'toon/boat dolly

[JollyRoger]

I've been looking at various options for putting "wheels" on my pontoon boat for moving it around on land.

I happened upon this and it looks like it might work if I set up right on my pontoon frame (right behind the seat).

http://www.discountramps.com/boat-dolly.htm

anyone try something like this? It seems like a pretty economical solution.

[Go Fish]

Looks interesting.... Let me know if you get one. David

[Wayne Kohan]

If the wheels are as small as they look, then it would work on asphalt, but I think you have trouble at Lenice and especially Nunally. I have a 12" wheel, and at times wish I had a bicycle wheel.

Wayne

[BDD]

iagree

With Wayne's response. Anything but hard asphalt or concrete and your looking at trouble.

[JollyRoger]

Wayne and BDD - you guys have a good point.

what did you buy/make for your pontoons? Do you happen to have pictures?

[Rick Sharp]

Cabelas sells a couple different ones that might work

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_319665&id=0036588318951a

[JollyRoger]

Rick - I saw that exact same wheel and since I have a water skeeter - it seemed pretty logical to get - but two things held me back...

One is that for the earlier models the hole that wheel featured in cabelas needs does not exist on my frame.
This means I have to drill a hole - which can be done, but not something I want to do if I can get away with it.

The other thing about this wheel is that it is fixed - meaning its great for lakes but would easily be ruined the first time I hit the Yakima River with it.

So it looks like I'm still in a tough place finding a good solution...
hm....

[Couleeflyfisher]

Don't go for those phoney small wheel transports, use a bike wheel & tire. If you've got a tubular frame like SouthFork or most 'toons real easy to make. Works great for places like Lenice. Go to a bike shop, get a split head goose neck and it should clamp to your frame, front fork set up with tire and you're in business.

[JollyRoger]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like I might be going down the bicycle wheel route.

btw- have you guys found a way to make it easily detachable?

[Couleeflyfisher]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like I might be going down the bicycle wheel route.

btw- have you guys found a way to make it easily detachable?

Goose neck stays on the frame, wheel and fork assembly just slips out and leave it on shore or take it on your toon.

[Otis28]

Check out the one "Easy" made for his toon.
http://washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php?t=47398

Otis 28

[In_too_deep]

I've posted my removable wheel mount before:

http://www.badger.rchomepage.com/pontoon_boat.html

[pvsprme]

Intoodeep:
Nice set-up, I like your ideas. I've found my NFO wheel set-up is worth the $, easy to set up & I remove it in the water, usually. Only flaw is the bicycle-style wheel is too skinny for rough (soft terrain). Sand or soft dirt will cause it to sink when I add a 55# AGM battery, trolling motor, rods, anchor tackle, etc. Noticed one of your pictures (5th)showed a tire that appeared to be smaller & fatter than the bicycle tire set-up you detail. What size tire is it?

[In_too_deep]

That is a hand dolly wheel with the bearing in the hub. It is wider but does not roll as well as the mountain bike wheel across tree roots and such. I can swap the wheels but overall the mountain bike wheel is better since I don't have 100 pounds of extra stuff. Maybe try a wheelbarrow wheel?

[pvsprme]

That was my thought, something with pneumatic, for sure. tree roots, rocks are not a problem, just need more surface area or flotation in the soft stuff.
Thanks

[Wayne Kohan]

That was my thought, something with pneumatic, for sure. tree roots, rocks are not a problem, just need more surface area or flotation in the soft stuff.
Thanks

I have a 9' Scadden pontoon that weighs about 75#. I bought the wheel from Kauffman's to attach to the boat and it works well. I got stuck in the wind on Nunally with broken oar right and had to cover a lot of desert with the boat. It was a b%#*ch. About halfway back, I left the boat and carried the back basket I attach with the anchors and my fly rods. When I got back to the boat, I was amazed at how much easier it was to push through the soft stuff. It makes me think about bringing a back pack to carry some stuff and unweight the boat......


Wayne

[Stonefish]

Here is another option to consider.
http://www.launchinggear.com/Launching%20Gear.htm
Not cheap but well built. Saw on on a guys toon a few year ago.

[JollyRoger]

that looks a good option - you aren't kidding though - it is spendy. It makes me wonder why the 'toon manufacturers don't just make something similar.

[Mike Wilson]

I use a wheel barrow. So far no one has decided to steal the wheel barrow from me while I was on the lake fishing. Go figure, no one wants to work, and leaves the tools for manual labor alone. :cool:

[easy]

[QUOTE=JollyRoger;337102]Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like I might be going down the bicycle wheel route.

btw- have you guys found a way to make it easily detachab

[sharpshooter223]

In Too Deep, great design, im working out a bike tire wheel for my pontoon and i might just incorporate your design into it.