I'm looking at 20 x 10 x 8 club cadet lawn mower wheels and tires that can be bought at tractor supply for $90 each. The rim has a 4 x 4 hole pattern where you could attach an idler hub with a 1" bearing bore for 1" OD steel aircraft tubing. Total cost would be under $250, less craddles. Cutter pins and washers to hold the wheels in place. You can even get Carlisle slick tires, that are used on golf course if you wanted to change out the rubber the rims come with (turf tires). Tires are rated at 1,000lbs each in carry weight. What do you think of this approach?

Added: or you can get 1" collets with set screws to keep wheels in place.



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 02, 2015 - 07:01 AM.

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Quote

What do you think of this approach?

many have tried - few (if any) have succeeded

you can search this site and other catamaran sites for all the dozens and dozens of people whom have tried to build a better mousetrap (or cheaper) - in the end ... most fail

Quote

most fail

The tires on the beech wheels for $700 or so shipped are 20 x 12 x 8. So is there any explanation where 2" more in width of tire works, and where a 10" tire would not work? We are only talking about 2 tires and and a steel rod.

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They say, 20" ATV tires comprise beech wheels. Problem with ATV wheels, the rims are not what is needed. Hence, the beech wheels people came up with their own rim. Tires are common.
I say, simply use a common rim, with a common tire.
There's not too many that have made wheels here from any search and even include: ATV tires are what is needed.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…unc=viewtopic&topic=2037

Since I'm in need of wheels for another boat project, not as wide an axle than what is used for cat, I'm inclined to buy a set to experiment. I know these wheels will work for my other boat. It is unknown if they'll work for cat. But I'm thinking they'll work. Next time you are in tractor supply, look at the 20 x 10 x 8

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This is the tire needed, same one on cat trax but, try and find a 4 x 4 8" hub for it, is the problem. Might take more research. Perhaps a golf cart rim would work. This tire suppler had no idea where to get a rim. You need a rim that will accept a 1" bearing bore for your axle.

http://www.tires-easy.com…t_kw=&wt_mc=sortpricecom

You need 9.5" WIDE x 8" dia rim with 4 x 4 bolt pattern for this tire. These tires are also used on J cub aircraft for tundra tires. the matco aircraft rims would be too heavy/ expensive.. etc. There are 7 and 8" wide rims, that MIGHT work.



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 02, 2015 - 08:01 AM.

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I will be impressed if you can create a product as good for less money
but it is possible (maybe) :)

you seem to have a lot more time to dedicate to this project than i would - i am cheap but my time is the most valuable thing to me.

will you sail in salt or fresh water?

With googles help and knowledge of terms (idler hub etc) I'll spend an hour to save $500 any day. That's almost a price of a good fixer upper cat or a whole season worth of gas to and from the water. Salt so Sealed bearing hubs. Switch to 1" OD aluminum tube. In fact, if I post supplers/products here via links, one might only spend 2 minutes getting materials and 30 minutes drilling holes in the tube to put the cotter pins... not to mention getting the rubber on the rims

added: That any lawnmower place could do if you can't do that yourself without those motor cycle tire wrenchs and goo and that big strap to wrench around the center of the tire to compress the sidewalls up against the rim so that it will hold air to fill it.



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 02, 2015 - 10:22 AM.

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Goodsailing

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Split this off of the "Plastic vs Rubber" beach wheels topic.

Please do come up with a recipe for easily building cheap beach wheels.

Damon: You are a saint!

--
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
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rattlenhum

Damon: You are a saint!

More than saint

But I really am interested to see if someone can come up with a homemade beach wheel recipe that would perform the job of the real Cat Trax on soft sand. If I had the money I'd put up a prize like the Jules Verne Trophy awarded to the designer that can come up with a successful recipe.

Trophy Requirements:
1. Cost of ALL parts and pieces involved no more than 50% of equivalent Cat Trax.

2. All materials (parts and pieces) must be commonly available to the public at a hardware store or through online purchase.

