Motor Boat Forum

by **Bigplumbs** » 31 May 2017, 08:51

The main slip I use is a little shallow and I want to try launching and recovering my 17 foot bow rider on my own. I need to increase the length of my tow bar for launching and recovery only. Not for towing as it tows nicely balanced as it is.

I have found simple bars with a tow ball one end and a hitch the over but these give no steering at all.

I would like something like the attached pic and have googled around but cant find something similar in the UK. Anyone done this or know where I can get one. If not I will have to try and make one.

Dennis

by **sprocker** » 31 May 2017, 09:11

A chap launches in Torquay with an extender made from scaffold pole with a towball welded on the end. (Doesn't want to get his car wheels wet).

He then has three U clamps welded to his trailer A frame that the scaffold pole slides into and clamps up when he wants to use it.

Very simple, effective, and cheap.

by **Bigplumbs** » 31 May 2017, 10:18

sprocker wrote:A chap launches in Torquay with an extender made from scaffold pole with a towball welded on the end. (Doesn't want to get his car wheels wet).

He then has three U clamps welded to his trailer A frame that the scaffold pole slides into and clamps up when he wants to use it.

Very simple, effective, and cheap.

Yes I saw that option but I have a thing in the way under the tow bar

Dennis

by **BruceK** » 31 May 2017, 11:25

If you create the drawings most trailer fabricators will make you one. I was quite pleasantly surprised when I was modifying a American trailer to make it UK VOSA legal that they were quite happy and eager to take my custom for 1 off pieces and at prices that I thought were very fair.

by **Bigplumbs** » 01 Jun 2017, 06:42

BruceK wrote:If you create the drawings most trailer fabricators will make you one. I was quite pleasantly surprised when I was modifying a American trailer to make it UK VOSA legal that they were quite happy and eager to take my custom for 1 off pieces and at prices that I thought were very fair.

I have managed to find most of the parts I need at home and also from 2 old scrap cars I had (I seldom throw things away). Mine will use ball hitches to hold the tow bar in position when not in use and I can cannibalise an old winch for a bracket. And believe it or not I have a long piece of galvanised box section from when I made my poles for my trailers. If these parts work all I need is the actual hitch which I think are about £20.

Now I am not working I like to try and make things myself if I can.

Dennis

by **betty boop** » 01 Jun 2017, 07:30

Be carefull Dennis, it's very easy to get over come by all these little boat projects and forget about looking for work/working. I speak from experience :lol:

by **Bigplumbs** » 01 Jun 2017, 11:18

betty boop wrote:Be carefull Dennis, it's very easy to get over come by all these little boat projects and forget about looking for work/working. I speak from experience

I have some work which will see me ok for now I am not going to look for anything proper until the end of the year. All the young ones seem to have a year out so so am I

by **Bigplumbs** » 01 Jun 2017, 11:19

Here are the parts I have scraped together

Dennis

by **betty boop** » 01 Jun 2017, 12:31

Bigplumbs wrote:
betty boop wrote:Be carefull Dennis, it's very easy to get over come by all these little boat projects and forget about looking for work/working. I speak from experience

I have some work which will see me ok for now I am not going to look for anything proper until the end of the year. All the young ones seem to have a year out so so am I

yeah I hear you - my year out has fallen into desperation and lasted 2 1/2 years so far on and off. If any of that work can b spread around let me know

by **Bigplumbs** » 02 Jun 2017, 15:09

Well I have been on and off this job for a few hours doing other things but it is working far better than I thought particularly as I scavenged 90 % of the parts. Total cost will be £15 excluding the bits I had. This is the hitch and some bolts.

Here are some pics nearly finished.

You will see that I have clamped the hitch ball to the trailer so it is adjustable and also so I did not have to grill the trailer as it is galvanised and don't want to introduce a rust point.

The bracket is made from an old boat winch I had and the tow balls were from scrap cars I had in the graveyard.

All I have to do now is fix the hitch and adjust the ball on the trailer to suit the length I finish up at.

I think this will work quite well and will give me that vital 1400 mm ish more I need so I can drive the boat on and off with it still on the Discovery and keep the car out of the water

Dennis