OK, some good points there, my Trax#1 is rarely fouling anything in the seat-plugged mode and is a comfy back rest for a tall guy, I just imagined that sheet-snagging might happen with a wider frame in this position.
Right now I wheel the boat right into 2ft of water, unplug the cart, plug it in the rear well, hop in and go.
I dont have time to faff about removing the wheels if I am launching in surf as I want to get out of the break zone saspo, however I guess I could do all that on the beach and drag the AI into the water instead.
I'll check axle-slots for sand build-up, sounds likely.
Ditto wheels, spoke to my excellent Hobie Dealer who also suggested the new wheels fitted to the Trax#1 frame may well be a good solution as the Poly-wheels perform markedly better on soft sand, and the flatter face actually increases wheelbase a little.
Your point on frame strength is noted, the KFS does look a little light, maybe the designer didn't expect people to be hauling 60Kg+ boats on it.
Can the new Poly-Wheels and the Trax#2 frame be purchased separately?
Roadrunner wrote:
Max, regardless of which cart or wheel size you get, I would definitely avoid those old PVC wheels pictured in your link. The polyurethane wheel series (also made by Wheeleez) hold more weight, roll easier and are less sensitive to air pressure variations than those featured. I also have to wonder, without a solid axle, if that cart frame shown is strong enough to handle more than the listed weight.
I've never had any problems with any of the carts in the cargo area as long as I keep the wheels on the port side and make sure the mainsheet is clear of all hazards at the beginning. As an alternative, you can pop the wheels off, drop them in the front hatch and lay the tethered frame down flat in the cargo well.
If you're having problems with wheels popping off, I wonder if the springs are sprung of out of position or sand is keeping them from fully seating. If not, you can get the straight axle type from Wheeleez, but obviously not for use with the Hobie frame.
Here's a link to a wheel comparison -- you can see that the new wheels are much much improved over the old!
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16179 I also tie the amas up when rolling -- in addition to any wheel factor, this keeps them from dragging on the ground. It also takes pressure off the crossbar connection.