So the Tornado will stay on the beach. I am going to build a cradle for it with two large cradles per hull. What is the easiest way to get a larger boat on and off a set up like this? Maybe a set of trailer rollers behind the aft cradles that go up when the boat is pulled back?
I thought it would be nice to have the Cat Trax at the balance point and then have the aft cradles fold away so no sliding or dragging would be needed, but it sounds complicated.
The cradle would likely be 2x8s bolted together to keep the hull off the sand. The Hobie sits on the sand and gets sand blasted all season. Can't bring myself to do that to the new boat.
Buy 4 x 8 sheets of white plastic fence lattice at Home Depot and 12 x 16' blue tarps at Costco or Sams. Lay a tarp down (to keep the sand out), then 9 sheets for Tornado and 6 sheets for Hobie. Boats will slide up & down the beach at reasonable cost with no damage to bottom. Can use over & over again. Pete
There's this:
http://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures?g2_itemId=113081&g2_GALLERYSID=2d7f1ec25a85e6af3a508ce9053a49c3
that's a set of beach wheels, and a smaller set, minimally held in place by a lightweight frame.
I keep mine on cat trax for the season. That way I am not always picking up the hulls to get the wheels under it. I tie the front and rear crossbars down to blocks sunk into the sand.
Pete, do you over lay the lattice? I see how it would slide just finishing a project with it, but can't envision how 9 are used.
I will use the buried blocks too. The Hobie hasn't moved in the wind in the past 10 years but I have seen photos of what can happen. Thanks guys.
For the Tornado, I lay 3 rows of 3 each. That gives a platform of 24 x 12 which allows you to run it up beach & turn head to wind to drop sails, then turn down beach for water next time. Could do it with 2 rows of 3, but this way one person can do it all. I'd leave the H-16 in mothballs. Pete
And yes get the $4 doggy screw in anchors & screw in below the surface so no tripping over them & tie the boat down. Else I'll make some more money shipping you a mast when that summer blow comes!!! Pete
A set of anchors it is then. I will bury a couple of sections of structural aluminum extrusion i have lying around and have lots of resistance to pull out when buried a foot or so deep. Thanks for the feedback.