3. Time to assemble complete set of wheels from above no more than 8 hours for the average (not professional mechanic) sailor.

4. No special machine tools needed beyond what can reasonably be expected for a sailor to already own. (things like power drill, screw drivers, wrenches, saber saw, tin snips or most hand tools are OK, drill press, table saws, hydraulic press, welding equipment etc. are not)

5. Performance must be on-par with real Cat Trax when used on a 400 pound catamaran on deep soft sand for effort required to roll, loading/unloading, and turn radius.

Here are some issues I see over and over that make homemade designs fail. (there are others)

1. Weight, home built beach wheels tend to either be too fragile or way too heavy.

2. Cost, the rare cases of reasonably performing home made beach wheels cost as much or much more (especially when considering they usually require machine tools) as the much disparaged price of the genuine article.

3. Performance, real Cat Trax beach wheels roll like magic across all surfaces including the deep super soft sugar sand of the gulf coast. I've never seen a pair of homemade wheels that work in deep soft sand. Some work well on asphalt or hard pack sand.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
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You want my receipe...
The tire is a given. Source 8 x 9 aluminum rim with hub/ 3/4 or 1" bearing. The problem is getting the bolt pattern of the wheel and hub to match. 1" x OD aircraft tubing is $8/ft x 8ft. I'm 90% there...



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 02, 2015 - 05:54 PM.

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Not sure if this was lost or not. I need a 2 ft wide beech wheel dolly for another boat. So consequently, having two axles, one 8ft long and one 2ft long using these same wheels with the same hub would suit my purpose for the cat and the boat I'm building. Buying the cat trax for the cat, wouldn't work for me with my other boat, so is the reason I'm investigating DIY beach wheels that will work for both my boats. Just thought I'd put this in there for reference.

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goodsailing

You want my receipe...
The tire is a given. Source 8 x 9 aluminum rim with hub/ 3/4 or 1" bearing. The problem is getting the bolt pattern of the wheel and hub to match. 1" x OD aircraft tubing is $8/ft x 8ft. I'm 90% there...

Forgive me for being skeptical, I'm rooting for you, but frankly don't think you have a chance in H of making the price point.

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Quote

price point

What exactly is the price point of Cat Trax shipped. I've read $700. Is this correct? I'm seeing tires $85, Hubs and wheels $120 and steel tubing $80. ... with the only machine tool a drill is necessary. Unless of course you buy collets with set screws and then the only tool needed is a scewdriver.

Added: then there's the cost of beach front property where you can even use beach wheels--Priceless! (I wonder if most cats are owned by people who have beach front property anyway, as finding a beach to launch a cat are few and far between.)



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 03, 2015 - 05:47 AM.

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goodsailing

What exactly is the price point of Cat Trax shipped. I've read $700. Is this correct?

Factory prices of the Cat Trax are here.
http://www.floridasailcraft.com/CatProducts.htm

Standard trax without cradles are $459, the "$700" number comes from rounding up with $579 price of the trax with cradles plus I guess a lot of shipping.

So the target price of the "Homemade Cat Trax" trophy is $230 worth of materials.

FYI, for your H18 cradles are very nice and make the trax easier to use, but not required, I've never had cradles. Most of the modern boats require them to prevent damage to the bottoms but the H18 is built so strong it's not a problem.

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Damon Linkous
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Why half the price of Cat Trax? The above pricing is $285 using the nanco rubber. OK then use the Carlisle's tires which are rated at more weight limit that come with rims from tractor supply-- not sure the pulling or pushing differential between a few more inches of rubber on the tire etc. That's $190 rim and tires(20 x 10 x 8), hubs 1" shaft $40, steel tubing $80=$310, plus you have pins and washers.
Or wait for club cadet wheels and tires to come up on CL for cheap, or buy used set the Cattrax--(looked into that but the guy said, cracks in rubber and hardly held air etc.)

