Moving the boat

This may sound a silly question but what is the best way to get the beach wheels under the boat ? Start them at the front and lift each bow in turn as my partner slides them back a foot or so, alternately from side to side ? I found we could only move them about a foot or the boat would come off the pads ... seems a very slow process ...

When moving the boat from the beach to the boat ramp via the water at the end of sailing, I assume we leave them in place ? Moving the boat from the beach wheels to the trailer was tricky too ... the beach wheels popped out on one side and the boat came down on them. It was also difficult getting the boat centered on the rollers nearest the car.

Is it best to remove the beach wheels before trailoring ? Is it best to unhook the trailer before putting the boat on ?

Any tips are appreciated.

It sounds like you don't have a line tied to each end of the axel on the beach wheels to tie to the chainplate anchor, it not, then tie them on. I drilled a hole through my axel, threaded a 1/4" thick or so line through and put a stopper knot at one end of the line.

If you can, have the boat floating just off the beach in water deep enough to shove the wheels under the hulls, tie the beach wheel lines to the chainplate anchor then pull the boat ashore.

Getting the boat from the beach wheels onto the trailer you'll need the tongue of the trailer secured either to the trailer hitch or someone about 160 pounds sitting on it. Then, untie the lines securing the wheels to the boat, position the boat to push it straight onto the trailer, then give it a firm shove onto the trailer. You may need to move the beach wheels aft once the bows are on the trailer to avoid scraping the bottoms of the sterns, then push rest of the boat up on the trailer. The wheels will assist until the majority of the weight of the boat is on the trailer.

Do not trailer the boat with the beach wheels still under the hulls!

Here's how we do it. Initially with the boat on the trailer, put the beach wheels on the ground behind the trailer. Then start pulling the boat off the trailer untill the shroud anchors (hull balance point) are above the wheels. Rest the boat on it's sterns and then tie the wheels to the shroud anchor points. Then pull the boat the rest of the way off the trailer (with the wheels tied underneath).

In every other case, it's easiest to install and remove the wheels from the from the bow of the boat (this way the rudders don't interfere). And, its easier still with the boat floating in the water. This way you don't have to lift the boat, you just push the wheels under the hulls, slide them back to the shroud anchors, and tie off.

When putting the boat back on the trailer, basically you use the install method in reverse. Align the boat to the trailer and push the bows up on to the rear trailer rollers and roll the boat forward until the wheels stop or the sterns hit the ground. Then untie the beach wheels, go to the stern, lift the sterns up and push the boat the rest of the way on to the trailer.

The wheels should not be able to slide sideways relative to the boat. There should either be a small curb on the end of the beach wheel axle or there should be cradles on the axle. And there should be a line on either side of the axle to tie to the boat.

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Thanks guys. Tying the wheels on sounds as though it should make a difference.

One more question ... do you rig the boat with the wheels on ?

I do but I slide them all the way to the back. Mostly just so I don't have to struggle to get them under the boat again.