Dog Bone or "Q-tip" Beach RollersBy Rob MorseIf they could build the pyramids using rollers, you can move your cat with them too. Egyptian history aside, I use PVC pipe attached to two long boat fenders to make a beach roller. The boat hulls roll on the fenders, not the pipe. The roller also goes by the name dog bone or Q-tip. Q-tips, like the cotton swabs, since they have a white puffy (fender) at each end. It is easy to roll over sand, gravel and pavement for short distances. How I made a set for our Hobie 14: Materials- |
| 2 ea. | inflated vinyl boat fenders (bumpers), 6 inches Dia X 16 long (Adjust the size to suit the size of the boat and note the size of the "eye".) |
| 1 ea. | 5 foot length of 3" Schedule 40 PVC plastic pipe (ABS plastic works too. Adjust pipe size to match with the fender "eye". Adjust pipe length according to boat width.) |
| 1ea. | 8 foot length of elastic shock chord, 3/16 or 1/4 inch dia. (Your length may vary.) |
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Use fenders that come with a bale or eye molded on one end. Thread the shock chord through the eye of the fender. Lead a length of rope through the plastic pipe and attach one end of the rope to the free ends of the shock chord. Stretch the shock chord through the pipe. This will pull the bumper up against one end of the pipe with the fender eye pulled inside the pipe. The pipe is centered on the end of the fender. You want to match the size of the pipe so it will just fit over the eye in the fender. This keeps the fender and pipe centered and in line with each other.) To complete the assembly, keep the shock chord from shooting down the pipe with one hand and untie the rope with your second and third hands. Now pick up the second bumper, hands 2 and 3 again, and tie the shock chord through the fender eye with hands 4 and 5. Don't get hit by the fender as you release the shock chord. Unless you have been creative, it looks like this in use:  It is easy to roll our Hobie and even our Prindle 19 with the 6 inch diameter fenders. If it is a long "log roll" then we borrow another "dog bone" and keep moving the run over roller back to the front of the boat. Rob Morse H-14 TIGGr P-19 599 San Jose, CA, USA |
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