Nice job Mike.. Going to try those wheels. What kind of spacer did you use?? Was it pre-drilled? Does the pipe flex with the weight of the boat on it?.. Saw some homemades this summer. The guy had put a pice of larger galvi pipe in the center section to stiffen the pipe. The extra weight help sink them while loding in the water... Also.. Why did you decide to seal the wheels?. Seems like it would be easier to have them sink when loading and drain on the beach? What material did you use for the straps that support the cradles Cheers Hal
PS For all those who have helped me with my N5.2 rehab, I have gone to the Dark Side again. Got a H 17 for 600$ from craigs. with trailer and wings Can sail with both fleets here.. H
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Hal Liske
Livermore CA
H 16 (6+ 1.. Friends) H 3.2 N 5.2 (2) H 17 (2) H-18
Nacra 5.8 (son's) H 20 (Friends)
It's a Sickness
I Need a A Cat Please
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Home Made Cat Tracks
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- Rank: Mate
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Posted: Oct 02, 2011 - 10:47 AM
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- Rank: Lubber
- Registered: Aug 01, 2011
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- Posts: 82
Posted: Oct 02, 2011 - 08:09 PM
I made an album in beachcats/technical showing my homemade cat trax. They work fine on the hard gravel and concrete ramps where I launch my P16. I planned to use a broken Laser mast as an axel, but it is slightly too big, so I used galvanized conduit. I have not tried them on sand, but they probably would tend to plow through it rather than roll over it with the hard plastic dock wheels. I also plan to drill a bunch of drainage holes in the PVC pipe spacer to keep salt water from collecting there.
Edited by jfricker on Oct 02, 2011 - 08:33 PM.
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John Fricker
Prindle 16
Seabrook, Texas
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Posted: Oct 03, 2011 - 06:30 AM
Thanx for the comments John. I'll answer your questions and offer any thoughts if you build another set. The spacer is G10 or similar material. Just 1/4 thick printed circuit board matl held in place with 3in Alum tube, 2in ID cut to 1/2 thk and drilled thru with 5/16 drill to clear 1/4 in bolt. One on each side of the wheel. The axle tube I used is 2in 6061-T6 Alum with 1/4 in wall so it doesn't flex . We have 4 sets of this style wheels in our club now, seems people liked my idea so they used it too. Boats are my son's H16, H17 and 2 H18s all work well. I used the wheels the first year with the holes but they were too heavy getting back up the beach. And the holes are located in such a place that all the water doesn't drain out. And here in western NY that's not what ya want. The cradle supports are SS strap, 1/8 in thk and 1 in wide, 81/2 in long. Hope this helps and thanx for the comments.
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Mike Conway
H16
Hilton, NY
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