Trailer to beach wheels

Any tips for easily getting a rigged boat from the trailer onto beach wheels with cradles? Is it possible alone?

Get a nice set of stern pads. Roll the boat back till the stern pads touch then attach the beach wheels. then lift from the rear cross bar till the wheels are touching and roll off. I can do it with the Tiger solo if I have to.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
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http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/

Yes it is possible alone, but it is much easier with two. If working alone it is good to have a set of chalks (or anything similar) to brace the beach wheels while sliding the boat from the trailer to the wheels. Position the wheels behind the trailer about 5 ft., chalk, pull the boat back to the wheels, pivot the cradle UP and set the stern of the hulls on the cradles. Then remove the chalks, pull the boat on the wheels till only about 2 ft of the bow is still on the trailer. Strap one of the bows down (I use one of my aft tie downs). Pull the beach wheels forward to their normal center of gravity position (under the shrouds), secure, then undo the bow hold down and wheel to the beach.

What Rich said.

I slide the boat back far enough that I can get the hull chocks on, then I pull it back so the bow is just barely on the trailer. Slide the cattrax under then wheel it away. Rarely do I have anyone to help rig either, but its a bit different with a 275# boat than a F18

I never rig my boat on the trailer anymore. I think its way simpler doing it on the ground. Heck, sand is my last choice for a spot to rig a boat, I'll take grass or asphalt over sand any day.

Tried it today and used a sleeping bag under each hull. Anyone know where I can get a decent set of hull pads. Thanks alot for the tips fastcat and Rich, they were helpful.

What I've done, and it sounds very similar to what is mentioned above is the following:

Put beach wheels directly behind trailer

Attach stern pads to back of the hulls, or take a few old life jackets and put them on the ground approximately where you think the hulls will land.

Pull the boat back so that the bows are still on the front roller, and the stern is now resting on the stern pads or life jackets.

Slide the wheels aft to the shrouds and tie the line on the wheels to the shrouds.

Go back to the stern and pick up the hulls and slide it back until the wheels take the load.

Now I've mainly used the wheels with 18's and a 21 foot super cat and that is not one person job. Half the time our beach wheels are pretty flat though. Also the most economical stern pads that I've seen are thick pool noodles with either line or a tie down strap run through the center. Seems to work well.

Adam

Murrays Marine has a selection of cradles.

All of the earlier answers are good & easily workable.

My personal techniques only vary slightly.
1) easiest/cheapest stern pads I've used are pieces of foam insulation board. Easy to make & use, easy to store & carry and best of all: CHEAP! I also use foam board to set the boat on during virtually all 'ground operations' including unhooking the H18 mainsail by tipping the boat fully rigged on its side (BTW, this is way easier on land than it is in the water--even when the water in only three feet deep!)
2) Haven't heard this one mentioned before, but I've replaced all of the pins & ringdings at the base of my shrouds with SS 1/4" bow shackles (safety wired closed). Having the 'bow' available to tie off the cattrax lead makes for extremely easy pull & tie-off (If putting the trax under from the bow of the boat, put the end of the lead through the bow shackle, pull until the trax is wedged under as far as possible, tie off the line with a slip hitch. Move to the other side and repeat. When the trax is wedged as far under as a simple pull will get it, step back and place your close foot on the end of the trax axle shaft. Push with your foot, pull the slack line and tie off with a slip hitch. I can typically de-trailer, roll onto my trax & tie off only crossing the transom three times--amounts to two serious pulls on each side of the boat. Takes less than 5 min on a really hot & tired day.
3) I own/sail 3 x Hobies (2 x H16, H18, and I have an H17 in rebuild). My trailer hauls two at a time (inspired by pics of a double-stack trailer on the Beachcats site), so I'm in the business of moving cats about economically.

Spent a glorious week in Nags Head, NC (before the OBX regatta) sailing two boats every day (mostly solo) and had a marvelous time. Always fun to read, guys, fair winds & following seas!

The best-est stern/bow pads ever.
http://www.shop4lifejackets.com/ski-belts.htm

_________________
2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

I use the pool Pugil sticks. just cut in half add a piece of bungie and you're set.

_________________
Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
[email protected]
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/f-185150sailing/