launching wheels

gotmehooked

Seaman
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
50
Any of you guys build your own launching wheels or some type of dolly? I'm debating on making my own, but wondering if it just be cheaper to buy them after I waste time coming up with a design and gathering parts. The cheapest set I found was on boatstogo website ,(which sells the saturn line of boats), for $75 plus shipping.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: launching wheels

i tried all kinds of dollies with failure. Buy the wheels and end the headache.
 

Rakumi

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 23, 2013
Messages
102
Re: launching wheels

I myself just bought some small wheels and was going to place them on some 36x47 inch plywood I have (my old test floor for my boat). I am going to place the boat on it with all the gear and then push it over to the water and slide it right off my hand made jumbo dolly. I hope it works out.
 

gotmehooked

Seaman
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
50
Re: launching wheels

I've looked at all kinds of pictures and the wheels seem to be the best way to go. I even thought about taking the schematics online to a fabricator and just have him make me the bracket, but it probably wouldn't be all that cheaper once I bought the wheels.
 

ReelSlow72

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
36
Re: launching wheels

I've looked at all kinds of pictures and the wheels seem to be the best way to go. I even thought about taking the schematics online to a fabricator and just have him make me the bracket, but it probably wouldn't be all that cheaper once I bought the wheels.

Provided you aint like me and screw it up the first 2 times!!! hahaha GL partner!
 

cablebandit

Seaman
Joined
Nov 2, 2013
Messages
54
Re: launching wheels

I bought those red launch wheels from ebay for 80 bux or whatever for my 12' achilles and they work well.
 

ronaldj

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
655
Re: launching wheels

Here are some fold-able launching wheels I thought were pretty trick but the price is kind of hefty. Often wondered if the cheaper ones got in the way when steering the motor? Launching Wheels for Inflatable Boats Foldable Transom Wheels Made in Germany | eBay
The wheels you get will be dependent on how much your boat weighs when loaded.
Even thou they look the same. There are 3 different wheels which are separated by weight and tire size.
There is the upto 150lbs
There is 150 to 300lbs
There is 300 to 450lbs

There are also solid tires, inflatable tires, and plastic tires and ballon wheel tires
There are less than 8 inch
10 inch
12 inch
Small wheels

The safest wheels to get are the 300 to 400lb inflatable tire wheels that are at least 8 inches high
Your motor needs to clear the ground when you lift the bow to move the boat.

I put this in the category of things boaters learn along the way
 

JohnnyRudeClassics

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
80
Re: launching wheels

Any of you guys build your own launching wheels or some type of dolly? I'm debating on making my own, but wondering if it just be cheaper to buy them after I waste time coming up with a design and gathering parts. The cheapest set I found was on boatstogo website ,(which sells the saturn line of boats), for $75 plus shipping.


I built up a set of Launch Wheels about a year ago, and if it were not
for having about 1/2 the stuff I needed, it may have been just as
well to order a set.

Transom-Launch_Wheels--Deployed--CU-.jpg

And to top it off, depending upon how much you like projects,
there is more than enough fabrication work to make just buying
a set more than worth while.

And then we did not even start to talk about running around to
gather all of the construction materials up. For myself, I worked
it all into other errands...

However, after the dose of reality...,
I have to admit I like the concept I stumbled
upon far better than what is available at the $75 + S/H price point. Thus
when compared to that really cool German Design for $150 or $200, it
turns out to be a compromise between a more elegant design and cost
/ fabrication hassle. A worth while compromise. I figure with this
boat I am going to be in the water for launch, and $30 or $40 out
of pocket plus some sweat fit the budget far better than $200.

The concept I came upon allows the wheels to rotate and tuck in a little
better in the stowed position.

Transom-Launch_Wheels--Stowed--CU.jpg

As always, it is the user's call.
For myself, it was a pain, but I am pleased with the result.
and as it is said,
no pain, no gain

and now for the brave, some fabrication insights

Hopefully I figured out how to attach the concept drawing and photos
to provide some insights and better clue in anyone who may be interested.

