Dinghy trailer, trolley whatever
- Thread starter DoubleEnder
- Start date
oldbloke
Well-known member
It goes against the PBO ethos as it involves spending money but, the modern aluminium , narrow wheeled launching trolleys are a revelation in lightness and ease of pulling
dunedin
Well-known member
Yes if on private land and/or in a remote country / location.
The issue might be if it is along a public road - and in one of the most populated areas of the UK, where people tend to apply rules / laws more rigorously (if annoy somebody enough to get reported).
Refueler
Well-known member
Totally agree ... but go back to OP's post and read about thr 'track' he would use ...
If as I surmise .. OP lives in a rural or at least semi rural area and if he's sensible about it ... most local 'plod' would turn a blind eye ... maybe have a word .. but that's about it on a 'rural track'.
To talk about "if it is along a public road - and in one of the most populated areas of the UK, where people tend to apply rules / laws more rigorously (if annoy somebody enough to get reported" is a bit off ... no ??
dunedin
Well-known member
He said in post #1 it is a "quiet single track road" - which implies a public road, albeit a narrow one.
A "track" would be different, but may have different issues of rights of access in England.
DoubleEnder
Well-known member
It’s a public road. Surfaced with tarmac, a couple of gentle slopes and almost exactly 1 mile from my house to the river. The vertical interval in total about 35m so not exactly alpine.
There is occasional traffic, but very little and I know most of the people who drive it.
If I get a dinghy it will be 8-10 ft long and almost certainly wooden clinker. Not super light, but not too massive. No outboard to worry about and I’m not worried about the launch/ recovery. I can manage that I believe, even without a trolley, though there is a sort of slipway available.
My car is a VW polo. The price of fitting a towbar ( which is the obvious thing to do) makes me think there might be another way. I’ve no intention of doing any serious towing other than this 2 mile round trip.
I guess if/when I get the boat I’ll investigate roof rack possibilities
But I was just wondering about other solutions. I quite like the mobility scooter suggestion, and a garden tractor would possibly be useful in the garden. My neighbour has a caravan power tug but it is v slow and I think v short range.
So thank you every body. Useful
There is occasional traffic, but very little and I know most of the people who drive it.
If I get a dinghy it will be 8-10 ft long and almost certainly wooden clinker. Not super light, but not too massive. No outboard to worry about and I’m not worried about the launch/ recovery. I can manage that I believe, even without a trolley, though there is a sort of slipway available.
My car is a VW polo. The price of fitting a towbar ( which is the obvious thing to do) makes me think there might be another way. I’ve no intention of doing any serious towing other than this 2 mile round trip.
I guess if/when I get the boat I’ll investigate roof rack possibilities
But I was just wondering about other solutions. I quite like the mobility scooter suggestion, and a garden tractor would possibly be useful in the garden. My neighbour has a caravan power tug but it is v slow and I think v short range.
So thank you every body. Useful
chriss999
Well-known member
Can you have a word with the riparian owner about storing it by the river? Then you’ve just got to carry the oars and a decent lunch.
DoubleEnder
Well-known member
oldbloke
Well-known member
How about a second hand towbar off Ebay? Don't bother with electrics, 50 quid and an hours work, a launching trolley would cope with 15mph for a mile
Refueler
Well-known member
Do you have a screw in towing eye ?? That is more than enough to tow a launch trolley with dinghy.
oldbloke
Well-known member
Fine for the pulling but braking could get messy
Refueler
Well-known member
If you make it fast properly - its fine ....
My hand trailers - I make fast to the towing ball by similar rope as I used to with screw eyes ... both methods - never had any problems.
DoubleEnder
Well-known member
Now that’s a thought! I will have a look when I’m back. Thank you
davidej
Well-known member
I’m minded of an incident years ago when my father drove to the YC to bring home an empty launching trolley. He tied it to the bumper of his Zephyr and motored along the seafront at Southend-on-Sea. The rope broke. The trolley bumped up onto the wide pavement and went along straight as a die at about 30mph for a good distance. Luckily there were no pedestrian about and no harm done, but I still have visions of it hitting someone and breaking both their legs.
Moral - do it properly!
Moral - do it properly!
