DIY Beach Dolly for Hobie Cat

Hi, not sure where to put this thread.

I'm interested in building a beach dolly. There are none used in my area (northern Maine) and they are $700+ new.

I've been reading various threads on this forum, beachcats, and others, but I am having trouble finding an up-to-date thread on this.

Could someone point me to the latest thread please?



Looks like the best solutions out there are a 1.5" pipe/axle through hard dock wheels
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Patriot-Doc ... /203225134

Or, if I could find a wheel hub (if you have any ideas for this, please let me know), the cat trax tires can be purchased inexpensively:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Patriot-Doc ... /203225134


Thanks

Buy a piece of 2" aluminum tube .065" thickness and find some used cat trax wheels. You want the big foot print and relatively lightweight of those wheels

I built one with 2" aluminum tubing and dock wheels. I glued plugs in the openings in the dock wheels. Tubing from metalsonline.com and dock wheels from Mill's Fleet Farm. Cost about $250 to build them. I got some kind of clamps from McMaster Carr that fit the tubing to hold the wheels in place, surprisingly expensive. You could figure out something cheaper.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

I was thinking about using some big washers with a pin behind them to hold the wheel in place, side-to-side.

I agree, but there are no used cat trax where I live (Downeast, Maine)

I found the big fat tires, but i think cat trax makes proprietary wheels for those tires; can't find wheels anywhere. might use dock wheels (~$40 each).

55 gal plastic drum with 2.5 flange bearing on each side, 8ft pipe though the center.

Plastic tires smaller than this will build up a pile of sand in front of them and become hard to push and you'll clean it out every 5-10 feet. That's based on my experience at lake Erie with hard yellow tired cat trax.

If you have riding mower kicking around, the rear end can be used. Make a small frame to hold a cross bar. Here's one powered by 24v scooter motor

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

Now that's the bomb! If it really worked...

Next step - find a way to attach it to the back of your trailer so that it travels very nearly ready to go so you can drive your boat off the trailer to the water's edge...

Kind of complicated, but that kind of inventing is half the fun, right?

Love it.

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ChuckC
H21SE- 408

Here's the only video I got of it, jump 40 sec into it. First version had two cross bars and no handle. #2 I added the handle to make it like a wheelbarrow and nicely balanced . I started one that could use the handle at each end because when on the beach, it's hard to get under the rudders but easy to go in at the bows. Also thought an RC controller would be a nice add on. I used 2x4 to load it in my truck but one friend carried his on the trailer under his 18.
We got a new launch site in Conneaut OH where we can back in to the water, drop the boat, pull forward 15 feet and you're parked, we're all side by side so this has just been sitting in the garage. I'll pass it on to anyone that want's to pick it up in New Brighton, PA.

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