Boat wheels: what are they, how to choose and install?

Often, boat owners have a question about their transportation. There is an opinion that it is easier to sail about 1 thousand kilometers by water transport than to move it by land for 100 meters. Thanks to the development of technology, this procedure has been simplified, since there are now a large selection of boat wheels on the market.

Transom wheels for swimming facilities made of PVC, as well as metal, are used to move vehicles to the water. Since the weight of the boat plus the outboard motor is large, it is not possible for one person to transport it by themselves. To date, for the transportation of water transport, fishermen use wheels with "kerchiefs". These designs are characterized by ease of assembly, installation, comfort in use and affordable cost.

In a situation where a boat motor is used, transom wheels do not make it difficult to control the unit. They are installed on the transom of inflatable boats or on a metal hull. With the help of this device, the fisherman will be able to send his equipment to the pond and bring it to land without too much help. Boat transom wheels are easy to mount and just as easy to remove.

This accessory is considered convenient due to the absence of the need to remove it when lowering the boat into the pond. At the same time, it simply rises up and the transport can move through the water.

The purpose of transom wheels include the following:

• simplifying the movement of the boat from land to water;
• mobilization of the craft.

The advantages of this device:

• comfort in use;
• functionality;
• compact dimensions;
• opportunity to save time and money;
• simple design;
• ease of installation;
• duration of use.

The downside of boat wheels is only the high price, but this point can be corrected by creating an accessory yourself.

Due to the simple design, transom wheels do not have a wide variety. Moreover, each of the varieties of this transport device has its own functional features and limits of use. Not all wheels can fit this or that boat. Transom, bow, traverse, quick-detachable, swivel wheels, as well as front ones are in great demand among boat owners. Transport wheels for boats can be with an inflatable or rigid bottom.

The main types of wheels for moving the boat.

• Folding. Devices of this type are made of seamless pipes with a diameter of 3.2 and a wall thickness of 0.25 cm. A spring-loaded toggle mechanism brings them into working condition. After the watercraft has been moved, it is not necessary to dismantle the wheels. They easily rise up after unscrewing the fixing bolt. To install an accessory on a boat, it is worth choosing a rack with a bend, and not a straight one.

• Quick release. The wheels are characterized by the special functionality of the flange. Removable devices do not have the ability to fold or rise up. Their dismantling is possible in one motion, as there is a spring-loaded mechanism in the design. Quick-release wheels are often used in solder and NDND boats. Thanks to various types of flanges, the racks can be fixed not only parallel, but also at an angle. For solder boats, it is better to use wheels with a leg length of 0.5 m, and for the rest - 0.57 m.

• On clamps. In this case, you can do without drilling to mount the flange. Wheels on clamps must be hung on the transom, and then tightened with a screw. These devices are not relevant for NDND watercraft. Periodically installing the wheels on the boat, you can notice the formation of characteristic marks on its surface.

• On stilettos. With the help of studs, the fixtures are screwed to the transom on one side. Also, these accessories have holes for cotter pins on the parallel side. In this case, the rack is put on the studs and the cotter pin is snapped into place.

Among the popular and sought-after wheels for boats are the following.

• Transformers KT-5. The device is characterized by the presence of a bolt structure and fastening of the chassis in the folded form of the boat. The features of this accessory for watercraft can be called convenience and compactness.

• Automatic CT-ZN. The model has the ability to automatically fix. Such wheels are most often used for inflatable boats or small vehicles with a rigid hull.The advantages of the devices include high-quality material and assembly, as well as reliability and ease of use.

• Swivel-folding. Installation of these devices is carried out using 4 bolts. The presence of a rotary device allows you to adjust their position. The wheels are made of durable stainless steel and high quality plastic.

Owners of water transport often wonder what wheels to buy for a boat made of PVC, with NDND, aluminum, rubber, with an inflatable bottom or for a motor boat. When making a choice, you need to be guided by a lot of factors.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the weight that the device can withstand. This indicator must be compared with the weight of the boat that is available. Next, you should look at the shape of the racks. Chassis on straight racks are considered difficult to deform, which cannot be said about curved ones.

If the pillars are bent, then the consumer should pay attention to the thickness of the material from which they are made, as well as the quality and reliability of the seams. The metal of the product must be characterized by corrosion resistance, since it will have to constantly contact with the liquid. The transom wheel tire can be made of solid rubber or plastic, and it can also be pneumatic.

When using devices on a rocky road, inflatable wheels should be preferred, otherwise the transportation of the watercraft will be very difficult. If the coast is flat, then you can buy wheels of any kind. However, for sandy and clayey areas, a wide wheel is considered the best option.The disadvantage of the pneumatic wheel is the high risk of punctures, as well as the need for regular pumping.

The consumer should be aware that the cost of transom devices is usually higher than that of all-rubber ones. In addition to the material of manufacture of the wheels, it is also worth paying attention to their diameter. The higher this indicator, the easier it will be to transport water transport. Do not forget about the size of the transom, height.

Boat wheels can be made on the basis of bearings and bushings. If the first option is available, the transportation of the watercraft will be easy and smooth, the user may not be afraid that the unit will jam when it comes into contact with sand or mud. From the foregoing, it can be concluded that transom view is the most comfortable and reliable, but expensive.

The procedure for attaching transom wheels to a boat is quite responsible, since in case of negligence, the hull of the boat can be damaged. To this end, the user should be guided by the instruction manual for the wheels, which describes this procedure in detail. Nuances may arise depending on the characteristics of the chassis.

General recommendations for installing wheels on a boat.

• The wheels are attached to the craft in an uninflated state.
• When chassis elements are applied, it is worth making sure that the scarf, payolas and other parts are not damaged during installation.
• Connections are marked. For this purpose, it is required to attach fasteners to the transom, and then mark the boundaries with a pencil. It is worth remembering that in this case you need to leave a gap below the transom by 10 centimeters.
• Holes are drilled. It is worth carrying out this procedure according to the points that were previously outlined.To make the process more accurate, you can use a square.
• Holes and parts are treated with a sealant. This event provides additional protection against rotting and moisture ingress. Sealants also contribute to bond strength.
• Mounting fasteners. The mounting plate must be tightened with bolts in which washers are pre-installed. Tightening the nuts should not be done quickly, it is worth observing the smoothness and sequence.
• Wheel installation. On the mount you need to mount the frame under the wheel. The next step is to insert the fixing chassis bolt. Lastly, install the wheel and fix it with a nut.

It usually takes 60 to 120 minutes to attach the landing gear to the craft. The speed of this procedure is influenced by the skills of the master and his experience in this matter. To make transporting the boat as easy as possible, it is better to use transom wheels. If you want to save money on the purchase of this device, the owner of the boat can make the wheels on his own.

When choosing accessories for moving the boat it is worth giving preference to those in which the fasteners are made of stainless steel.

How to make transom wheels for a PVC boat from scratch, see the next video.