HELP - cant get tramp in sidebar

I just picked up a used (decent condition) tramp to replace my current ripped one.

This replacement one is a 2 piece solid (vinyl?).

I was able to get the old mesh one out with some soap and water.

Slid the thin back piece of the new one in with ease.

Got a few inches of each side panel in the sides, but can't get any further.

Just to test I was able to get the front of the side panels to slide in easily, but can't seem to do anything that will get the sides in.

I have tried tons of dish soap and water.

Suggestions??????

This is driving me crazy.

Thanks,
James

All I can say is that the sidebars are a magnet for creatures of all sorts and I was amazed at all the debris- mud dauber wasp 'constructions' etc. that came out with a high pressure wash. Make sure you do that.
Having two (or more?) people to maneuver the vinyl is another big help. Getting the right angle to start tramp sliding into the sidebar, after first installing the edge in the front in the crossbar, seems to be more art than science... Don't give up, if this is a Hobie vinyl tramp it will fit.

_________________
Raise your sail one foot, and you get ten feet of wind.
起你的一只帆，和你10英尺的。 -- Chinese Proverb
William D. Latinette @ Latrobe, PA, USA w. H14 Turbo X 2... [email protected]

Keep it lubed up well and use some ratchet straps to help pull it. I recommend putting rope though a number of the grommets and pulling on the rope, that way one grommet isn't taking all the load from the ratchet, work each side 1 or 2 clicks at a time. That's how I just put a used tramp on a boat I had for sale, it still took some time to get it installed.

_________________
Buxton
18' T16 Silent Lightning (16' T2 Hybrid)
11' H16 White Lightning
79' H16 Green Lightning

Anything but a new tramp going into an old sidebar is a pain. Even new ones work best with one person pulling and another feeding - 2 inches at a time.

The pro way to do it is to pop the rear crossbar off, slide the tramp sides through the end of the sidebar, then re-install the rear crossbar. Depending on how long it takes to get the crossbar off the pylons (some will just lift off, others require "persuasion"), this can save a lot of time and grunt work.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!!

So I was able to get the tramps on tonight with very mixed results.

For the first half I was able to take the side bar off in about 5 seconds and get the tramp on in about 10 seconds, so 15 seconds total.

For the second half I could not get the sidebar off and spent about 90 minutes getting the tramp on and doing some minor damage to it with a hammer , but since it was close to free I do not really care.


I started a quick lacing job, but the mosquitos won out.

Now I fear I've attached the tramp in time for hurricane winds to pick it up and destroy it later this week

Just unlace it, slide out of the front crossbar, and roll up around the sidebar. Tie securely so they won't flap or unroll in the high winds. Take the rudders off and bring everything you can inside (sails, rigging, etc.). Of course, the mast and rigging should be off the boat. Stake the boat down in the lee of a building and try to keep it away from trees.

Good luck!