So wait for parts nancos/hubs/rims at $285, or drive over to tractor supply and buy the two 20 x 10 x 8's complete wheels. Order steel which you have to order anyway, I'm 1 hr from shop where there is steel.. for $310 total build. No welding or machining parts.

OK I'm not winning any trophy but I might save a couple of hundred, plus get different axle length for my other one off boat I'm building.
I'll defer to other entrants for the grand prize

BTW--what is the prize? --

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Goodsailing

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It's really gonna be difficult to out do CatTrax for less than the real deal. I know a guy who must have spent weeks of work and a lot of money on building a Hobie 18 trampoline when he could've just ordered a brand new one for $220. At some point you have to trust a professional company that's already done the research and development to put out a proven long lasting durable product. If for some reason you can build light weight tough beach wheels that can carry a heavy load for under $300?? Open up a business!! You'll get rich ;)

--
Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
--

Quote

building a Hobie 18 trampoline

DIY Tramp involves precision sewing, tayloring, setting gromments , grommet tool etc. to get it right. I would not venture with such a project unless I was in the upholstering business and had tools. Bolting on an idler hub to a wheel you bought ready made, and running a steel tube through the bore and inserting a pin to hold the wheel in place is considerable less effort than manufacturing a trampoline. Not the same DIY project. You will note however I did go to junk yard, got seat belt webbing and replaced the foot straps to my tramp. I try to stay positive. If not, what do we have to look forward to. Thanks for all the help and encouragement...

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Goodsailing

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Um.... Trampoline was made out of wood. Hahahahaha

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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
--

goodsailing

Why half the price of Cat Trax?

Why not? That's the rule for my my mythical trophy, and because if you are saving less than that then why bother?

Just remember, steel pipe is heavy, steel rims and hubs are very heavy, and lawn tires are heavy.

So build your best effort, show us the cost list, weigh your beach wheels, and then use them to move your Hobie 18 around on very soft sand and report back.

Also, the target weight is 40 pounds total without cradles. I weighed my old set with knobby wheels and several cans of green slime inside and they were 43.5 pounds (no cradles).

Anyone got a brand new set and a digital fish scale handy? I could have sworn mine are much heavier than others I've used (they even have a handle welded on) but Murrays told me a new set weights "about" 40 pounds.

Weight on the axle, not weight of axle
Why 3.5 lbs more means failure where 3.5 less lbs means success
Why challenge targets determined after real prices furnished. Seems invitation to challenge is an invitation to fail. Why's that. We were already failing before you decided to start the challenge, which is why I'm not participating. How could I. I was failed upon the start of the challenge.
Damon, you won!

Side note: I'm building a two hull outrigger boat. I need an axle 3 ft long with two wheels to move that hull the reason I'm researching wheels etc. I don't even need beach wheels for the hobie 18 as I'm launching that at a boat ramp. Now it would be nice if the wheels I buy for the outrigger would work for hobie cat but it's not that important at the moment. I already have the tubing for that axle.

All the best.

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I must say, I paid full price and shipping for them and they may seem expensive but are worth every penny. I've seen so many bad homemade cat tracks its starting to get hilarious. One of my friends actually has a really good set of homemade tiger tracks, but the wheels leak and they are about 80 lbs. Honestly I the cat tracks I have aren't complicated to make. If something breaks I can source almost every part locally (escept the end pieces and the fire hose rubber, if I need to. However, if I wanted to build a full set and sourced all the parts, the cost would be similar to just buying them from florida sailcraft. Then I would have to spend the time drilling the bits and putting them together. In the long run, I'd rather be sailing. This is one of the few sailboat parts that I would say are not overpriced for what you do. ANdd besides you can use themfor other purposes. I use mine to move my 16' aluminum boat around and float out my rail system for my ski boat. :)

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Quote

If something breaks I can source almost every part locally (escept the end pieces and the fire hose rubber, if I need to.

Where do you get the plastic rims? To fit the nanco 21 12 8 tire? Steel ones are about 8lbs each. Not sure the weight of tire.

