for canopys so that its a quick flick of a few toggles and you can walk through the trailer. I will try to post up a picture so it makes a bit more sence.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18026
Date Joined: 11/03/08
You could try a heavy canvas
You could try a heavy canvas tightly tied up to cover the whole front .
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Ahpuka
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 23/05/13
Have a look at the Rock
Have a look at the Rock Tamer mud flaps. They slide onto the reese hitch with two bolts to hold them in place. Fully adjustable and can be reused on other vehicles if needed. Just did a trip to Ningaloo station using one and it work very well
Deckie
Posts: 1296
Date Joined: 03/04/09
Problem.
Only problem i see with some canvas or such fixed to the bow rail down to the drawbar is, you will have to remove it to launch.
Can be a PITA because you will probably need it for the track to the bay from the homestead, that track can be horrible at times especially near the airstrip.
That means putting it on & removing everytime you launch. Maybe the full mudflap would be a better option because of that.
Not sure if there is the complete all round solution to it. Nice hull, be a shame to mess it up with stone chips.
Glad your happy with the hull, i just purchased a Caribean Belmont, Same hull i think but different deck in similar condition.
Cheers & Stay safe
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Cheers fellas,
Some good input lads. I might try knock up some mud tamer style flaps fur the Ute.
pakulacockroach
Posts: 87
Date Joined: 06/12/07
Don't laugh
I recently towed a boat 6000 kms, & my quick solution was tape. Worked a treat. Get some wide painters tape and run it length ways at the front to cover the main suseptible areas. Then cover that tape with a thick vinyl tape.
Once you arrive peel the whole lot off in one go. 5 minutes to take off & no residue because of the painters tape.
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
Fukn harden up Scotto you
Fukn harden up Scotto you soft cock. That pretty tub needs some battle scars, man up and give it some gravel acne.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
But
isnt that why people buy glass boats, so they can spend a fortune maintaining it? So they can spend more time polishing it than using it?
I just wanted to be part of the gang
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
Paint
been in here a few times and the lime on the tracks will stain your trailer for life , paint the trailer with cheap water base paint and when you return , blast it with high pressure hose. Marcher type unit to take of paint and trailer will still look new , for the hull I just used shade cloth around bow and trailer frame to protect front end from Rock damage. Motor leg just wrap in cloth or hessian to protect from dust and rock chips , drive on the tracks to look after your rig instead of getting there early. Imo
Silver Fox
Posts: 1111
Date Joined: 19/06/14
Stone stomper
I’ve got one for my Goldstream van . Bulletproof me thinks . Did the Great central rd and Gibb River ( then again any gravel rd ) with it on . Not one stone chip . Living in Carnarvon and travelling the same stretch of road with my glass boat has made me think of adapting mine for my boat trailer , would be an easy task .
My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....
dumper
Posts: 1027
Date Joined: 03/04/08
Cover the bow in stickers
Cover the bow in stickers from raunchys, living dolls and sunset strip. Might not protect the boat, but will definitely put some lead in ya pencil
sea-kem
Posts: 14972
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Lol supreme idea! Was just
Lol supreme idea! Was just talking to a mate of yours.
Love the West!