trailer build sport canoe

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olefart

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This is my Grumman sports canoe and trailer I recently purchased and not sure what all I need to do to it. the rear has rollers and only one roller up front. It only weighs 110 lbs empty if I remember right, but it will get heavier before I am done, not sure if you can tell how high it is in the back . I am not familiar with this arrangement or its purpose.The trailer is a narrow thing, like it is made just for this boat, but I doubt that. I got it up in Billings,MT. and it was used in the waters up that way.
Is it built like this for loading and unloading without ramps? If I push the boat rearward the rollers take the load and it is balanced and easy to handle even though it's a couple feet off the ground. I am pretty sure I can off load it to the yard and load it back on easy if healthy which is debatable in my case.lol
Now I plan on it being weighed down with sail, electric, and 4hp gas motor along with a mud motor for the skinny water. these will have to be stored on the trailer so I can drag this around the country. to old to be dragging and lifting things.
I'm heading south in winter and I live in Wyoming in the summers, this boat will also be a project but that's another topic.
So I guess I'm asking for info as to what I am starting with and any suggestions to guide me to what I'm after. I plan on putting the axle on top of the springs drop a couple inches cut and drop the rear rollers or replace them with bunks but drop it as low as I can not sure about moving the boat farther back, add bunks , extend the end of the trailer? The front parts need changing also may extend the tongue a couple feet to keep my feet dry. Of course a way to walk front to back, to stay as dry as possible.lol
I have the necessary tools, equipment, along with skill and common sense, lol, so with a little help from my friends this ought to be fun.
 

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Sounds like you will need a gantry to hang a hoist from to lift things. You could in incorporate it into side bunks uprights.
 
That's an idea the mud motor would be the heaviest to be lifted on and off, the rest I can manage, battery will be another heavy object that once on board could stay secured in place.
 
Rollers are hardly ever recommended for aluminum boats. I doubt if they would be recommended for a vinyl type boat. If the boat were totally empty, you might get away with it. When you add a lot of weight (motor, battery etc.), I'd look at bunks.

Cover the bunks with PVC gutters and sliding the boat off and on will be much easier.

I've extended the front of a few trailers. It sure helps when launching.

Be sure you can keep 10/15 % of the trailer weight on the ball.

richg99
 
I do agree with you about the bunks. looking at our river launch sites which get mostly drift boats usage, the ramps end at the waters edge, no backing the boat into the water for either launching or retrieval full hand cranking them drift boats from the water up onto the trailers and all the way to the front of trailer done with muscle power, them boats are heavy. This boat is very light empty but it is a long way from the rollers in the back to the one roller in front. Using a combination of rollers and bunks maybe the best I am not sure about that yet. Lifting the bow would place the weight on the aft rollers for launch and recovery then rest it on the bunks for going down the road?
from the suggestion of using a davit I am thinking maybe an "A" frame hinged on the trailer frame, using a bolt on each side to pivot from, long enough to pick up from the ground just behind trailer with enough to reach the transom and up to the front of the boat to move the heavy stuff, less then a hundred lbs, when not in use at could fit on the trailer y frame under the boat. have to test material to keep this lite enough yet have the strength to do what I need. picking up a battery is asking me to put all my power into it and may have to rest for a couple days after doing that lol
thanks for the helpful hints and directions.
 
Not sure how old or what your physical condition might be, but I get the impression that hauling and lifting heavy items is no longer pleasurable for you. Trust me, I understand.

Since your ramps sound like they are mostly steep, and they have NO ramp in the water at times..I'd seriously consider a power winch. I'd also add a very heavy backing plate on the bow of your boat, ....since the winch will be pulling the entire weight of the boat and all of your add-ons.

Check Harbor Freight or Northern Tool for a power winch. Not the highest of quality, but your use will be limited and the prices should be very reasonable.

Once she is on a level surface, removing the motor and other gear will be much easier.

Some kind of gantry or lift would help to move the heavier motor, but you still would have to swing it out of the boat and onto the vehicle.

I've seen small "motor hoists" mounted on the back/sides of service trucks. I assume that lifting heavy items is their purpose. Might that work for you? Once it's on a flat surface in the parking lot, you could detach the boat; bring the truck on the boat's side, and lift the motor directly into the bed of your vehicle.

Just some musings since I cannot sleep this morning.

regards, richg99
 
I've been a little busy like most of you. finally got my numbers and put them on have some things to put on the boat make sure the gas & electric motors are ready and load up the legal required stuff.
Then I am thinking of taking it to the lake and see how the trailer looks going in and out of this shallow lake and ramp and see how it will work in the configuration it is in now.
Do I need to move the boat farther aft on the trailer, how much does it need to be lowered, where the bunks will work, and how and if/or where can the rollers work?
The weather has been gentle breezes of 35 to 50 normal for here but I may wait for something a little calmer seeing how I will be the only one out at the small lake may have some duck hunters I am wishful thinking.
Its a couple miles long, mile wide and a couple miles from the hwy cant remember seeing any house around there for many more miles, not sure about any cell service out there either, safety first. so may be a bit but I will be back with what I find out.
 
If you put the axle on top of the springs it looks like you will have to move the fenders or you could put 8" wheels and tires on. Which will lower the trailer a little more.
 
