Dinghy trailer suggestions please

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Ex-SolentBoy

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I have a clinker Nutshell dinghy which is about 3m long and about 50kg.

In the past it has sat on a launching trolley which I push through town to a local slipway when I want to use it.

I am now planning to tow it behind the car and launch at other places so I need a small trailer. I never seem to see any for sale, so perhaps I should buy a new one.

What would you recommend?
Should I get one of those trailers that have a launching trolley on top?

Thanks.
 
I have a combi trailer and am very happy with it. One of the key factors is that if you use the trailer itself you can get salt water in the wheel bearings. In particular, launching immediately on arrival the hubs will be hot and the sudden cooling will suck water in.

For my current dinghy I have followed the Barrowboat principle and built a wheelbarrow wheel into the bottom so I don't need a trolley.
 
Yes a combination trailer is a great idea, as the previous reply suggested the last thing you want is a road trailer that goes in the salt water.

There are usually a decent number of older ones on eBay if you can face it, for your short journey you probably do not need the smart new ones that people buy to do 10,000 plus miles per year of higher speed dinghy towing.
 
They are often available on ebay and Boats and Outboards. However you will often need new wheels, bearings, tyres and mudguards.
So a new one may be a good idea.
However for your dinghy there is an aspect you need to address.
Most dinghy trailers have suspension which is way too harsh. I too have a clinker dingy and I use an old Snipe trailer on which I replaced the suspension units ones with a total capacity of 250Kgs.
(These I found seem to be 125KGs per pair, but you need to check that)
My dinghy and trailer weigh 175kgs without mast motor etc so loaded and ready to go it is about 220 kgs which is ideal.

The boat rides softly, it doesn't crash and bash, and it follows the car beautifully. Clinker boats don't want to be banged about on trailers.
I towed it 220 miles last week at up to 70 mph on the motorway (naughty) without any drama at all.

Also, being a RIB trailer with bunks and keel rollers I can winch the dinghy from a flat surface like the lawn straight up onto the trailer. This mean I don't get even the wheels wet, let alone the bearings.

I'm just converting an old dinghy trailer to the same layout to act as a launch trailer that I can leave by the lake.

Serendipityinthegarden04_07_11.jpg


Serendipityonthewayhome03_07_11.jpg
 
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As has been said, a combi trailer would be best. There are several on Ebay, but of course, always seem to be at the other end of the country.
At 50 kgs, would it be possible to adapt one of the little box / camping trailers, e.g Halfords? [like the one in background of Lakesailers pic]
The weight should be OK but C of G may be a bit too high.
From experience, always carry a spare wheel and set of bearings. Easy to change at roadside, but hard to obtain at 7 pm on Sunday!
 
Thanks everyone.

Ebay etc are not easy for me as I am on the Isle of Wight and even if I can combine the trip with something else, I still get stung £50 or so for bringing a trailer over.

Looks like a new one with decent suspension is the only solution.
 
How handy are you?

My suggestion is to make a new, very simple trailer that takes your existing launching trolley.

So little more than a few bits of box section welded together with some suspension units. Suitable locating positions that your launch trolley slots into and straps down.

Launch the boat with the existing launch trolley, so the trailers road wheels never need to get wet.

Being lightweight, you don't need the complication of brakes.
 
ProDave said:
How handy are you?

My suggestion is to make a new, very simple trailer that takes your existing launching trolley.

So little more than a few bits of box section welded together with some suspension units. Suitable locating positions that your launch trolley slots into and straps down.

Launch the boat with the existing launch trolley, so the trailers road wheels never need to get wet.

Being lightweight, you don't need the complication of brakes.
Click to expand...

Are you suggesting I am a lightweight? Clearly you have not seen any photographs.:D

Interesting idea. I shall look into it. Thanks.
 
If it's a decent launch trolley I would consider some suspension units (as above) hubs wheels and tyres and a simple hitch.
Weigh the whole lot with dinghy, add a few Kgs. Paint that as the Gross Trailer Weight on the drawbar and you're legal. (maybe even get your lawnmower man to do the dirty bits)

Unless I'm missing something?


Or buy a rotten old Mirror on the island and throw away the Mirror bit but keep the trailer.
 
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