Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

[paulspaddle]

Anyone have any ingenious ideas on building one of these boat rail systems?

http://www.hewitt-roll-a-dock.com/lifts07/roll-a-rail.html

When I use the word "ingenious" I'm implying "inexpensive". I'm a fan of salvage yards and building my own.

 

[rbh]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Find an old factory or mine site were they had those small trolleys/carts, I think that would be oo gauge track?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Yea,
An old boat trailer, some cable, a winch and an anchor.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Yea,
An old boat trailer, some cable, a winch and an anchor.

Is exactly what our neighbor at the cabin uses.
Has two winches, one for the bow hook and the other to crank the trailer in and out of the water. Instead of the tongue jack he uses a spare trailer tire.

He has the winch used to launch/retrieve the boat hooked to a tow strap around a tree.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Is exactly what our neighbor at the cabin uses.
Has two winches, one for the bow hook and the other to crank the trailer in and out of the water. Instead of the tongue jack he uses a spare trailer tire.

That just might work. When jeeperman first suggested it I was still thinking of a stationary trailer, but your suggesting rolling the whole thing in and out. hmmmm.

I'll mull that over for awhile.....thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Ayuh,... I've seen trailers with wheels, but no tires used on rail systems too....

I salvaged a set of 4 steel wheels of a junked chain link fence that had a rolling gate...
They're about 6" maybe 8" in diameter,+ will roll on pipe up to 3" diameter....

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Ayuh,... I've seen trailers with wheels, but no tires used on rail systems too....

I salvaged a set of 4 steel wheels of a junked chain link fence that had a rolling gate...
They're about 6" maybe 8" in diameter,+ will roll on pipe up to 3" diameter....

Yup, this was kind of where my head was at. The only issue is it has to come somewhat out of the water in fall.

If the ice moves while it is still frozen on shore it can break pretty much anything.

Moving the entire trailer introduces me to thinking about a buggy that rolls in and out. Forget about the rail all together.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Yup, this was kind of where my head was at. The only issue is it has to come somewhat out of the water in fall.

If the ice moves while it is still frozen on shore it can break pretty much anything.

Moving the entire trailer introduces me to thinking about a buggy that rolls in and out. Forget about the rail all together.

Exactly.
Depending on how soft or rocky the lake bottom is or how steep it all is you might be able to use a cradle on wheels or an old boat trailer as the cradle on wheels, etc.
You will have to decide if you will have to pull the contraption both ways in order to do what you want.
I have seen some use an old trailer with a super long tongue chained onto the existing tongue.
Then they used the garden tractor/atv/jeep etc. to push and pull it.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

You can see I kind of made the cable line visible. The tarp is covering his dual jet ski trailer (he also launches a 20 fish/ski the same way). You can see the ramp that goes down to the lake do help deal with the bulkhead.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

where i boat is an anitque Chris Craft, it is on a trailer with no tires, and rail road track down into the water. the track leads up into an old barn.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

If the ice moves while it is still frozen on shore it can break pretty much anything.

Ayuh,.... Around here,.. The very least you can get away with is,..
Having a couple of removable sections of track, from the High ice line, down to the end, or into deep enough water, depending on the grades involved...

Pipe is easier to scavange than rail,... It's also abit Lighter to move twice a year....

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Ayuh,.... Around here,.. The very least you can get away with is,..
Having a couple of removable sections of track, from the High ice line, down to the end, or into deep enough water, depending on the grades involved...

Pipe is easier to scavange than rail,... It's also abit Lighter to move twice a year....

Bond-o, you nail it again....I bit of calling around and I might be able to get my hands on 3" and 4" auger tubing. Not thick walled, but doable for this purpose. I'm back to thinking about a rail system as I think pulling and pushing a trailer with a 2500lb load may create a groove and constant maintenance. Might be more work in the long run.

Thanks for taking the time to manipulate and post that pic wa_ssv197. I'm not sure I see the items you are pointing out.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

I have seen two systems using the boat trailer with rubber tires. One used a winch to move the rig up and down and the other used an old p/u truck that had a worn out engine (obviously he got it for a song, but for the job at hand, who cares). The ramps were concrete. One was poured prior to the lake filling and the other afterwards. Since concrete is a chemical cure, pouring it into water is not a problem as it will cure underwater which it did.

Then I saw a third which was a rail system, but to me, that was the worst design, as ground movement, in the prevalent black clay around here, made maintaining the track at the designed distance/degree of level, a real problem.

All of the systems left the "carriage" in the water while the boat was out on the lake(s).