I plan on moving fenders and weld them back on along with putting the axle above the springs, now the springs seem awful stout I can stand on the fender and jump up and down and the springs barely move maybe 1/4 inch I'm thinking this is a 1000lb springs or more I have another old old home made trailer that has much more forgiving springs they move a couple inches when compressed standing on the fender. I am of the believe the softer springs would be easier on the boat going down the cow paths we call dirt roads, miles of them. When I towed this down from Billings a few hundred miles the spring were very stout seems when I came to any kind of bump the trailer would get air borne even at entering a parking lot at low speeds. any thoughts on this??
Wind is wisping along tops of the trees aren't touching the ground quite yet so may wait some more have to see why the generator in the van is wanting attention, work on one thing everything else thinks it needs to be worked on too. Trying to get ready to head south before the snow gets here. have a winch post to build and install this one is too short and pulls the boat down at quite an angle while loading it up on the trailer also too close from the winch to the bow, afraid of trolling motor mounted on the bow may catch the winch when unloading on a steep ramp? good thing these items don't keep me up at night. lol
I am an ex coastie did my 4 yrs with them so I am aware of what can happen and how quick things can go south on the water, I did get at one point where if a storm wasn't howling it was too boring to get out on the water. Oh I am past that now, I like the calm but here the wind can get over 60 in just a couple minutes and then drop to nothing ten minutes later back to 60 and from another direction. I plan on having camping gear in boat at all times when I use the boat, for emergencies wind kicks up too much I will pull ashore and wait it out for a few days in necessary , all part of exploring our public lands and water ways .
Keep public lands public. Leave something for your grand kids grand kids.
 
I had a light-weight kayak on a Jon boat trailer. Springs were too strong for that little load. I sold the yak to a guy who didn't need the trailer. The trailer went to my BIL free.

Before I sold it, I thought about removing one of the leafs, for the same issues that you mentioned. I'd bet Harbor Freight would have some smaller, lighter springs if removing a couple of leafs doesn't help.

richg99
 
There are 2 leafs so I will swap them out. did some work on the front I will pull out the grinder and welder to modify the winch placement. hitch is wobbly also may have to cut it off square and weld an extension piece on, or maybe a inside slider extension so I can keep my feet dry launching. I think it was bent, jack knifed backing up to far will have to unbolt it to see for sure and fix it too.
I'm going to move the boat around on the trailer to see how it looks moved aft a couple feet. I can add in the front and/or extend the rear. I have to cut the rear up anyways to move and lower the rollers. I want to do it with sunlight and I can take pictures.
not enough time I'll be working in the snow soon.
 
Since you are already working on the winch stand area....this step system was recommended on another site that I frequent. Sure looks like something I could use, given my advanced age. Ha ha richg99

https://www.easystepsystem.com/
 
I don't need the steps on this trailer but will put something like that on my Lowes.
A foot of snow has stopped me in my tracks. I have had other pressing fix me's to fix before I can get back on this trailer.
I now am amassing the items I will need to rig this boat with and I want to take it down to Phx so I can work on it with my grandkids seeing how they will end up with it they can do the work. if I can get the phones out of there hands and put some tools in them. lol
I will have to build a winch stand before I go but will wait for the weather to change a little first. This boat is so light ,125 lbs, that I don't believe I need to much to winch it on the trailer. So this picture is what I am thinking of using cant remember the name of it. Using the bow rope you can place it in this winch to pull the boat up and on the trailer. no reason to pull the regular winch line out and then have to crank it all back on the reel. this doesn't have a reel so saves a lot of cranking the strap back on the roller.
 

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I agree that your boat is light, but is that device any improvement over a regular winch?

A lightweight winch is pretty cheap, yet does it's job very well.

You could arrange to use your painter/bow rope in the winch if that is what you want to do.
 
Rich this is by no means a replacement for the standard boat winch. a separate bow tie down is required as this is not meant to hold a load, it is only a rope puller. Later I will go trampling through the foot of snow later today and get the name of this devise so it can be looked up properly for description and price by those interested.
Along the river here the boat launches don't really enter the river most people ride rafts down the river or the fishermen use drift boats, when launching them, heavy, boats a good winch is required to both launch and retrieve the boats as they will use their winches to balance/hold the boat as far back on the trailer as possible to launch then they have to drag the boat up and on to the trailer to retrieve so the winch is very important to accomplish this feat.
My little canoe is light enough, without a slick bottom, that an ole fart can move it around pretty easily, That the strap isn't necessary to hold the weight makes it a sliver in a wood seat, with this I only use the length of rope needed and it slips over the gismo right where it is needed, so the bow line (painters rope?) is all that is needed for rigging, no strap to fight with.
Well I will get dressed for the weather, 10 degrees and a foot of snow to find it and get the name off it. so will get back on here this evening if I don't fall asleep or pass out taking my winter gear off. lol
 
I had to wait for warmer day to melt the snow it was 50 yesterday and heading to -20 tonight, Wyoming weather. This is a link to the manufacture of the "skywinch" it has a short video of using this winch.


"skywinch" capacity of 350lbs for boats under 18'/1000LBS only, use with 1/2 inch solid braided rope, NOT for moving humans NOT for towing, Must use safety chains and tie down straps for towing.



https://greenfieldproducts.com/


My little tin boat will do fine with this boat winch I believe. Does anyone have any experiences with one of these, good or bad?
 

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