1st time out in SIB...

[BenGTS]

Well after buying my SIB in November I finally got to use it for the first time this week. Absolutely loved it once on the water but it was a real struggle to launch from the beach. The 20hp engine is so heavy to lug across the sand, same as the 3.65m aluminium floor boat. The launch wheels that I fitted did bugger all, they just dug into the sand when I tried to bring the boat in. Luckily I had a friend to help me because I wouldn't have managed it with only my other half to help. Only took it out the one day as it was too much hard work tbh. Not sure whether I will keep it and try and find some better sites or sell it on now tbh. I have booked 2 weeks in Pentewan sands but I am unsure whether i will be able to get the boat on the water now with only my wife to help. Really shocked at the weight of the outfit, obviously made worse when trying to get it across sand.

On the plus side, I was really pleased with how well the boat went, the 20hp has loads of power.

[BenGTS]

Forgot to add pic

Excel Vanguard 365 SIB

[Martin]

Great to hear you got out Ben, very sickening reading your take of it all though.
We try our best on here to guide people which craft may be suitable for "their needs" before any purchase is made.
Unfortunately if we're not involved in the process there's very little we can do but feel your pain.

In my opinion, the ally floor boats are very heavy and a pain in the backside to set up, the 20hp marnier is a heavy old lump very much like the equivelant Twatso,Honda etc.. all weighing in at over 50kg. A heavy old lump.


The newer Twatso is more inline weight wise with the Suzuki 15/20hp at approx 42kg. Once you get over that 40kg weight every ounce makes a difference

Haver you thought about a trailer, Perhaps larger launch wheels or an outboard trolley.. All will assist you in launch/recovery.

Hopefully we can help advise a little more before you contemplate flogging off the new craft.

Martin

[Paul B]

Sorry to read about the issues you have found with your set up , like Martin says it’s a big old lump of an engine and the ally floored boats aren’t the lightest,

You could look at getting a collapsible launching trolley with larger wheels, I think Martin has one which he could possibly show you a picture of

[Andy B]

I'm only going by the picture, but as a guess I'd say you have those little plastic fold down wheels?

These really aren't suited for sand!
In fact they aren't much good on anything other than concrete...

You need something with large pneumatic tyres for sand.
There are a few tricks to moving a heavier SIB around, I know as mines a bit of a bute!
The main one is to not load it until it's afloat or at the waters edge if possible.
Things like the fuel tank can be placed in the boat just before launching. Trying to drag you boat around with the fuel tank in the front just make the boat heavy!
With the right wheels and the engine on the transom you won't notice the weight of the engine.
Think of it like a large wheel barrow, you wouldn't put all of the weight over the handles. No it needs to be over the wheels

We've all had those days when we could just give up and throw in the towel! But give yourself a break and try again. there's deffinately a knack to it, but once you've got the hang of things you'll be just fine


P.S
Is you keel inflated?
Looks a little flat....

P.P.S
Don't let these guy's with their wind bags put you off a SIB with a solid floor

[Cliff]

Glad you loved the first outing, doing mine this week, really looking forward to it . I think you may have set yourself a hard task for the first launch, but don't be discouraged, there are plenty people on here who launch similar rigs, and can put in their twopennorth to help, as already seen in the previous posts. Here's my twopennorth: I just fitted my launch wheels, and want to be able to launch over sand pebbles, etc. As Andy B says, think of it as a wheelbarrow with the weight over the wheels, that being said, the bigger the wheels the better. These were the largest I could find and not badly priced. They seem to be really strong.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152694566310?ul_noapp=true

These do need an extra bolt that lock them in position over rough ground. There is a slot provided for the purpose, but the supplier didn't seem to know about this until I pointed it out and they sent me two extra stainless bolts. They also do a fitting kit (stainless)bolts and washers for fixing to the transom.

Good luck, and don't be discouraged, problems are there to be solved

[daveh]

Glad you loved the first outing, doing mine this week, really looking forward to it . I think you may have set yourself a hard task for the first launch, but don't be discouraged, there are plenty people on here who launch similar rigs, and can put in their twopennorth to help, as already seen in the previous posts. Here's my twopennorth: I just fitted my launch wheels, and want to be able to launch over sand pebbles, etc. As Andy B says, think of it as a wheelbarrow with the weight over the wheels, that being said, the bigger the wheels the better. These were the largest I could find and not badly priced. They seem to be really strong.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152694566310?ul_noapp=true

These do need an extra bolt that lock them in position over rough ground. There is a slot provided for the purpose, but the supplier didn't seem to know about this until I pointed it out and they sent me two extra stainless bolts. They also do a fitting kit (stainless)bolts and washers for fixing to the transom.

Good luck, and don't be discouraged, problems are there to be solved

Launch wheels 001.JPG

Do yourself a favour and buy a spare inner tube. I use these style of wheels and there great but I was caught out a few years back when I had a puncture. Needless to say the 100m drag back to the car"Solo" was interesting..

[Steve]

Forgot to add pic

Your boat looks great and glad that you had a good first trip out on the water.

With regards the weight - totally know where you're coming from! You definitely need wide wheels for sand, but also, could you try and split the weight carried to the water? We often take the boat to the water's edge and then go back for the OB on it's trolley. That makes things much easier for both of us...

Good luck!

[BenGTS]

These were the launch wheels I fitted...
I did carry the boat down empty, fuel separate and outboard on a engine trolley but it was still a struggle dragging through the sand. I did have a trailer (sold it tonight) but as I take the caravan away with me it's not practical. I was planning on breaking the trailer down and transporting it inside the caravan/ car but it was too heavy for that hence why I sold it. I do have a launching trolley with a tow hitch on which I will put inside the caravan and use that for transporting around caravan sites etc.

[Phil]

These were the launch wheels I fitted...
I did carry the boat down empty, fuel separate and outboard on a engine trolley but it was still a struggle dragging through the sand.

They look similar to the F-RIB wheels I have. Rubbish over stones and soft sand, but good over tarmac and OK on hard/wet sand.

Definitely worth trying the suggestions the guys have already put forward to make beach launching easier. Another idea... I have a comparably light 2-stroke, which I’ve found infinitely easier to carry in an outboard bag.

Also worth doing a few launches from some inflatable-friendly slips (see boatlaunch.co.uk) which are a doddle. I mainly use slips now after exhausting myself last year on the south east coast’s steep shingle beaches.