Boat Transportation !!!

Drew Harper · February 01, 2011, 11:10:02 AM

OK, it's time we get serious about this. We have the EFG bi-coastal going on, another Viper owner is now running bi-coastal Vipers, (congrats Olaf).

Just HOW are we going to figure out the best way to move Vipers around without putting one boat on one trailer behind one car?

Anyone out of the box on this.

My original thoughts were/are;

- Flatbed Truck
- Car Carrier
- Rail Car Carrier

Anyone have any connections on this. We simply HAVE to find a better way to move these little, lightweight boats.

Come on...some of you do this stuff...speak up...PLEASE :-D

Olaf Bleck · February 01, 2011, 01:36:43 PM

I actually saw an entire car carrier for sale, really cheap... should have bought it, alas. I'd say one could hold 5 boats easily between all the funky angled configurations you can put those in. Any trucking firm could contract-haul it.

Anyway, an aside....

I agree... all this driving sux! Anyone got a line on a trucking firm? It'd be great if the class had a deal with some national firm, $/mile. I'm not terribly worried about the money, but more the driving time. I'd rather fly.

Jeff Jones · February 02, 2011, 05:17:26 PM

I dont think a 6-boat trailer is unreasonable, and i seriously plan on converting the rig i took to Arizona into a 3-boat set-up... if for no other reason than just to say i was able to do it. ;-)

The 6-boat hauler would be +40' and you'd need a 250 to pull it.

I think the key is putting the boats on light dollies or skids (keels out) with simple casters underneath. Keel's stay out until the boat goes into the water, keels come out when the boat is re-racked. Keels would live on flat-carts. Boat and rack would provide a very low-profile.

It's hard to tell from this picture, but sitting on this 2" tube frame with casters under her - the top of 31 is VERY low. I am going to drop it another 4 ish inches by cutting the support bunks down.

Justin Scott · February 02, 2011, 07:22:57 PM

I think that converting car carriers is a fool's errand. They are built to carry so much weight, so they weigh too much, suck gas and tow like crap.
Rondar still owns one from one of Brian's ideas.....but it was never implemented. PY still toys with the idea of converting it to a 4 carrier....but right now it is a very inefficient way of moving two boats.

I think Jeff is heading the right way with a custom trailer that gets it low.

Justin Scott · February 02, 2011, 07:25:22 PM

Looking at the pic. Lots of space to get the spinnaker away in that boat. That must be Idaho Joe's old boat.

Drew Harper · February 06, 2011, 12:17:49 PM

Quote from: Justin Scott on February 02, 2011, 07:22:57 PM
I think that converting car carriers is a fool's errand. They are built to carry so much weight, so they weigh too much, suck gas and tow like crap.
Rondar still owns one from one of Brian's ideas.....but it was never implemented. PY still toys with the idea of converting it to a 4 carrier....but right now it is a very inefficient way of moving two boats.

I think Jeff is heading the right way with a custom trailer that gets it low.

That trailer is sold Justin. Just wasn't going to work.

I really like JJ's ideas on this. He's a great fabricator and he knows the boats.

Jim Sears · February 07, 2011, 11:37:48 PM

I'd be interested in pitching-in to build a So Cal mega trailer...

Tim Carter · February 08, 2011, 12:59:41 AM

+1 :)

Greg Jackson · February 08, 2011, 10:33:41 AM

Quote from: Jim Sears on February 07, 2011, 11:37:48 PM
I'd be interested in pitching-in to build a So Cal mega trailer...

I believe John Riddell had a manufacturer design a four boat trailer and produce drawings...

Drew Harper · February 08, 2011, 12:52:15 PM

I love John but I'm putting my money with JJ. He's a great fabricator. He builds stuff for a living.

I'm in on the SoCal mega hauler too!

JJ...what do you think about this. Any prelim costs?

Jeff Jones · February 08, 2011, 01:00:57 PM

Give me a month. I'm working on modifying my rig to get the the overall height down a bit. I could trip-stack with what i have but the top boat would be pushing 12 feet. Legal is 13'6.

In about three weeks i'll have 31 and 129 piggy-backed in my shop and be able to give you an idea of the working situation. Frankly, if your going to go four, you might as well go six - or at least have the capability.

The trailer would include a road base, removable rack system, low-profile dollies (keels would have to stay out until launch) and keel dollies. Best plan would probably be to build one - test it and then give the plans to someone who does that stuff for a living. My estimate for cost; 3-boat rig like the one i built aro 3,500 6-boat rig based off that design, less than 10K

Drew Harper · February 08, 2011, 05:20:41 PM

You ROCK JJ!

Keep us posted.

3 boats is fine for me.

Justin Scott · February 18, 2011, 10:53:19 AM

Quote from: Jeff Jones on February 08, 2011, 01:00:57 PM
Give me a month. I'm working on modifying my rig to get the the overall height down a bit. I could trip-stack with what i have but the top boat would be pushing 12 feet. Legal is 13'6.

In about three weeks i'll have 31 and 129 piggy-backed in my shop and be able to give you an idea of the working situation. Frankly, if your going to go four, you might as well go six - or at least have the capability.

The trailer would include a road base, removable rack system, low-profile dollies (keels would have to stay out until launch) and keel dollies. Best plan would probably be to build one - test it and then give the plans to someone who does that stuff for a living. My estimate for cost; 3-boat rig like the one i built aro 3,500 6-boat rig based off that design, less than 10K

Three or six boat road trailer could revolutionarize attendance at regattas. I could get a bunch more of NE boats to come South or head West, or even SSW if there was a cost effective way for them to have their boats delivered so they can fly in.

I'm thinking that there could be an EFG branded trailer in our future.

Keep us posted!

Jim Sears · March 02, 2011, 12:04:01 AM

Hey JJ,
Here's a couple a requests for the design:
- Lockable tool case: since we'll all be flying to the regatta, it would be nice to just have one community mini shop for fixing stuff, spare parts, maybe a vise mounted near tongue (unless its better to have all this in the truck).

- Keg fridge, or just a beer cooler with tip cup for donations.

-Jimbo

Matt Sole · March 02, 2011, 12:56:45 AM

If we are going to start adding our own little necessities this could get very expensive very quickly.

Saying that how about a rack somewhere to add each boats personal dock box. Maybe standardise across the class what size dockbox people should get and then when its time for your boat to go on the jumbo trailer everything fits.

If you are going to pimp out a trailer, might as well do it properly.......