If I were to do it, it would be a trailer as with the local clay soil, one does not have to worry about rails shifting with the weather.
------------------
Now you talk about fun. The fish of choice was sand bass which liked to school and the schooling was chasing threadfin shad which liked to surface when attacked from below. So these people I am talking about would back their trailers into the water like 4pm and motor out half a mile or so and look for the seagulls who were on top of the surfacing shad the sand (white) bass forced to the surface. The schooling bass were easy to spot and were in a feeding frenzy....splashes everywhere. You could ease up to the action (had to be quiet so as not to spook them which caused them to sound and quit eating) and with the right baits, usually a tandem white on one and yellow on the other, bring them in two at a time as fast as you could do the recycle.....unhook the fish, drop it in the boat, cast out again...two seconds later repeat the process....and smack your bait, if you weren't hanging onto your rod, it would be over the side.

Then after half to a full hour of that (arms are worn out) back to the dock, drive the boat onto the trailer and for the guy with a winch, a remote control winched him right up and onto his waterfront property.......doesn't get any sweater than that......well he had to clean the fish....but he could have thrown them back. Great sport and it can spoil you in a heartbeat.

I know this as my inlaws had a waterfront house/lot also and it was between these two guys that had the trailer launchers.....the lake was/is Livingston, TX. situated between Huntsville and Livingston, TX. and these guys were of semi-modest means; no high rollers there.

My 2c

Mark

My 2c

Mark

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

If you use round pipe for your rails or virtually anything else for rails you could also use rims without tires. They don't have to be special fit to stay on the rails.

One thing to think about too would be local government regulations.
If a permit is required for the seasonal piers that are on the lake, you can bet that a permit will be needed for the rails.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

If you use round pipe for your rails or virtually anything else for rails you could also use rims without tires. They don't have to be special fit to stay on the rails.

One thing to think about too would be local government regulations.
If a permit is required for the seasonal piers that are on the lake, you can bet that a permit will be needed for the rails.

Yup, with you there jeeperman. rims on rails to make up the buggy.

Regulations? Ya, maybe? We're pretty isolated and law enforcement isn't really an issue. I doubt anyone on our little bay has pulled a permit for anything since its origin. (100 years)

Anyone have any pics of rail systems? I've found lots of companies selling them of course.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

BTW - Texas Mark....remote winch is exactly the thing.

I'm looking for some pics of our shore to give you guys an idea what I'm working with.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

Paul
You might want to look at using/converting a good used garage door opener....plus you get to operate it with a remote. At the very least, scavenge the motor, the mechanism and the receiver to rig up your own system...just set the limit stops to suit your winch or equivalent.
These are very inexpensive and easy to find used....so it might fit your budget.
BP

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

I see these systems quite frequently on Okla. lakes. Non-corps lakes of course. They always have 3" steel pipe, like oilfield stock. They simply weld the pipes together with some truss-supports every 3-4 feet all the way down into the water. Nothing really technical about them, and the use an electric winch to lower them down, and usually a safety strap as well in case the winch binds or cable breaks (unlikely). I've seen them on some extremely steep hills, so I'm sure you can put one just about anywhere. The wheels they use are the same type you see on rail-road service vehicles, and could probably be found pretty cheap. I'm sure they probably stay on the tracks since the docks usually don't float.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

I see these systems quite frequently on Okla. lakes. Non-corps lakes of course. They always have 3" steel pipe, like oilfield stock. They simply weld the pipes together with some truss-supports every 3-4 feet all the way down into the water. Nothing really technical about them, and the use an electric winch to lower them down, and usually a safety strap as well in case the winch binds or cable breaks (unlikely). I've seen them on some extremely steep hills, so I'm sure you can put one just about anywhere. The wheels they use are the same type you see on rail-road service vehicles, and could probably be found pretty cheap. I'm sure they probably stay on the tracks since the docks usually don't float.

This is where I'm heading. As mentioned I think I can get some tubing from my former neighbour who is the quality control guy for a steel tube manufacturer. (mostly augers)

BigPrairie, I like you idea of a garage door opener, but I don't think it would strong enough. Fairly easy grade into the water, but there will have to be a 'step' up once on shore. I'm using 4500lbs as my benchmark weight on boat. (heavy estimate, but better that then underestimating)

I'm going to post in the electronics section on remote ideas.

I know you can just go and buy these things, but I like the challenge and inginuity of figuring something out on my own. A fan of Red Green.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat Track (rail) System ideas?

BigPrairie, I like you idea of a garage door opener, but I don't think it would strong enough. Fairly easy grade into the water, but there will have to be a 'step' up once on shore. I'm using 4500lbs as my benchmark weight on boat. (heavy estimate, but better that then underestimating)

Ayuh,.... You're trying to pull a Rolling Load,... Not Lift it straight Up....

Gearing would make it Possible,...
Or,..
Just using the solenoids to run a winch motor...