As can be seen on the conceptual drawing,

Transom-Launch_Wheels--Concept.jpg

the design will also accommodate "duallies" which may help in getting
through softer soils. Though I would have to change the design, where
the location of the transom mounting bolts and strut retaining pins
should be swapped so it would be possible to have a retaining bracket
higher up on backside of the transom. Of note within this line of thought,
when configured for dullies, the design rather resorts to the "$75 solution"
for wheels in the stowed position.

Another option would be to just fabricate new / longer struts such that the
tire just barely missed the top of the transom when in the rotated position.
Looking at the Bill of Materials below, the struts cost about $22. Getting
longer square aluminum stock and a second set of wheels would add about $15
to the basic strut cost, so $35 or $40 for a duallie strut with both wheels.
If you were going to swap wheels between struts, that could save ~$12.
Can not say what I would do, I have not had the need for anything other
than the single set of wheels.


Depending upon the stainless and aluminum source, you could easily
end up paying 100 or 150 for materials. Though if you work in a metal
shop, this could be one of those "Government Projects". I stayed away
from HOld-eM-up dEpot and Anything But Lowes, getting my materials from
the local metal supply and bolt shop, Tractor Supply ( still sells bolts
by the pound, not the SKrU), Harbor Freight, and Locally Owned ACE Hardware,
and looking for the bargains on top of that.

Bill of Materials ~$60 or $70 once you include sales tax
From Industrial Metals - Mt Clemens, Michigan
~$3 3' - 1.25" - 1/8" Wall Aluminum Angle
~$2 3 - 1" - 1/8" Wall Aluminum Flat Stock ( backing plates on inside of transom )
~$7 3' - 1.25" - 1/8" Wall Aluminum Square Tubing
From Mid-State Bolt - Shelby Township, Michigan
~$13 8 - 1/4" x 2" Stainless Button Head Hex Socket Screws
.................( I got the A4 marine rated stainless screws, 'probably could have gone
...................with A2 grade for about 1/3rd the cost since it is highly unlikely that
...................boat will be in the water even 50 hours a year )
~$2.5 8 - 1/4" Stainless Nylock Nuts
From Tractor Supply - Romeo, Michigan
~$1 2 - 5/8" x 1" Hex Bolts ( Galvanized )
~$2 2 - 5/8" x 3" Hex Bolts ( Galvanized )
~$3 1 - 5/8" Threaded Rod Joiner ( Galvanized )
From Harbor Freight Tools - Clinton Township, Michigan
~$12 2 - 10" Pneumatic Tire
~$6 4 - 1/4" x 2.5" PTO Pins
...............( figured I'd just get the kit since the pins are about $2 ea else where)
~$2 1 pack - Ball Stretch Cords ( to retain PTO Pins together in pairs )
From ACE Hardware - Romeo, Michigan
~$10 1 Tube - Lexel ( to seal all holes through the transom )
.............( or something similar that you have on hand so you can save a buck - ten or twelve )

Fabrication & Installation Notes:
1)
Make sure you leave no sharp edges or burrs on your work,
round / hogg off corners with a file and sand paper or emery cloth
and clean up the edges of all of the holes you will end up drilling.
2)
First, I fabricated the Angle Brackets and Flat Stock Backing Plates.
3)
Second, I installed Angle Brackets and Flat Stock Backing Plates.
4)
Third, I just laid up the Struts flush to the bottom of the hull
( essentially in the stowed position )
and used the holes in the angle brackets as a jig to locate
the mounting holes in the struts.
5)
Fourth, With the Struts in the stowed position, I located the axle bolt
holes such that the flat of the hex head just barely clears the top of
the transom.

OK, I've likely confused the heck out of anyone who has made it
this far in this post, so that is all for now.

good luck
&
peace to all
 
Last edited:

JohnnyRudeClassics

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
80
Re: launching wheels

the concept drawing .gif got all shrunken
so I .jpg'd it and attached it to this follow on
post
Transom-Launch_Wheels--Concept.jpg
 

JohnnyRudeClassics

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
80
Re: launching wheels

PPS
yes they do interfere with the rotation of the motor
but not so much it ever matter for where I have gone
 

JohnnyRudeClassics

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
80
Re: launching wheels

here is a sketch with the longer duallie strut concept
Transom-Launch_Wheels--Concept-RevdDullies.jpg
still looks more like the $75 ~$80 product
but you have duallies
and there is no point in rotating the strut for
stowage as the wheels need to clear the transom
and there an extra inch or so in clearance for the
outboard to be gained over the diameter of the
wheel
 

gotmehooked

Seaman
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
50
Re: launching wheels

