A folding travel trailer on top of a pontoon boat~

[Squidly-Diddly]

So in theory, you could tow the disassembled boat down to ramp, put it together and even load the tow vehicle, sail away to distant shore, reverse process and continue on without leaving anything behind?

I figure the boat could be towed by and carry a typical heavy duty truck like F-350.

Rollers on deck to use tow vehicle's power optional of course. Might park the vehicle sideways so the power wouldn't need to go through 90' gears, just a long shaft like Thai boat.

Or since I figure the trailer will have total of 6 wheels, be able to reuse the wheels and attach to hull and use power from tow vehicle with belts or chain so the whole boat could crawl out of the water as a unit.

[viking north]

Ok Ron I'm not going to get into a pissing match here (not my style) but my post on the skirt idea was a genuine input from this forum member on how to improve the looks of the whole assembly. I was not the only one that presented this same idea as per my apology to a former posted on the same idea. As for not reading all the posts on the thread, I did,(speed read) and as commonly happens some points and photos are missed.(115photos??) This does not excuse your sarcastiuc reply enhansed with faces in return. I took my time to select your post-read it and privide positive input to assist you. A simple "Thanks and I've got that covered" would have been more courteous and in tune with the forums spirit. Good luck with your project and lets agree in a new spirit to let this die --Geo.

[Wavewacker]

Originally Posted by RonKMiller

I just received my 2012 Coast Guard safety inspection sticker today - but got reamed out pretty good for having my registration numbers/letters on back ass-wards and not having the proper spacing.

Something few on this forum would ever admit, but then I don't think anyone has managed to tick off contributing members in a record of 13 posts either!

[RonKMiller]

Originally Posted by viking north

(115photos??)

At the very top of my post I mentioned that there were links to video and photos at the bottom... I went to a lot of effort to caption them and go into into detail. It took me a couple of hours, all so anyone viewing them understands what's going on. Sorry you missed them - but here they are again:

https://picasaweb.google.com/MillerR...ildingTheYKnot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0IwHewPvEg

...and if getting into a pissing match isn't your style you certainly managed to get one going by calling me "arrogant".

Name calling.. really?

I'm done here, thanks.

[viking north]

Ron as a mono hull builder I seldom venture into other marine vessel styles mainly because like many on the forum I have limited time so concentrade on where we can learn and have input. For example i seldom partake in threads on racing sail boats - powerboats- and almost never multihulls. My interest is motorsailers.Thus I would have not viewed your photos but your thread heading caugh my eye because I have almost completed a similar design for a customer from California. He owns several off shore islands here in Nova Scotia and we will be building a pontoon / travel trailer combo that will also have the added feature of being used a delivery platform for a small tractor and building materials. In this case the vessel is of course larger - stronger built to take sheltered ocean water conditions. One prime difference the pontoons will have multiple watertight compartments. The other feature is the trailer will have electric brakes activated in addition to chain load binders,straps as backup and lock in wheel chaulks. The problem with straps alone is the stretch factor of the straps. Once that comes into effect and it will, enertia then takes over as the prime enemy of binding failure. Any wheel movement then generates further stretch until the chain reaction finally causes something to fail. The chain reaction being both the trailer's inertia and trailer induced inertia on the vessel all triggered of course by wave action. Chaulks help alot but unless they are equipped with a chaulk to deck lock in feature they too will succumb to movement. Likewise I am using chain load binders as there is absolutely no stretch factor. Basically it's a 100% backup system any two can fail and the remaining can buy time until a repair is made. In your case you can compare it to a load of palleted freight riding on a conveyer floor broken lose in air pocket turbulance flying conditions in a DC3. I am presently working on designing built in pontoon wheels, four of them, two bow two stern, not for road travel but for beaching and haul out. Although I suppose it could be road towed if necessary under a temp. permit. Anyhow good luck have fun, keep the lifeboat/liferaft handy Oooh thats another thread --Geo.

[dstgean]

Originally Posted by RonKMiller

At the very top of my post I mentioned that there were links to video and photos at the bottom... I went to a lot of effort to caption them and go into into detail. It took me a couple of hours, all so anyone viewing them understands what's going on. Sorry you missed them - but here they are again:

https://picasaweb.google.com/MillerR...ildingTheYKnot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0IwHewPvEg

...and if getting into a pissing match isn't your style you certainly managed to get one going by calling me "arrogant".

Name calling.. really?

I'm done here, thanks.

No dog in this fight, but the third or fourth pic in your excellent photo essay includes shots prior to adding the skirts. Perhaps that's what he was alluding to?


