this is some very good stuff.
Thank you
It is just way too bad that the pictures are not showing.
I also would love to see your stuff.
I have seen the launching gear wheel. Its nice but the
price is not.
peter
Saw this thread yesterday while searching for wheel options. I’ve got an 8’ pontoon boat I bought at Sportsman’s Warehouse a few years ago, that I’m told was made overseas, imported by Outcast.
S WareHouse first told me to call Buck’s Bags, and they sent me a .pdf file with product info on a kit they have called “Buck’s Wheel Attachment (FTA22)”
The kit might be made to fit my slightly different size tube frame, but this gave me a possibly better idea. On my pontoon the footrest tubes can be moved in or out for length adjustment by pressing in a small metal nipple.
So I think a better setup might be to drill a couple new nipple holes so that the footrest j-bars point to the ground instead of horizontal.
Then find a couple of simple small wheel/fork assemblies that I could snug up into the vertical tube ends like wheels on a grocery cart.
Or perhaps I’ll go to the hardware store and see if I can find sturdy enough PVC conduit and fittings to build 2 small fork/axle assy’s to hold something like a Wheeleez and slide either into or over the outside dia of footrest/legs tubes.
Mark
You can also look for a discarded wheeled baby stroller. The wheels are strong enough and about the right size. You can even work with the supports and axles from the carriage on some models.
I have made several float tube carts by removing the easily removed wheels from a golf cart. All you need is a 3/8" shaft to screw the wheels on and you are good to go.
I like your idea of pointing the foot rests down and
putting some wheels on it.
TD is right about the golf cart wheels. Those are light and have wide foot print. Look into those. Sometimes you can find used old golf push cart for like $5 or $10 on garage
sale or salvation army.
Oh, and welcome to our forum [;)]
Peter
Two thoughts here.
Are you planning on using a motor and if so, can the wheel set up support the batteries weight and the boat
I am assuming one reason for a wheel is to try to cut down on trips back and forth.
Two, I am not familiar with your boat, but my foot pegs are stainless steel…this means they won’t rust. Something to think about when drilling more holes.
Just my experience, but with a pontoon, the bigger the wheel, the better.
I only assume this because you mentioned the boat is only 8’ long and I would imagine not that hard to pack by itself.
for my setup that puts all the weight of motor, battery etc on my arms so I think a wheel barrow style where the wheel is in the back by the motor etc. would be easier to carry and push around. Still working on the design but I’ll get it figured out[crazy]
Thanks for the idea of golf cart wheels. I found this third wheel assembly for a Bag Boy push cart (pic attached). Ordered 2 from gppgolf.com, $40 for 2 incl ship.
Let’s see how long they take to arrive. I’m thinking of a great remote Sierra Lake where it’s about 1/4 mi from the end of the road to the water. Big enough lake to want pontoon vs. float tube…
Prob remove the 45 degree plastic/rubber connect mechanism, and modify the stem to fit directly into the tube ends of the footrests.
Mark
P.S. Just noticed the other new posts. Good point about rust on holes. My frame tubes are def not SS-- the boat & oars cost $300; it looks like galvanized steel, and I can see some rust around the metal nipples-- oh well. I think my pontoon was ~45 lbs bare… oars, rod holders, motor mount, fish finder, etc. add up. I’ve done ~100 yards to water, PIA with multiple trips.
Buying these wheels w/o physical inspection is a risk; I hope I can make 'em work.
Galvanized steel holes should hold up in fresh water (other than looking rusty), but not in salt. There are ways to paint rusty areas if rusty looks are a concern, like bluing or phosphate. It takes special expensive bits to drill stainless (diamond, etc), AFAIK.
Pon
Thanks for the idea of golf cart wheels. I found this third wheel assembly for a Bag Boy push cart (pic attached). Ordered 2 from gppgolf.com, $40 for 2 incl ship.
Let’s see how long they take to arrive. I’m thinking of a great remote Sierra Lake where it’s about 1/4 mi from the end of the road to the water. Big enough lake to want pontoon vs. float tube…
Prob remove the 45 degree plastic/rubber connect mechanism, and modify the stem to fit directly into the tube ends of the footrests.
Mark
P.S. Just noticed the other new posts. Good point about rust on holes. My frame tubes are def not SS-- the boat & oars cost $300; it looks like galvanized steel, and I can see some rust around the metal nipples-- oh well. I think my pontoon was ~45 lbs bare… oars, rod holders, motor mount, fish finder, etc. add up. I’ve done ~100 yards to water, PIA with multiple trips.
Buying these wheels w/o physical inspection is a risk; I hope I can make 'em work.
that looks good. I would love to see it all done.
Please post some pictures once its all instaled
and ready to go.
Peter