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Goodsailing

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goodsailing...just my $.02 for what it's worth. made these almost 10 years ago and haven't had any problems here on our sandy beach.yeah they can pull harder than "official" beach wheels but it works for me

http://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures?g2_itemId=82521

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Mike Conway
H16
Hilton, NY
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goodsailing

Where do you get the plastic rims? To fit the nanco 21 12 8 tire? Steel ones are about 8lbs each. Not sure the weight of tire.

goodsailing, will you be in fresh or salt water? (i asked somewhere else but i can't find it)

Brakish

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Mike, plastic dock wheels under consideration...

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Built these for my Wave as the full sized wheels rubbed the hulls. Probably could have redrilled the axle and made them adjustable but just wanted to see if I could do it. Got the whole thing done for under a hundred bucks. 22x11-10 ATV wheels and tires off Ebay for 25 bucks (cost 35 to ship), 2"ID aluminum tube...1/16" wall. Wheel hubs were pvc compression fittings. Holes in fittings actually matched the rim. Collars were cutting board material. Wheel mounting bolts were plastic 3/8" toilet seat mounting screws (the rounded nuts actually center the rim to the hub) It went together quickly and I have been pleased with it. The Wave sits on the carpeted 2x6 and the straps are then cinched tight over the top. For my next project I was toying with the idea of a motorized set of beach wheels to move the heavier boats back into our mast up storage area. How about a Rascal motor or wheelchair motor for each wheel controlled by two-way toggle switches for each motor. You would have forward, reverse and toggle steering. Moving a Getaway a hundred yards by yourself takes more balls than I have. So, any ideas?

We have supersoft sand here and I can promise those plastic wheels would sink right down. Even the plastic wheels that Cat Trax makes, with their sweet bearing system, were almost impossible to move across the dune to the beach.

CatsailorMike

goodsailing...just my $.02 for what it's worth. made these almost 10 years ago and haven't had any problems here on our sandy beach.yeah they can pull harder than "official" beach wheels but it works for me

http://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures?g2_itemId=82521

--
Paul T.
6 Hobie Getaways, 3 Waves, & an H16
Sea Island Water Sports, GA
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Quote

We have supersoft sand here and I can promise those plastic wheels would sink right down. E

Which is why I brought up the quality of sand here:
http://www.thebeachcats.c…c/15522/start/0#pid55520
Probably good to beach launch when the parking lot is filled with cars and people. This way you can pull some help from curious onlookers. Perhaps even offer rides for help.

Is this a community sport....
Looks like these guy's have it down in how to move a boat..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWpsuQe5zg0

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Goodsailing

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I built a set for myself. IMO, they are pretty darn close to the real thing in weight and performance. Delrin bearings would make the difference for me. I use them most of the time now. They cost me about $300 to build. If I added my skilled larbor in machining and TIG welding, They would cost more than the Sailcraft Wheels.

http://www.thebeachcats.c…opic/topic/14435/start/0

The link also includes a weight comparison, my wheels currently weigh 11lbs more than most Cat-trax. All of that weight is in the tires alone with are substantially heavier than the smooth ones. That 11lbs is pretty dang noticeable after a hard days sailing.

Using steel hubs and axle would push the weight up FAST! I would advise you weigh the wheel/tire combo your looking at before you start.

I have been able to purchase several used sets at $250 or less which is by far the best way to go.

Here's what I'm thinking

Rims

http://www.mfgsupply.com/az1006.html

Hub:



http://www.bmikarts.com/4…1-ID-Bearing_p_1644.html

Nanco wheels same ones on Cattrax

http://www.tires-easy.com…t_kw=&wt_mc=sortpricecom

Or buy the tractor supply rims& wheels with 20 x 10 x 8 tires and use the above hub. These tires are rated at 1,000lbs whereas the nanco are 350lbs..

Not sure about weight and then again its the combined weight on axle not weight of axle making impressions on the sand. For instance, if you removed the mast the whole thing is 50lbs lighter etc.



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 06, 2015 - 07:08 AM.

