Transporting an inflatable boat on the roof of a passenger car often causes discomfort, takes up useful cabin space and creates aerodynamic drag, which is why experienced water-engines sooner or later come to the idea of purchasing a specialized trailer. PVC boat carriage It is not just a platform on wheels, but a complex engineering solution that ensures the safety of your property and road safety.
The market today offers many options, from budget models to professional complexes with hydraulics. However, understanding the design and principles of operation is necessary not only for purchase, but also for proper operation. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to choose the ideal option, what to look for when assembling yourself and how to properly prepare the vehicle for launch.
It is important to understand that PVC boat It has a soft side, which imposes specific requirements for the lounge of the trailer. Unlike aluminum or fiberglass vessels, uniform load distribution and the absence of sharp edges that can damage the cylinders are critical. trailer-boat It will last for decades if you approach the issue of its selection or manufacture with due responsibility.
Design features of boat carriages
The basis of any trailer is a frame made of profile pipe. For light inflatable boats, the most common square pipe with a cross section of 40×40 or 50×50 mm is used. Breathing and beam Not only must the static weight of the vessel be able to withstand, but also the dynamic loads that arise when driving on rough roads, and the quality of welds and corrosion-resistant coatings is crucial here.
The key element that distinguishes the carriage for an inflatable boat is the support system. Instead of the keel stop characteristic of rigid hulls, wide beds or roller systems are used here. Lodges They are sheathed with carpet or a special non-slip material that protects PVC from abrasion, and the design should ensure that the boat is fixed at several points, preventing it from moving during sharp braking.
⚠️ Note: When operating a PVC boat carriage, it is strictly forbidden to use metal stops without a soft coating. Even the minimum contact of the cylinder with bare steel during vibration will lead to scuffing and a decrease in the material life.
Brake system is another important safety aspect: according to the traffic rules, trailers weighing more than 750 kg must be equipped with brakes, however, light boats often use braking-free options where the mass of the loaded trailer does not exceed this threshold. Spring suspension or torsion axle must be selected with a margin of safety, so that the chassis does not bend under the weight of the engine and equipment.
Influence of the centre of gravity on sustainability
The shifting of the boat's centre of gravity relative to the axis of the trailer's wheels is critical. If the centre of gravity is too far behind (closer to the drawer), the trailer will wag at high speeds. If it's too front, the vehicle's coupling will overload; the optimal position is just ahead of the trailer's wheel axis.
Types of support systems: pawns against rollers
When choosing or manufacturing a carriage, the owner faces a dilemma: which better supports the case - stationary beds or roller guides? Log system It is a long bar or metal profile that repeats the contours of the bottom, and it provides the maximum contact area, which is ideal for storing the boat on a trailer for a long time.
The benefits of the pads are obvious: they don't require frequent adjustment and they're very careful with the material, but you can only get a boat to the water from a gentle concrete slip, and if you're planning to fish on the steeply sloping wild shores, it can be a very uncomfortable system, and then you can get the help of the boat. roller-guide.
Rollers make it easy to pull a boat ashore or, conversely, push it onto a trailer even if there is no full slip using a winch. But they have a significant disadvantage: point load. For PVC boats, this can be dangerous if the pressure in the cylinders is not tuned or if the rollers have surface defects.
- 🛡️ Logins: ideal for long parking, uniform weight distribution, require gentle slips.
- 🔄 Casts: convenient for self-starting from steep banks, require pressure control in cylinders.
- 💰 Combined: They combine keel roller and side beds, being the golden mean for most users.
Modern manufacturers often offer hybrid solutions, such as the bulk of the body resting on soft beds, and the nose resting on an adjustable keel roller, which allows for a combination of storage safety and ease of use. For inflatable boats longer than 4 meters, the use of a roller-only system without side support is not recommended due to the risk of transom deformation.
Criteria for the selection of a finished trailer
Buying a finished product saves time, but requires careful consideration of the specifications. loading capacityIt must exceed the mass of your boat in running order (with motor, battery and anchor) by at least 20-30%, and the safety margin is necessary for the safety and durability of the frame.
The second important parameter is the dimensions of the padmen: the length of the supports should correspond to the length of the boat so that the overhangs are not too large, excessive overhang of the stern or nose can lead to breakage of the transom or deformation of the cylinders when driving on the highway. Routine width It should also be taken into account that the trailer does not go beyond the dimensions of the car and meets the traffic rules.
Don't forget the package. winches With belts or cables, safety cables, lighting and spare wheels, the minimum required. Cheap models often come from a "base" where lighting and winch will have to be purchased separately, which may eventually become more expensive.
| Parameter | Budgetary option | Middle class | Premium/Profi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rama | Profile pipe, painted | Galvanized pipe | Hot galvanizing, aluminum |
| Suspension | Resort (2 sheets) | Resorbed (3-4 sheets) or torsion | Torsion, shock absorbers |
| Lighting | Basic, low tightness | LED, high leakage | Onboard electronics, IP68 connectors |
| Swan | Hand, cable. | Hand, belt + ratchet | Electrical/hydraulic |
| Price. | Low. | Medium | High. |
| Term of service | 3-5 years | 7-10 years | 15+ years |
When choosing, it is also worth checking the presence of certificate of conformity Without these documents, it will be impossible to register the vehicle with the traffic police, make sure that the VIN number on the frame is clearly readable and matches the documents.