Looks very good, while handy, I'm not that good. I'll probably end up going with the prefab. ones from some website for around $80-90.
 

ronaldj

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
655
Re: launching wheels

I ordered a boat dolly a few weeks ago and finally unbowed it yesterday.
Imagine my surprise when I found out it had the same wheels as the transome wheels
image.jpg

I actually placed it under the transom and saw no difference on level ground.
This weekend I will try it in my flooded backyard to simulate off road use
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: launching wheels

I ordered a boat dolly a few weeks ago and finally unbowed it yesterday.
Imagine my surprise when I found out it had the same wheels as the transome wheels
View attachment 229013

I actually placed it under the transom and saw no difference on level ground.
This weekend I will try it in my flooded backyard to simulate off road use

are you putting them in the front so you don't have to hold up the boat weight?
 

ronaldj

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
655
Re: launching wheels

I got them to do just that
I was going to use the launch wheels in the back and the dolly up front.
it turns out that if I rest the transome area on the dolly and lift the boat up in the normal fashion. It pulls the same way
I need to play with it some more to see what limitations are. Its rated for 300lbs
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: launching wheels

I got them to do just that
I was going to use the launch wheels in the back and the dolly up front.
it turns out that if I rest the transome area on the dolly and lift the boat up in the normal fashion. It pulls the same way
I need to play with it some more to see what limitations are. Its rated for 300lbs

the person who suggested those wheels said he had the local marina or machanic bend it for him or something like that. I cannot wait to see how you figure it out without bending professionally
 

JohnnyRudeClassics

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
80
Re: launching wheels

the person who suggested those wheels said he had the local marina or machanic bend it for him or something like that. I cannot wait to see how you figure it out without bending professionally

I'm pretty sure you are talking about Zurk in the "getting your boat into water thread",
He is using the stock kayak dolly as is.
The machining he talked about was for the struts on his transom / rear launch wheels.
He was not confident with the CEM (China Equipment Manufacturer) struts and wanted
something made of more substantial material.
( 'hope I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth )

I've been struggling with what to do for front launch wheels for my SIB,
been looking around for something steerable, but now that I have become
enlighten to search eBay and else where for these kayak dollys, I'm seeing
I can have one delivered to my door for under 40 Big Ones, as opposed to
the $120 + S/H I seem to recall from the not so far off past.

For 40 bucks, I'll be hard pressed to do better and can probably live with the
steering limitation for quite some time. ( For 120, I think I could do better...)
& from my take on what Zurk writes, the kayak dolly is very servicable as
a front set of SIB launch wheels, I am more confident in the kayak dolly.

I'll be ordering a pair soon and if in the mean time photos clarifying the
attachment have not been posted, I'll do my best to fill in with some.
 

gotmehooked

Seaman
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
50
Re: launching wheels

Got my launching wheels yesterday. What do you guys use to seal the holes you have to drill? Anything special other than silicone? Seems the valve is hard to reach with a gauge. I used a bike pump to pump them up, but I couldn't get a good seal so the gauge wasn't working to let me know how much psi I filled them to. Any tricks to get to the stem to inflate these and or test them with a gauge?
 

Sinistre1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
298
Re: launching wheels

@Got me hooked, if you can find the pencil style inflator, it looks kind of like the mirror-on-a-stick that dentists use to look into your mouth, that should work. It has a smaller profile and works easier but I am still able to blow them up using a standard air chuck.

@Ronald J, had the same experience when I opened up the box for the kayak dolly, lmao. I was like "WTF!!??? these match the transom wheels... i'm gonna have a full set" lol. The dolly seems very versatile and actually had it been made so that the "deep vee" bar was on top, the keel would slot into it nicely (at least my Saturn would likely... the Mercury Quicksilver not so much). Can't wait to play around with it. as for steering my thought is if it is mounted "securely" to the bow, when you want to make a tighter turn just lift the bow, rotate on the transom wheels til you have your new heading and drop the bow down again and proceed... it seems reasonable enough in my head but practice will tell.
 
Top