A well-fitted trailer boat coir is the foundation for safe transportation and durability. Many PVC and aluminum boat owners underestimate the importance of fine-tuning the lodgings, resulting in uneven load distribution and underbody deformation. A quality coir turns a conventional trailer into a reliable transport hub, ensuring the safety of the hull even during long stretches on rough roads.
In this article, we will take a look at all aspects of choosing and installing a coir, from the type of material to the subtleties of adjusting the height of rollers. You will learn how to avoid the typical mistakes that beginners make when first assembly. A competent approach to organizing a bed for your boat will eliminate problems with GIMS and prolong the life of your favorite boat for many years.
Types of pads: coir versus rollers
The main choice when equipping a trailer is between the classic PVC-coir The koira is a durable fabric case stretched over a metal frame that provides maximum contact area with the bottom of the boat, allowing the weight of the craft to be evenly distributed, excluding the point pressure, which is critical for inflatable tubes.
Unlike the koira, the roller system consists of many individual supports that make it easier to load the boat by self-tightening. However, when transported over long distances, it is the koira that benefits in terms of reliability of fixation and protection from vibration. For owners of hard bottom boats (HDB) or aluminum boats, the choice often depends on the conditions of descent and personal preferences.
Modern manufacturers offer combined versions where the nose is equipped with rollers for easy loading, and the main support is made in the form of a coiret. This hybrid system combines comfort of operation and reliability of storage. When choosing, it is worth considering that the coiret requires the right stretch, while the rollers need periodic lubrication and inspection of bearings.
- 🚤 Koira provides 100% protection of the bottom from abrasion and puncture due to the solid surface.
- 🚤 The roller system greatly simplifies the process of self-loading without assistance.
- 🚤 Hybrid beds are a compromise solution for those who often change water bodies.
⚠️ Attention: Using coiras on trailers with low ground clearance can cause bumps to hit the supports. Always check the clearance after installation!
Coirage frame design and materials
The basis of the coir is a welded or precast metal frame, which should be of high strength and corrosion resistance. Most often used steel with powder painting or, more preferably, steel with a powder coating. stainless steelCheap models can be made of conventional ferrous metal, which rusts quickly in constant contact with water and reagents.
The fabric of the coir is made from dense reinforced PVC, resistant to ultraviolet, salt water and mechanical damage. The quality coir has a double seam and reinforced edges, which prevents breaks when stretched. It is important to pay attention to the presence of drainage holes in the lower part, through which water flows into the cover.
The coir's frame is usually adjustable in height by means of bolt joints or telescopic tubes, which allows the paving to be tailored to a specific model of the boat and the height of the trailer, and the rigidity of the structure directly affects how well the boat will keep its shape when driving along the track at high speeds.
When buying, pay attention to the quality of the welds. They must be cleaned and coated with anti-corrosion compound. Any burrs or sharp edges inside the structure can damage the coir tissue from the inside, which will lead to a rapid failure of the product.
Instructions for installing coires on trailer
The process of installing coirets requires carefulness and consistency. Before starting work, make sure that the trailer is on a level ground and the wheels are fixed with shoes. Dismounting old rollers or paddings is performed using a standard set of wrenches.
Installation of new supports is made on the regular places of attachment, however, sometimes it may be necessary to drill additional holes in the frame of the trailer. In this case, be sure to treat the edges of the holes with anticort to prevent the development of rust. Coir attachment should be rigid, without backlashes and distortions.
☑️ Checklist for koira installation
After mechanical attachment of the frame, you need to tighten the tissue part, the tissue must be stretched like a drum, but without excessive distortion, which can deform the metal base, and a properly installed coir should not bend under the weight of a person standing on his knees.
| Parameter | Koira (Cloth) | Casts (Plastic) | Casts (Resina) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection of the hull | Maximum | Medium | High. |
| Self-boot | Impossible. | Easy. | Medium |
| Durability | 5-7 years | 3-5 years | 4-6 years |
| Price. | Medium | Low. | High. |
The final step of the installation is to check the symmetry of the left and right supports, the boat must lie on the koirah simultaneously with both sides. If one side touches before the other, adjust the height of the corresponding bedspread.
Adjustment and adjustment of the height of the supports
The koira adjustment is the most important step in the safety of transportation, the main goal is to ensure that the boat lies on the bottom of the bottom, without gaps and points of excessive pressure. cylinder deformation.
