Thread: car topper, trailer, or don't bother

Speaking of keeping things "under powered", one of those fold up boats could be handy. If you were to power it, or even a small car topper, with one of those Water Snake electric motors, you could use your duel battery setup to charge a third battery for the boat. They're not fast, but good enough to get you about for a troll in quiet waterways and rivers that aren't too fast flowing.
Another option for you could be an inflatable boat. Cant remember what they call them (generic name eludes me), but they can be small, light, you have on board air to blow them up.

Originally Posted by roverrescue

I guess I am different and live in a place to appreciate that difference.
Depending on circumstance I have four different boats to choose from.
Tandem axle down to roof topper.

I would never go exploring this great land without a boat.

I am one of these people that cant understand why anyone would tow something that ISNT a boat!

Interestingly I have a bit of a penchant for making offroad boat trailers that do not cause problems like the usual boat trailer you come across!

One day when I stop building trailers and repairing them for others Ill make one for me that has the tinnie and motor well supported and mounts for the roof top tent up over the front deck.

But anyways - horses for courses. Im sure If I lived in the big smoke I wouldnt have so many rigs?

S

Funny you say that. This boat is on a trailer that is for a bigger or heavier boat. Originally the show was designed with a jack off type camper trailer tent set up over the boat.

What type of grief does the typical boat trailer give you.
Would you drag one to Cape Melville or is that unreasonable. Given it only weighs 250kg or so you possibly could forget its there.

Originally Posted by Chops

Speaking of keeping things "under powered", one of those fold up boats could be handy. If you were to power it, or even a small car topper, with one of those Water Snake electric motors, you could use your duel battery setup to charge a third battery for the boat. They're not fast, but good enough to get you about for a troll in quiet waterways and rivers that aren't too fast flowing.
Another option for you could be an inflatable boat. Cant remember what they call them (generic name eludes me), but they can be small, light, you have on board air to blow them up.

I do have an option of swapping my 14ft canadian for a 16. Perhaps then an out rigger and an electric motor could be worth considering.

Hi Jason, I can probably add some info. I have 2 kids, 4 & 6 (seems like yesterday I answered your camping with kids thread and they were 1 & 3), Like Rescue, I have access to multiple boating situations, this is our experience so far.

10m Sailing Cat – too slow for kids, they get bored and just want to get to the beach. Adults love the relaxing quite, level experience, we've been for trips of 6 weeks up the outer reef, but the kids were younger (or not here) then. The cruising life is adictive but kids between 2 and 16 don't cope with the serenity... It's sold, when they are on their own I will get another.

7m Plate power boat. Its great to get up Fraser / Moreton or outside for some decent fishing, but for kids the day is long, they loose interest fast no mater how good the fishing is, and for them, nothing beats the beach, we can get to some good reefs for ½ day then head back to the beach for lunch, swim and burn off energy. I clean the fish while they play on the beach. Big advantage of this is there are bunks, they can have a snooze or watch a movie when they run out of gas. The fuel bill is just stupid even with a Honda.

4.1m tinnie & 30hp around Brisbane. Kids love to get out on the water no mater what you do, it feels fast, they get wet (sometimes) and gives them something different for a few hours, in this regard it is priceless. Fishing around BNE is crap, crabs are back but the big issue is a boat of this size really restricts you in and around BNE, I can take them over to Peal, on a good day but usually it is confined to the rivers, island passages and creeks for muddies (which is fun for all – short day). Around BNE the tinnie is usually only out for 1-3hrs, in this regard it is good, we have fun and still have most of the day to do something else. I have fished Harry Atkinson solo several times on a good night using just over 5L of fuel. However, kids and mum get cold, which provides limits. 30 hp is big enough for tubing and my 14yo niece can wake board behind it.

4.1m tinnie camping/travelling. There is a thread on here somewhere where I detailed a camper build and expanded to carry the 4.1 (I got **** canned for it…) right way up so all the gear can stay inside – there is a lot of gear to carry for a boat. What we found was that it takes a lot of energy. Set up the folding trailer, get it off before setting up camp ect ect & quickly came to the conclusion that my energy levels make it only suitable for stays of week +, I couldn’t do it for a long trip. The issue would be compounded with a cartopper, admitidly you wouldn’t need to unload it to camp, but the boat set up would be a bugger, with the boat upside down, you need to set everything up everytime you want to use it, so I can see how plp report they wish they left it at home. In saying this, having a boat at camp is great, and your setup would remove my issues - boat just sits on its own trailer. As rescue says, standard trailer are crap, far too light.

