Recent content by IrishAyes

Most small day sailers are basically dinghies and can be tender and easy to capsize ... more stable larger boats are haevy and harder to rig, launch and recover. I have owned several day sailers .. all with small cabins for shelter ... West Wight Potters 15 and 19 and a Compac 16 presently ...

Looks like they are not permanently mounted, but instead can easily be removed from the mounting "Tubes" they are in. Most likely it is actually a "cart" you are looking at. Once sitting on the wheels the "cart" is used to move a kayak to the water. The uprights fit into the scupper holes...

I see that many newer Sunfish have a horn cleat on the starboard side of the mast. My older rig does not have one. Is that something I need to add?? If so, what is the best way for me to attach it to the mast? Aluminum Pop Rivets? Screws?

Thanks for the info, Mike. I just looked at it on-line ... the original cost less than they now want on EBay ...... and that included Free Shipping ...... Hmmm. must be going up in price because it's now considered to be an Antique !!! Heh, Heh ! ! ChuckO

Wow ... A good "Fix" for the problem ! Looks a good copy of your original 'Little Launcher' and at the cost of a couple tanks of gas for the auto .... it would be hard to go wrong with it. Thanks for your follow-up. ChuckO

Haven't tried, but have ruled out hammers and heat for fear of fiber glass damage. Going to use the Dremel to destroy the area around the screws and then Vice-Grips to twist and remove them. Appreciate all blog advice and cautions. ;-)

Great idea .... a job for my Dremel tool .... Thanks, ChuckO

Understand - appreciate the warning

Thanks for the reply. I will give it a try using a butane pen torch. Hope it works!

My recently acquired free ?? Sunfish has the typical bow handle ... ugly and corroded. I have a replacement, but the SS screws removal is giving me a problem. Galvanic action with the or screw or ?? is keeping them solidly in place. The phillip heads are not 'boogered' yet but soon will be...

I don't think you will have any problem. The trailer looks like one built for a 6-800 pound SeaDoo or jet boat PWC, sturdy, well built and probably weighs more than the boat that will be on top of it. I would move the upright holding the crank as far forward as possible and it should trail...

It's a custom built non-galvanized painted trailer I paid $900 for several years ago. Really hate to give it "salt-baths" in the salt/brackish water we mostly have here. The trailer would have a short life even if I sprayed it off with fresh water after each launch.

... Solved the problem ... just purchased a used unwanted SeaDoo jet ski trailer off Craig's List which will allow me to "float" the boat off and on. The trailer is galvanized, has working lights, no rust, six foot adjustable bunk boards and I paid $200 for it.

I, also have used the pictured cart for moving kayaks but most kayaks weigh between 45 and 60 lbs. Loaded Hobie fishing kayaks outfitted with battery, fish finder, a bevy of poles, etc sometimes weigh in at 110 or so .... too heavy for this cart. The Roll-a-boat with a $135 MSRP would work...