|
Inflatable Launching Wheels: How To Launch A Small Boat Without A TrailerInflatable launching wheels, or boat transom wheels attach to the transom of your boat and make it easy to maneuver your boat to the waters edge, a blessing in tidal waters after the tide had gone out! I installed a set of Wheel-a-Weigh launching wheels, by Davis Instruments on our Bombard Typhoon 420 and was very happy I did. With our inflatable launching wheels I could pull our boat with a 105 lb (48kg) motor for long distances by myself on flat ground, and up moderate slopes with an assistant. The support bar on this brand is a rectangular aluminum bar and is rated for 300 lbs (136 kg) on hard surfaces and 200 lbs (91 kg)on soft. Our boat was 150lbs (68kg) and our motor was 105 lbs (48kg) for a total of 255 lbs (116kg). I knew I was pushing the weight limit, and sadly the support bar began to bend after pulling the boat up too many soft sand beaches. The large wheel diameter was great though, and easier to move over most surfaces. When we bought our new boat, I searched out every brand and style of launching wheels because I needed a stronger set for the boat and motor combined weight of 370 lbs (169kg). Davis Instruments used to make a set, but they stopped production. I searched and searched and managed to find a set! They are great! Here they are on our Zodiac Grand Raid MKII.
Make sure you purchase inflatable launching wheels that are rated for the weight of your boat and motor and remember the size of the wheels will greatly affect how easy they are to use. Small diameter, narrow hard plastic wheels are hard to roll across soft surfaces like sand, fine gravel. Larger diameter wide wheels roll more easily. I have used my inflatable launching wheels on all kinds of sand, gravel, cobble, and grassy shores, as well as on concrete and dirt boat launches. The large diameter, wide tire design makes it relatively easy to move the boat. 
The photo above shows me launching on a very soft gravel and sand beach. I had to push very hard to get the boat out into the water. It would have been easier with two people! An innovative wheel design called Wheelez looks like a neat option. Their wheels are designed to float over sand. I would love to see them fastened to an inflatable boat as inflatable launching wheels. Inflatable launching wheels need to be either flipped up or removed once on the water. I always remove my wheels while underway, because they get in the way, I do not enjoy listening to the rattle, and the Zodiac system cannot be flipped up, but needs to be removed, then inverted, then re-attached....... way too much hassle for my liking. Some flip up styles are easily removed once underway. The Zodiac attachment system is cumbersome to install while on the water because the air filled wheel needs to be forced down into the water and engaged with the little pin at the bottom of the transom. Then the bolt is inserted through the top of the transom and fastened to the launching wheel bracket. It is easy to remove though, just undo the bolt and push down. The wheel and bracket quickly bobs to the surface of the water. I like the design of the Swedish and New Zealand inflatable launching wheels as they remain on the transom and lock up or down easily. The two things I would not like are they are not easily removable from the transom when you fold up your boat, and they do not extend below the propeller when in the down position to make surf landings on beaches easier. Each model has advantages and disadvantages.... you will need to figure out which is most important to you.
|