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Goodsailing

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I would not be concerned at all with the tire rating, I would be very concerned though with the 1" axle. I have had a couple sets of wheels that had slightly bent axles from the weight of a 400lb boat. Mostly happened when pushing boats up, over, and off of obstacles. Even a nice beach often have some humps and bumps in the dunes. That was with a 2" .120" wall axle. A 1" (solid?) axle would be hard pressed to survive in such conditions.

The weight of the wheels themselves is only a concern for the person that has to carry them around. Sometimes you have to haul them a long ways, you really start to feel those pounds when you have to carry them back up a boat ramp to lock to your trailer.

As I said before, my wheels are currently about 50lbs or 10lbs more than the factory trax. You really feel that difference when you have to carry them. Luckily I am a bigger and younger guy and can deal with it enough to not bother changing the tires out yet. If they weighed another 10lbs, I think that would really bother me.

There are no 2" bore hubs that will fit a 4 bolt 4 circle rim.. the reason you machined one.
4130 aircraft tubing, 1" .156 wall is pretty stiff, 1.4 lb per foot. It's used for aircraft. BUT as you say...would it support 400lb boat. Wouldn't you put a lasso around the wheels and pull it back and forth, not carry it... so it's about carrying the wheels, not weight of axle has on going through sand.. OK...Need a dolly for the beach wheels perhaps..

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Check this site out, pretty cool tool to compare the stiffness of different tubes.

http://metalgeek.com/static/deflection.php

Quote

Check this site out, pretty cool tool to compare the stiffness of different tubes.

http://metalgeek.com/static/deflection.php

That is cool.

I took a 3 ft section of 1" 4130 and put it between 2 bricks and held 50lbs (250lbs total) while standing on it. Didn't budge. Still not sure it would hold boat.
Here's the dilemma. If I go steel rims, aluminum 1" hubs and nanco tires and it doesn't work I'm out $300. The wheels probably wouldn't be worth anything to anyone else so I'd be out $300. If I bought the lawn mower wheels and tires 20 x 10 x 8 and it didn't work, I probably could sell the wheels and tires.. so I'd be out perhaps $200... there seems to be much discussion about lawn mower wheels not working, yet no one has mention the size of the tire on the lawn mower wheel that didn't work. I saw J. Deer tires in Lowes yesterday sporting 21 11's Buying the cattrax, I'd be out $250, provided I could sell them down the road for half of what I paid. Decisions, decisions, not knowing exactly the type of sand I might be facing as I intend to travel up and down the East coast launching my boat.

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Goodsailing

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Goodsailing,

The whole homemade beach wheel thing is fun but for your specific situation with a Hobie 18 launching from boat ramps, you may not need wheels at all.

I have a set but only use them down on the Gulf Coast when I need to move my H18 a good distance across soft sand to leave it on the beach overnight. Or those rare locations where there is no ramp and you need to drop the boat directly on the sand and have a distance to the water.

At my home lake and places where I am day sailing and there is a ramp I don't use them at all.

So go sailing for a while this season and see how many times you wish you had wheels. I sailed Hobie 18's for at least 12 years without beach wheels.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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Well here's the beach:
https://www.google.com/ma…e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

They have ramp to the sand... then sand to the water... 60' or so stretch.

Now here's the boat ramp. Notice how you have to go from boat ramp along the BAY BRIDGE to get to the water. Nearly impossible to sail that. Rock jetti on one side and bay bridge on the other via the channel from pond to Chesapeake Bay.

https://www.google.com/ma…e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0


The reason I'm thinking beach wheels.
They have overnight trailer parking here. Which is a good thing



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 07, 2015 - 01:47 PM.

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Goodsailing

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Quote

The reason I'm thinking beach wheels.

Looks like you are definitely in the " drop the boat directly on the sand and have a distance to the water " category.

Carry on.

Major plus is that looks like a great place to launch and sail a beachcat!

