folding launching trolly

Submitted by Ray7 on Mon, 04/14/2014 - 15:36

Forums:

I have a mirror and a fixed launching trolly but want to car top the boat so that I can venture further afield.
Some years ago (Quite a few actually.....maybe 25?) my brother had a mirror and a folding trailer with a difference. It dismantled down to the axle and wheels but had two pieces attached to the axle bar that fitted and clamped to the transom such that when the boat was inverted you could move it like a wheelbarrow and get the bow up onto the rear bar of the roof rack and then lift and slide the boat fully onto the roof rack. The axle & wheels could then be removed , stored in the boot of the car and you were ready to drive away.

From memory he seems to recall it was called a ''Solo lift'' or ''Easy lift'' or similar.

I have tried to find out who made them but we think the company has long gone.

My question........ does anyone know of this colapsible version which then clamps to the boat or better still does anyone have one they no longer need and would like some cash for it?

I live in the midlands (UK)

Any information would be most gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Ray.

PuffinInTegel's picture

PuffinInTegel

Tue, 04/15/2014 - 12:04

My trolley comes apart so that I can stick the individual parts in the car, but does not "fold up", I'm afraid. It is made of steel, came with the boat many moons ago and has been in my service for a quarter of a century now. Possibly a wooden copy could be made.
unloading Puffin to trolley
If the design inspires you, I could take the measurements for you.
Gernot

Piglet

Tue, 04/15/2014 - 12:46

When we as a family took our Mirror on holiday on top of the car there was very little room in the boot.

The procedure was to lift the boat and put it inverted on the roof rack. Then the trolley was put on top of the boat, with the wheels uppermost.

For unloading, the trolley was taken off first and was then ready to receive the boat.

dan

P.S. my parents didn't have the luxury of a gantry crane to lift the boat like you Gernot!

62816inBerlin's picture

62816inBerlin

Tue, 04/15/2014 - 14:04

The marina had no slipway at the time and the gantry was a pain in the posterior as we had two larger dinghies (470s) that couldn't simply be launched off the mud (even my trolley's wheels sunk in, but I managed somehow) and had to be lowered into the water and lifted out every day (extra cost and coordination with the operator required).
My "mud bank" slipway:
landing in the mud bank
Cheers,
Gernot

Ray7

Thu, 04/24/2014 - 11:32

Hi Gernot , Hi Dan,
Thanks for responding to my info request. Very much appreciated. I think I will have to design and build my own version as my investigations into the subject have drawn a blank.
Wish me luck!!!
Thanks.
Ray.