DoubleEnder
Well-known member
Yes but it is a short distance I can take it v slow and I reckon I can lash tight enough not to cause too many jacknifing incidents.
Promising
oldbloke
Well-known member
You are bound to meet a Thames Valley Range Rover who's owner forgot to tick "reverse gear" in the options list
dancrane
Well-known member
Is the trolley filled with beer or batteries? 
William_H
Well-known member
The mobility scooter "Shop Rider" as in the Utube are quite expensive new. (3000squid plus) However they do become available second hand as the oweners tend to get a better offer of residence (heaven) So keep an ear out for availability. ( 5 to 10% of new price if you are lucky)
The wheels on the transom work out very well for me. I can drag the dinghy by the bow from the parking spot for the shoprider to a poinnt with bow over the water. I just flip the dinghy over and drag into water. On recovery drag the dinghy high enough out of the water that I can then flip it upside down and drag it up a few feet to hook on the shoprider. For the first really steep part of beach I walk next to the shop rider while driving it cos my 100kg are a bit too much load. It will do it.
Unfortunately there is a tendency with mobility scooters to go light weight folding with lithium batteries and smaller wheels. Great cos you can get them into a larger 5/3 door type car. I saw a lady recently with a electric hoist fitted into her little car to stow the scooter. Great. But I suspect the smaller scooters will not have the larger wheels excess power you might need. The shop rider must weigh 150kg or so. (with 2x 40 AH deep cycle LA batteries)
Might suit Nigel but the shoprider has a differential drive to back wheels. So not great for difficult traction.
Incidentally the shoprider brand comes in essentially 2 sizes. The bigger one I use has longer wider wheel base while the smaller version more suitable inside a shop is narrow shorter and has anti tip tramp wheels at the back. Is inclined to lift front wheels especially if you have the seat pushed back.
I have a big one and a small one. Small one has enough power to tow dinghy but can be a bit more unstable. I did however take off the tramp wheels when fitting a tow hook and managed to tip it right over backwards. Quite spectacular with me sitting still in seat stopped by head rest on ground. Front wheels up up wards. (no harm done. ( 2 scooters? his and hers, getting practice for old age) In both cases owners were glad to get rid of scooters after owners passed)
Both scooters charged by 2x 10w solar PV panels in series no controller. ol'will
The wheels on the transom work out very well for me. I can drag the dinghy by the bow from the parking spot for the shoprider to a poinnt with bow over the water. I just flip the dinghy over and drag into water. On recovery drag the dinghy high enough out of the water that I can then flip it upside down and drag it up a few feet to hook on the shoprider. For the first really steep part of beach I walk next to the shop rider while driving it cos my 100kg are a bit too much load. It will do it.
Unfortunately there is a tendency with mobility scooters to go light weight folding with lithium batteries and smaller wheels. Great cos you can get them into a larger 5/3 door type car. I saw a lady recently with a electric hoist fitted into her little car to stow the scooter. Great. But I suspect the smaller scooters will not have the larger wheels excess power you might need. The shop rider must weigh 150kg or so. (with 2x 40 AH deep cycle LA batteries)
Might suit Nigel but the shoprider has a differential drive to back wheels. So not great for difficult traction.
Incidentally the shoprider brand comes in essentially 2 sizes. The bigger one I use has longer wider wheel base while the smaller version more suitable inside a shop is narrow shorter and has anti tip tramp wheels at the back. Is inclined to lift front wheels especially if you have the seat pushed back.
I have a big one and a small one. Small one has enough power to tow dinghy but can be a bit more unstable. I did however take off the tramp wheels when fitting a tow hook and managed to tip it right over backwards. Quite spectacular with me sitting still in seat stopped by head rest on ground. Front wheels up up wards. (no harm done. ( 2 scooters? his and hers, getting practice for old age) In both cases owners were glad to get rid of scooters after owners passed)
Both scooters charged by 2x 10w solar PV panels in series no controller. ol'will
Refueler
Well-known member
Exactly ... as I have done for years ...
My main hand trailer has a T bar ... not a ring or ball hitch ... that T get put behind the ball of my towball and lashed well ... it never moves from there ....
It would be just as secure on a towing eye.
Refueler
Well-known member
At least the RR can pull off the track and go round you !!