CatsailorMike

goodsailing...just my $.02 for what it's worth. made these almost 10 years ago and haven't had any problems here on our sandy beach.yeah they can pull harder than "official" beach wheels but it works for me

http://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures?g2_itemId=82521

That is great. I think I will try the same.

--
Geno Hacker
Lake Isabella, California
Supercat 20, 1/2 of a B-Lion, H18, P16, H14
--

The area were I will be sailing is soft sand. I got the Laser dolly stuck there (lawn mower wheels) and couldn't get the boat to the water. Cat is even heavier. Hence, conditions might determine which way you go with this. It would be nice to have every set, and see which DIY wheels work best for your particular area. I hate to invest, then have a particular style not work, then have to put good money after bad to make ones that will work. The nanco's should work anywhere...

we know, we know we can just buy cat trax, but then we'd loose out in all the fun we're having trying to reinvent the wheel.



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 08, 2015 - 03:57 PM.

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Goodsailing

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If you invest in Catrax beach wheels, you will be investing in something that will work everywhere. Reinvent the wheel on something that's not going to ruin a trip to the beach and/or throw out your back leading to even more unintended financial loss. My $0.02

--
Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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I've built two set's of beach wheels. If you have the materials and the wheels and tires, give it a go. I also have a set of catrax's and can say they out preform the sets I make and were worth what I paid. I'm very happy with my second set that I built, but I really just copied the catraxs right down to the bearings.

Quote

but I really just copied the catraxs right down to the bearings.

Where are you guys getting the rims and the hubs (2" bore) for the nanco's tires?

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Goodsailing

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This thread is getting so dumb............ best bet ( and cheaper ) is to spend $ 80 a month with a personal trainer to condition you to "haul"your boat the beach by hand



Edited by fxloop on Apr 08, 2015 - 10:02 PM.

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Tim Grover
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Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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Quote

condition you to "haul"your boat the beach by hand

I wonder if you set your boat on mylar sheets, you could glide it across sand. Don't laugh. (See videos of Everglades Challenge how guy's get their heavier than Hobie Cat boats off the sand to the water.) You may even be able to cut skis from stiff yet pliable plastic with slots out front to tie rope handle. Slip them under the hulls and haul away. Weight would be distributed throughout the entire length of the hull. They could be called Cat Skis! Or Cat Sled...hmmmm

Or use logs:



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Quote

This thread is getting so dumb

I agree wholeheartedly!

--
Randy Neubauer
Apple Valley, MN
2001 H18M
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Quote

Check this site out, pretty cool tool to compare the stiffness of different tubes.

http://metalgeek.com/static/deflection.php

At second glance, this is for square tubing, which may not be as strong as round tube.

I found this one. It might be good to calculate stress along an 8' span of 4130 for axle.

https://www.roguefab.com/calculator.php

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Goodsailing

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Balt-Wash Area
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Not knowing beach conditions I decided to go with the rubber tires. I did seriously consider the plastic dock wheels as that would have been half the cost of what I will pay...

Do the cat trax tires have inner tubes or are they tubless? If tubes, do you have the TR-6 stem, that allows the stem to remain stationary, not get pulled back into the rim? It seems with such low operating pressure might not allow for proper seating of the tire bead to the rim, hence the need for inner tube at added weight.

My tires came and they are each 10.5 lbs.
So we're up to 21lbs.
Yet to come: Hubs, rims, and axle (and possible inner tubes should tubeless not hold air) are being delivered.



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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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Cradles in the making: Oven heated water pipe and pressed on hulls to cool. Thinking now of bracket arrangement.



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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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The steel rims came and were not as heavy as I thought. After getting stems, from my tire guys, (they said they couldn't put the tires on), I managed to get the rubber on the rims but was unable to seat the beads. I tried believe me with ratchet strap etc. So I took them down to the gas station where I know the guys and in 5 mins they had the rubber on there. I had them fill to 10lbs. Pretty solid. No charge... Wow. I brought them home and weighed them. 18lbs each. So we're up to 36 lbs thus far for rubber and rims. I wasn't sure if these rims had zero offset or not, but came through with several inches offset.