Edit to add--looks like they are there on closer inspection--they just fold down at anchor. Perhaps that's what his suggestion included?

Fun multipurpose concept for the big western river systems. I'm sure some of the big houseboats with matching ski boats might look a bit palatial in comparison, but you can take your's anywhere.

Dan

[RonKMiller]

Originally Posted by viking north

Ron as a mono hull builder I seldom venture into other marine vessel styles mainly because like many on the forum I have limited time so concentrade on where we can learn and have input. For example i seldom partake in threads on racing sail boats - powerboats- and almost never multihulls. My interest is motorsailers.Thus I would have not viewed your photos but your thread heading caugh my eye because I have almost completed a similar design for a customer from California. He owns several off shore islands here in Nova Scotia and we will be building a pontoon / travel trailer combo that will also have the added feature of being used a delivery platform for a small tractor and building materials. In this case the vessel is of course larger - stronger built to take sheltered ocean water conditions. One prime difference the pontoons will have multiple watertight compartments. The other feature is the trailer will have electric brakes activated in addition to chain load binders,straps as backup and lock in wheel chaulks. The problem with straps alone is the stretch factor of the straps. Once that comes into effect and it will, enertia then takes over as the prime enemy of binding failure. Any wheel movement then generates further stretch until the chain reaction finally causes something to fail. The chain reaction being both the trailer's inertia and trailer induced inertia on the vessel all triggered of course by wave action. Chaulks help alot but unless they are equipped with a chaulk to deck lock in feature they too will succumb to movement. Likewise I am using chain load binders as there is absolutely no stretch factor. Basically it's a 100% backup system any two can fail and the remaining can buy time until a repair is made. In your case you can compare it to a load of palleted freight riding on a conveyer floor broken lose in air pocket turbulance flying conditions in a DC3. I am presently working on designing built in pontoon wheels, four of them, two bow two stern, not for road travel but for beaching and haul out. Although I suppose it could be road towed if necessary under a temp. permit. Anyhow good luck have fun, keep the lifeboat/liferaft handy Oooh thats another thread --Geo.

That sounds like a VERY robust anchoring system - and definitely not overkill for an ocean going craft. The inertia generated in waves any larger than a foot must be extreme - I'm sure the forces multiply geometrically. I'm only familiar with wind loading - but it's not a stretch to imagine that water must be thousands of times as powerful.

I've got electric brakes on my trailer, but they are not powered up while on the boat or when winching it off. Never felt any need to have them available.

On my boat, all three pontoons (logs) have 3 separate chambers separated by an aluminum bulkhead, so I've got 9 chambers total. They each have a threaded boss on the top with a plastic plug - they literally "breathe" due to atmospheric and temperature changes. That's a very good thing since the walls are extremely thin aluminum - and I'm sure the welds or walls would rupture easily if they were to endure any more than a few psi.

I've got the lifeboat - errrrr, kayak - always at rope's length already deployed and ready for a fast evacuation. The paddles are lashed down on board. The first few days of our journey I had it constantly on my mind. The best thing about Powell is that it is probably never more than half a mile swim to shore. Although that COULD be a challenge when the water is 40F in the early summer!

[RonKMiller]

Originally Posted by dstgean

No dog in this fight, but the third or fourth pic in your excellent photo essay includes shots prior to adding the skirts. Perhaps that's what he was alluding to?


Edit to add--looks like they are there on closer inspection--they just fold down at anchor. Perhaps that's what his suggestion included?

Fun multipurpose concept for the big western river systems. I'm sure some of the big houseboats with matching ski boats might look a bit palatial in comparison, but you can take your's anywhere.

Dan

Yep, exactly - they fold down when anchored - or if you want they can also be deployed when underway as long as there's no chop. Handy when I need Mom to make a sandwich in the kitchen while we're trying to make time.

I've definitely got "penis envy" when it comes to other houseboats - like this one that plies the waters of Powell - helicopter optional. The captain and "inhabitants" of this one were stunned when I made a bee line straight for them and could overtake them - and then shoot up a tiny side canyon for some peace and quiet while they were stuck in the middle of the bay listening to all the noise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlb_Zrfi_Vw

We had Martinis and partied late into the night - they were from California and in the music biz. No pictures allowed
- that would have been gauche.

I've NEVER seen that much silicone in my life.

Then again, I've got about $20K (plus a lot of sweat equity) involved versus $2.5M - so I'll just have to put up with my physical inadequacies.