Adjustment is done by moving vertical pillars or turning the adjusting screws. Adjustment is recommended with the boat already installed on the trailer, but without the engine and fuel. In the process, it is useful to use a building level or a laser level to control the plane.
How to check the correct setting without a level?
Put the boat on the koira and have the assistant walk along the side, and if the boat is rocking or you hear the creaking of friction, the height needs to be adjusted, and you can visually assess the gap between the bottom and the fabric — it should not be.
Pay special attention to the nose. The bow thrust heel or roller should only touch the boat when the trailer is fully stopped, without creating constant stress. A clamped nose can cause the boat to shift when braking or damage to the transom plate.
If you use a trailer for different boats, it makes sense to tag the adjustment elements for quick reconfiguration, which will save time and nerves in preparing for the trip to the water, and remember to check the tightening of all the locking nuts after the first departure.
The problem of boat deflection and methods of solution
One of the common problems with using koira is the formation of a transom deflection of the boat between the supports, especially in models longer than 4 meters. hammockIt occurs when the distance between the pads is too large, and the constant deflection leads to stress in the materials and reduced driving performance.
To eliminate the deflection, you need to increase the number of support points or use elongated coires that support a large area of the bottom. In some cases, you need to install an additional central support that takes on part of the load in the inter-balloon zone, this is especially true for boats with low pressure inflatable bottoms.
- 🛠 Increase the number of lodgings to three pairs for boats over 4.5 meters long.
- 🛠 Use coirs with a rigid internal profile that repeats the bending of the bottom.
- 🛠 Check the pressure in the cylinders - the under-performed boat bends more strongly.
⚠️ Warning: Operation of a boat with a permanent deflection of the bottom can lead to irreversible deformation of stringers and violation of the geometry of the hull.
The weight of the engine is also important, because a heavy motor on the transom creates a lever that can lift the nose, which increases the deflection in the center, and balancing the load properly in the boat and on the trailer helps minimize this effect.
For long PVC boats, removable central supports-"banks" have proven themselves perfectly, which are installed only during transportation.
Coirage care and trailer maintenance
Koira, like any piece of equipment, requires regular maintenance to preserve its properties. After each trip on salty water or dirty roads, it is recommended to wash the fabric with fresh water. This will remove salt, sand and reagents that can destroy the structure of PVC and accelerate the corrosion of the framework.
Before long-term storage, especially in winter, it is better to remove the coir from the frame or ease the tension of the fabric, this will prevent loss of elasticity of the material and the formation of cracks in the folds.
Checking fasteners should be a habit for every boater, Vibration on the road can weaken even the tightest connections, regularly tighten bolts and check the condition of the locking washers, timely maintenance will eliminate unpleasant surprises along the way.
Regular washing of coirets with fresh water increases the life of the fabric by 2-3 times and maintains the aesthetic appearance of the trailer.
If you detect minor tissue damage, such as cuts or punctures, use special PVC remixes. The glued area should be protected from direct contact with the metal of the frame to avoid repeated damage.
GIMS requirements and road safety
Transportation of the boat by trailer is regulated by traffic rules and GIMS requirements. The boat must be securely fixed to prevent its displacement or fall in case of emergency braking. The use of transom belts and a nose stop is a prerequisite for safe transportation.
If the boat is significantly outside the trailer, it must be marked with position lights and signs, in some cases special permission for the carriage of oversized cargo is required.
Compliance with speed when towing is another important aspect: the trailer with the boat has inertia other than the passenger car, which increases the braking distance.
Do I need to register a trailer for a boat?
Yes, trailers with a gross mass of more than 750 kg are subject to mandatory registration with the traffic police and require a license plate. For trailers of a smaller mass registration is not required, but the presence of documents confirming ownership is mandatory.
Can I carry a boat with pumped cylinders?
Transportation of a fully inflated boat is not recommended due to changes in cylinder pressure under temperature changes and the risk of damage, however, short-term journeys over short distances are allowed provided reliable fixation.
What is the maximum speed with the trailer?
According to the traffic rules, the maximum speed of a road train (car with a trailer) outside settlements is 90 km / h, and on highways - 110 km / h, unless otherwise limited by signs. It is recommended not to exceed 80-90 km / h for safety.
How to properly fasten the boat with belts?
Use at least two transom belts, thrown over the sides and fixed to the frame of the trailer. The nose of the boat should be fixed through a rump bolt to the winch or bow rest. The belts should not rub against sharp corners.