3.6 Tinnie & 15. My dad still has his old 12 footer that I grew up with – it was purchased new in 1964! Being an older design, IMO it is better that the new ones (why he still has it), it is not as wide and has a sharper entry and moderate V to the transome - not flat like the new tinnies. It’s been welded a few times (by me) and now has a nice Honda. A boat in this size is great for creeks and protected bays, and I would go as far in saying it’s more useable than the 4.1. It is exactly half the weight, which means no where near as seaworthy but that also means you stay well in shelter. (no surf launching like the 4.1). It is limited in how many can go (2+2 littlies is fine) and it is nowhere near as stable – sit down! It’s easier to handle at camp, easier to transport (right way up of course), and still allows crabbing, and drifting across shallows for flathead, whiting, bream. Actually I will have the kids out in it this weekend.

Sailing - Hobie 16. Its fast, exciting and very very wet, in 20kn you are on the edge. We have recorded 22kns of boat speed in 20kn wind. I like to sail, it gets you thinking, our 6yo loves it, it’s a buzz even for us "adults", 8 inches above the water - slide out on trapeze, sheet in and hang on as the hull you’re standing on lifts clear of the water, while you keep the bow of the other hull precariously above the surface!! We all know what happens when that fine line is crossed – we laugh, stand it up and "lets do it again dad!". Physically, it’s a fair workout too. Daughter is enrolled for sailing lessons this coming summer; 4yo is too young to safely hang on at this stage but gets a slow ride in light wind or reduced sail. Can’t use it around BNE unless member of a club? Rigging is a pita, take it to somewhere like Boreen pt or Wivenhoe dam, rig it on the first day leave it on the beach beside camp. It opens up the variety of experiences for kids on the water, a hobbie demonstrates the excitment sailing can provide, they now have the exposure and option of choosing (dingy sailing) as a sport - its a sport that makes kids think and teaches independence and decision making that IMO not many sports do.

My neighbour has just purchased a carbon fibre Canadian Canoe (16kg!!) with an outrigger + elec motor, so we have started experimenting with it now too, thoughts from 1st outing, painfull setup at ramp, and limited in what you can do compared to the 3.6 - there's not much you could do in the canoe that you couldn't in 3.6, but there's lots you can do in 3.6 that can't with the canoe. Only real advantage I can see is no rego but small boats and trailer don't cost much.

Harlie has given a great response... specific to brissie too.
But to answer your question
What type of grief does the typical boat trailer give you.

Essentially overloaded on really junky alko type running gear usually ends badly for boat trailers.

Springs even their "offroad" rebound springs are way too short and ride too harshly. This loads up the chassis which are generally under specced with no gussets. This leads to chassis cracks and hull damage.

One off trips are usually no bother but if you intended taking a boat along broken roads regularly there a few important considerations that are needed.

S

Champion response Harlie, well done. Thanks.

I think you have solved my problem really. Half a day, visit a few close islands, get a bit wet and have some fun is about all the kids will want.
The attention span, or desire for mum will limit it to about that anyway. But sitting on the sand on the surf side of the northern tip of south straddie should keep them interested for a bit.

Perhaps a nice thing about a tinny, if you buy at the right price it's easy to resell and break even again or close too.
I think in time as the kids get older we might sell up for a second 14ft Canadian. I can tell you a multi day trip down an inland river is a nice way to pass your time.

Thanks

As a newish boat owner living 200km from the ocean.
I just dont use the boat enough.Partly because I was paying it off,the rest is the distance from H20.
I now own it outrite and are looking forward to being able to have a fish.
For a lesser outlay look into those Hobbie miracle drive yaks,a mate bought 2 and sold his boat.He and the good lady paddle around together and have a great time.
Andrew

Originally Posted by newhue

...What type of grief does the typical boat trailer give you.
.

Boat trailers are generally only designed to carry the boat only, on good roads. Trouble is that the boat is shaped like a bowl and people fill them with gear when they go away on holidays. When combined with a rough road, you get this...



Not a fun way to end a holiday...