Waiting for hubs...


Forgot to mention: no inner tubes necessary.



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 14, 2015 - 06:55 PM.

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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After speaking with the lady who said she had the steel tube I set out to the place I visited a couple of years ago about an hour away. When I pulled up to the door I noticed the sign: CLOSED. Hmmmm was she out to lunch perhaps. A man in the adjacent shop came from the garage door and greeted me. I asked where she was and he said: They're closed. The firm that bought the business took the inventory and also the phone number. I bowed my head and said: I just spoke with her... He said: yea she's 1000 miles from here. I mentioned how far I just came.. then I said: did they leave anything. He said: yea, there's some tubing left. We entered the building, a place I had been in before. The place smelled like steel. There was some old equipment there.. you know, a place where once men worked.. you felt it. I asked the man if he had a rule. He grabbed a rule from a desk and we went up stairs to where there was some steel. Nope,, a few pieces too thin. We went back down stairs and I looked in another bin and low and behold, the tag said: 1". I pulled it out and it was 106 " more than enough for my axle. I said: this is it. This is what I came for. I asked him what he wanted for it. He said: How about two bucks. I said: deal. I gave him the money and I put it in my car and came home. Lucky she didn't say: we've moved or I wouldn't have taken the trip--just ordered from her and then have to pay freight. I expected to pay over $100 for the axle, so it only cost $2... a good day today
Waiting for the hubs..



Edited by goodsailing on Apr 16, 2015 - 07:06 PM.

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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You got to love a day that starts out great,turns to crap then ends on a high note!!

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Carl

Dart 18x2
Nacra 5.8
Acat
Windrider Rave x2 for sale
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I can't decide if you both stole it or you paid a guy $2 for stolen goods?- either way, ... enjoy :)

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I can't decide if you both stole it or you paid a guy $2 for stolen goods?- either way, ... enjoy :)

aaaah yes... glad you picked up on that. The person who let me in the shop was a family member who formally had nothing to do with the steel when they were selling it there. Most of the stuff there was junk, that the new owner didn't want. Rusted machine equipment etc. I just happened to pull a piece from rusty bin that was coated pretty heavy with oil which had little to no surface rust. Now that I think of it, I might have loaded more...for other projects... they probably want it gone! The buyer isn't coming back etc..

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
--

Quote

You got to love a day that starts out great,turns to crap then ends on a high note!!

Got that right Onekiwi

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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Here's the short axle for my modified A Cat hull. The 4 bolt hubs work great with the 1" collars. I had to grind some of the tubing down as it was a few mm too thick so that the 1" bearings would fit on the tube. Pretty slick. I'll show the long axle one for the H18 once I move this hull (80lbs) to another part of the property for sanding..






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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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Just wondering, has anyone tried using pool noodles for the hull rests. I picked up 2 4" pool noodles in Walmart yesterday. They have about a 1" hole in the center. Just thinking these could work instead of cradles shown above, which will require making a bracket of some sort...

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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I have lined wooden hull crates (2' x 2' frames with hull shapes cut out) with pool noodles to avoid scratches but they have a limited lifespan in the fl sun and didn't holdup for long (and IMHO they would never handle repetitive use)

+1 on MN3 comments
I use pool noodles for luggage rack "cushions" when transporting Sunfish and kayaks. I first split them 1/2 way through to enable going over the luggage rack, then wrap them with a sailcloth "tube" with velcro strips to use as closures. Work well, but I usually only get a season out of them as they deteriorate quickly.
I tried them as part of a galvanized tube assembly to hold and strap down kayaks and Sunfish on the beach as well, but they compress too easily over time and also breakdown in the sun.
Best use I have found for them (other than as a pool noodle) found is the luggage rack mentioned above
I also use them under the sunfish cover where I winter it to keep cover damage from any "parts" (read mainsheet cleat).

