It's that time. I need to buy beach wheels. Looked at various online stores. So, do I really need to lay out $500 (or $499) for a decent set of wheels? Or are there any lesser known avenues to get great wheels for a cheaper price?
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Am I right assuming that Cattrax is the way to go?

First question.
Hard sand mostly are real soft sand and uneven ground.
If mostly hard sand and even ground, make these and save the money.
http://dgaleana2.proboards56.com/in...action=display&thread=1143785090
If very soft sand and uneven ground.
No question. GET the CatTrax.

Just my 2 cents. I have done both.

Doug

If you belong to SHBCC, don't they have beach wheels there that are available for members to use?

They do have them there. But I moved to Long Island.

Thomas:

Review my question. If wheels fit, Danny has had good luck with them from Hobie 16 to big Getaway. IF not get CatTrax.

Doug

I just made a cattrack for way less than $500 and its as good as the Cattrax version.

Go to Seitec and get a set of wheels.
I used the A wheels $59 each.
http://www.seitech.com/product_details.a...mp;riIDClass=92


If you want the fat wheel they are the F wheel, $94 each

http://www.seitech.com/product_details.a...mp;riIDClass=92

Get a section of 2"OD aluminum as wide as your boat, and 1" aluminum for the axles. The ID of the Seitech wheels is 1". 2" OD Aluminum is available at Dwyer or your local aluminum distributor
http://www.dwyermast.com/items.asp?cat1I...Aluminum+Tubing
The 2"0D tubing is $8.60 per foot. You'll need about 8 ft
The 1" OD tubing is $5.40 per foot. You'll need 2 ft for the axles.
You'll need to get some Delrin to go from the 1"3/4 ID alum tube to the 1" Axle. Get a 12" long Delrin Rod round from McmasterCarr.
Part # 8579K38, $47 for one foot and you'll have some for your next set of wheels.

Assembly
I put the wheels on the OUTSIDE of the boat, its more stable, but you'll need to make the 2" tube as wide as the boat.

Cut 4 2" pieces off the delrin rod, and then drill 1" hole in the middle, so the axle fits into the delrin, which will slide into the 2" 0D tube. (The ID of the 2" is just over 1 3/4", and once you put a bolt thru the 2" tube, the delrin and the axle, its nice and solid.

Drill two holes in the axle, delrin and 2"tube, so that you can bolt the whole assembly together.
Bolt cradle on the 2" tube.

So, now you have a 2" tube as wide as our boat, with 1" aluminum sticking out the ends. Put the wheels on the ends and bolt the cradles to the 2" alum tube in the right spot.

Your wheels on the outside will be much more stable on rough ground and you wont risk hitting curbs or rocks that the wheels dont roll over.

Bill

Pics

pic2

pic3

Bill, thats sweet. I am going to research it all more tonight. The bim wheel hubs are toast after my partner squeezed them into the bed of his truck.

I bought a set of cat trax 2 days ago from a guy for only $60!!!
They are great condition, tires hold air just fine, but there is very minor cracking in 1 of the wheels that I plan to fix soon.
I was like $60? sure!
I did have to drive ~30 miles away to get em, but I was looking for some to begin with.

roleeze? Be careful of the "cracking" if they are. You can actually get little plastic particles to melt and fix them those.

The BIM wheels that came with the HT arent up to the task, mine busted and put a nice hole in the hull. This setup will be much better for you.

If you are looking to replace the aluminum HT spin pole with a carbon one, you can use the aluminum pole for the wheels.

Bill

Good idea.. carbon $$ though.. but a good thought.

Forte makes a 2" carbon pole for approx $200.

www.forterts.com

can't find it on the site.. I imagine I would have to contact them for that. poles seem to start at 400-500

If you are going to go for the bigger wheel with a 1-inch bore for around $100 each,, you might as well get the smooth roleez wheel - see attachment. (what does tread do for you anyway?)

Steven Bellavia
Hobie FX-1
Sail #211

I dont think the tread buys you anything, but the needle bearings in the Seitech wheels are the best I've seen, they are all delrin, or some sort of plastic, and they spin very freely. Very nice wheels.

Has anyone checked their wheels as baggage on a plane? Bought mine off a guy near Orlando while in town for a convention and checked them as baggage for the flight back. They charged me an extra $30 because of the size though. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Should've seen the baggage personel handle that!

Clayton

I have had the roleaze wheels and wasn't a huge fan