When buying a used trailer, be sure to check the condition of the hubs. Swing the wheel with your hands: if there is a backlash or a hum when rotating, the bearings require replacement, which will entail additional costs.
Manufacture of the carriage DIY: step-by-step instructions
Self-manufactured carriages are a popular solution among craftsmen, saving up to 50% of the cost and getting a product that is ideal for a particular model of boat. However, this process requires the presence of a welding machine, a Bulgarian and metal skills. drawing.
The drawing requires accurate calculation of the length of the breather, the position of the wheel axis and the height of the pauper. An error in the calculations can lead to incorrect weighting. For the frame, it is better to use a profile pipe 40x40x2 mm or 50x50x2 mm. Welded seams They should be of high quality and quality, as safety on the road depends on them.
After the frame is assembled and the chassis (axles, hubs, wheels) is installed, the pawns are made. For PVC boats, wooden bars treated with antiseptic and carpeted with carpet, fixed on metal racks, the racks are welded to the frame with the ability to adjust the height to repeat the bending of the bottom.
☑️ Checklist before the first trip
The final step is corrosion-resistant treatment, and even if you're using ferrous metal, a good primer and a few layers of paint will extend the life of the product, and the alternative is hot galvanizing, but it's hard to do at home. lightingBy connecting it through a standard 7-pin connector.
⚠️ Attention: Homemade trailer is subject to mandatory registration in the traffic police and obtaining a license plate. Operation of an unregistered vehicle is prohibited and entails a fine, as well as putting the car in a parking lot.
Rules for safe loading and transportation
Proper loading ensures that the boat reaches its destination without damage, and that the trailer is fitted to the water so that the rear wheels are partially submerged and the breather remains on land, providing the right angle for the boat to enter. winches It greatly simplifies the process, allowing one person to complete the task.
When placing a boat on a bed, it is important to ensure that it sits symmetrically, distorting the material can lead to uneven wear and deterioration of the trailer's driving qualities. Once installed, the boat must be fixed with a nose stop and tighten the winch belt to the end using a ratchet.
Be sure to use it. tetherIf the coupling head is pulled off, the cable will hold the trailer and prevent an accident. Before you go to the highway, check the reliability of all the slings and belts that hold the boat to the frame.
- 🚗 Speed mode: with a trailer, the speed of movement should not exceed 90 km / h, and on unpaved roads - 40 km / h.
- ⚖️ Distribution of the goods: Place heavy things in the trailer closer to the axis of the wheels, so as not to overload the breath.
- 👀 Control: After the first 10-20 km of the path, be sure to stop and check the tightening of the fasteners.
Braking with a trailer requires earlier manoeuvring. The coupling inertia is much greater than that of a single car. Consider the overall length of the road train when overtaking and rearranging.
The main rule of transportation: the boat should not just be laid down, but rigidly fixed at three points (nose and two sides) and insured against falling even at a complete separation from the trailer.
Care and maintenance of the carriage
Regular maintenance will extend the life of your carriage. After each trip, especially on salt water or dirty roads, the trailer must be washed with fresh water. Salt and dirt aceler corrosion, especially in welds and fasteners.
Once a season, it is recommended to conduct an audit of the chassis. bearing hubs: if there is a backlash or a hum, they need to be replaced or lubricated. Rubber suspension elements (silent spring blocks) also wear out and require attention.
Lighting is another vulnerable element: Check the integrity of the wires and the tightness of the lights. Moisture entering the lamp leads to oxidation of the contacts and failure of lighting devices, which is dangerous on the road. If you find cracks in the windows or the body of the lamp, immediately change the element.
Keep the trailer best under a canopy or in a garage, removing the wheels and loading the frame with bars to unload the springs. If storage takes place outside, cover it with an awning to protect the bed from burnout and the frame from precipitation. Lubricant The moving parts of the winch and the coupling device shall be carried out regularly by special trains.
How often should the trailer be lubricated?
The hubs of the boat trailer are recommended to be maintained once a year or every 10,000 km of run. However, if you often immerse the trailer in water (especially hot, which happens on sea slips), the grease can be washed out faster, in which case prevention should be carried out every 3-4 months, checking the presence of lubrication and the condition of the osteums.
Can I carry a hard boat on a PVC carriage?
Theoretically, you can if the boat weighs less than the trailer's load capacity. However, the PVC lodging design (wide and soft) is not suitable for a rigid hull (V-shaped). A rigid boat will rely only on the keel and cheekbones, which can damage both the boat and the padlock. Hard hulls need pointers or rollers.
Which belt is better: nylon or polypropylene?
The winch is better suited to a polypropylene belt, because it doesn't absorb water or rot, and it's stronger, but when wet, it can stretch and dry longer, which is less convenient when it's in constant contact with water, and the main thing is to keep the fibers intact.
Do I need to remove the motor during transportation?
Removing the engine is not necessary if the trailer has a sufficient load capacity and the transax plates are securely fixed. However, removing the engine reduces the load on the transom of the boat when shaking and reduces the overall weight, which saves fuel. If the engine is heavier than 30 kg, it is better to remove it and transport it in the trunk.