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Supercat 15
Windrider 17
Several Sunfish and Sunfish clones
Ratboat built from Zuma and Sunfish parts
Shallow water sailor in the Delaware Bay
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You figure the total surface area of hull meeting a 2" or 1' beech wheel tube = very little surface meeting space. Which leads me to believe pool noodle might work for a few times. Perhaps even one outing. Meaning that a couple of pool noodles might allow several outings via the season. My hulls sit on a 3" wide cradle block on the trailer.

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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I finished up my Loser Beech Wheels today. I'm confident they'll hold the boat over bumps but testing in actual conditions will be the final test. They'll fit real well on the trailer too. Not happy about the carpet pattern but my wife bought a new one... so this one got cut up. I'll post a pic of the wheels in action when I get to the water which is coming up soon.







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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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I bought cat trax off Craigslist. They bend as much as my home made axle. I find you need two sets to effectively move the boat solo across 60 ft of soft sand and must push with foot crossing any rut put there by dept of natural resources atv.





Edited by goodsailing on May 13, 2015 - 10:52 AM.

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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is that a shark mouth decal on the bow?

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is that a shark mouth decal on the bow?

No ,might be shadow of where the previous owner used caulk to fill cracks in gelcoat. I've not discussed this repair, or repair to the repair yet but it's on the list of things left to do.

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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I just scored probably the cheapest set of Real Cat Trax ever. They worked out to $72 USD. It cost me $20 CDN in gas to get them, leaving enough for 4 Grolsch out of a "boat buck".
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-vi…tm_campaign=email_alerts
They are the real Mccoy, except I think the tires have been replaced, they are Carlisle 21x11-8.(the ad makes several incorrect references). The PO had the wheels set at the ends in order to move a flat bottom boat, but I discovered the axles come predrilled for several widths of Cats, & what I think are factory "rubber sleeves" were under the white plastic pipe..
I'm currently using a set based JF Fricker & Catsailor Mike's albums. They work, but...
I took these new ones apart, to set them up for my Nacra's, & to see what makes the Florida Sailcraft ones so good, & to see if I could meet Damon's challenge.
I'll also make an album, I think it may help those who still want to build their own.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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For those contemplating building their own, here are the real Cat Trax dissected.
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures?g2_itemId=119871

I think it would be very difficult to duplicate them for 1/2 price. All items can be sourced, except the rims. If you can find these, you could make a set of equal quality. IF the rims could be had for $75 ea, your total cost would be $286.
Pete Begle stated he has cut the original axles in half, then inserted a sleeve...in order to use the same set for 8' boats, & 10' Tornado class boats. 48" lengths AL tube,(1/8" wall) is readily available.
Parts breakdown is;

$150- 2 rims with 5" hub. (Assuming you can find the real rims for $75ea).
$56 - 2 Nanco tires 21x12-8
$17 - 17' of 3/8" Delrin rod. Cut it into 40 (20 each wheel) 5" lengths. Rod is .95/ft.
$28 - 2 pcs (48" each) of 2" O.D. 1/8" wall aluminum pipe. Easily sourced on eBay (pipe remnants).
$6 - 4 SS washers from Florida Sailcraft, hard to find them cheaper than here.
$4 - 4 SS cotter pins.
$25 - 2 end caps from FS, though many people could build something adequate.
$0 - 4 Retainer washers, anyone could McGyver these out of quite a few materials.
$0 - 2 pcs 14" automotive pressure hose (2 1/8" I.D.) Any garage will have tons of this in the dumpster.

$286 Total parts.
You could build your own end caps, & just spring for a set of tires/wheels from FS,($258). This would amount to $313 for the set, & you would probably incur a bit for shipping. Not really much of a savings.
I have not tried it, but have read that seating beads on ATV/Balloon tires can be problematic. You might incur further costs having tires mounted. I know some of the ultralight aircraft builders use propane/butane or ether to seat the beads.
https://www.youtube.com/w…lpy_fws&feature=youtu.be



Edited by Edchris177 on Sep 11, 2015 - 02:29 PM.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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