towing a boat without a trailer

mate, have been down this track before. first there is no such thing as a little or short distance as far as the law is concerned. your wheels and attachments must be just as capable to go from one side of Australia to the other or 300mtrs down the road. it can be done but must comply with all adr regulations, and all state registration requirements. this includes Vin # the problem is, it must be viewed by an authorized Vin # inspector, and he must state that its fit for road use and supply a blue slip for rego dept. I DONT THINK YOU WILL FIND SOMEONE THAT WOULD PUT HIS NAME TO IT BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL PROBLEMS IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG. I am in the process of becoming a new vehicle inspector so i can do just what your talking about. this will enable me to make my own trailers and inspect them my self. hope this helps.

Interesting question Lyndon.

As the camp to river track may well be sand I wonder if the jockey wheels would be prone to digging in too much?

Do you actually need anything on the front of the boat? Why not just make some kind of rigid connection either from your towbar or chassis which keeps the front of the boat high enough?

Just kicking ideas around:
how about, instead of wheels on the back, using a skid plate which is arranged such that it sits a couple of inches below the boat keel (is that the correct term? :) There would be a natural angle towards the car on the plate which would minimise sand pickup etc.

Keep us informed - sounds like a fun, Heath Robinson, type home engineering project :)

Mike Harding

LyndonK,
I am using a home made trailer from river bank to water etc.
See post 47300.
Mal

Guys & Girls,
I'm sure that at some time or another we have all seen this subject on the forum.

A great idea to get the boat to the waters edge over a short distance as stated, and I have seen a couple of devices in use that utilised an appendage between the boats bow tow point and the tow vehicle.

There are however pitfalls for the unwary. Some years ago when in a caravan park at Iluka the local police visited the caravan parks in the town and suggested to the park managements they make all their guests aware that anyone detected using such a device would be infringed. I assume they would start with unregistered then go on to uninsured and possibly unroadworthy.

There would be no apparent concerns with using such a device on private property "closed to the public". However one needs to be very careful in NSW at least.

Some time ago a Local Government Ordinance Officer bought to my attention a little known piece of legislation called the "General Transport Act", 1999 I think is the year which is in force in NSW . To over simplify, The General Transport Act applies to "Any area open to the public for the driving or parking of motor vehicles that is not a public road". The Act then goes on to say that such an area is subject to the NSW Motor Traffic Act.

An example given to me was that of Farmer Brown who erects a sign at the farm gate offering pumpkins for sale and inviting the public to drive in to the farm, the General Transport Act then applies and the farm road becomes subject to the NSW Motor Traffic Act.

I'm given to understand that this is the legislation that empowers Police to infringe in public car parks.

I have seen the Act displayed in a couple of public car parks however the only one that readily comes to mind is a shopping centre at Chatswood on Sydney's north shore.

I am no legal eagle and am not in a position debate the subject but intend to follow up again with my contact some time over the next week or so.

Something to think about.

Ian

If it a short distance as you say, I have regularly seen tinnies just dragged on a long rope by a vehicle up a steep bank (10 to 15 metres) from the water then loaded onto the roof at the top. This is out of Darwin where it can be a long way down to the water in the dry season. To launch simply load the tinny with motor and all the gear at the top of the bank and push down.

I take no responsibility, but i have seen where a length of aluminium tube was welded to the front, facing down. This was just the right size to fit over the towball. At the rear they had two flip down wheels to support the rear.

It was only for short distances as the plactic type wheels were not bearing type but for real short distances it worked.

Alan

Lyndon,

There is a clamp on style of jockey wheel available from most boat shops.

These have an angel bracket at the bottom that sits on the bottom chines of the boat with a clamp style bracket that fits over the gunwhale.

You position the wheels on each side at about the balance point and then the front of the boat can be easily maintained with one hand if necessary.
Works with the OB attached as well, although I have had a problem now and again in very soft sand or mud.

The only other "problem" is forgetting to remove them before taking off. The boat doesn't plane too well:-))

Generally work OK though and are about $50 a pair.