Open 4.2 - 4.6m tinnies

[garth]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone can recommend Stessl "trucks".

I am after a boat that comes almost bare (including no seats) so that over time i can customise the boat how i please. The truck caters for this.

Anyone know of any other boats that come off the shelf with just a a hull and flat floor, gunnels and no seats (ie. similar to boat pictured below)?

Cheers,

Garth

http://www.stessl.com.au/assets/pictures/Dinghies/dinghy606x250.jpg

[storms72]

Used to sell them at the boat yard a few years ago mate but they weren't called trucks then.....They were a brilliant boat, solid as, popular with fisho's like you wanting to build them up.....back then they had two bench seats one rear and one front with plenty of room in the middle. I remember a water test one day, 4.6m-30hp went like a rocket and could have two people leaning over gunnel on one side and not even close to getting water in the boat. Used to have a very deep v though....might be hard getting it up small shallow areas mate!

Jason

[xtosea]

Hi Garth and welcome to the site. Another place you can try is Brooker Boats in Silverwater, Shaft st from memory. They sell hulls very cheap.
Kamil

[JOC00L]

They won't sell to the public though will they Kamil?

Allycraft have what they call the Tank. Although the Stessl Truck is a mighty fine product. I would opt for the painted version though, as it would make life a lot simpler when it comes time to throw paint on your newly created weapon.:ohhh yeah:

http://www.allycraft.com.au/Showroom.aspx?CatID=AT

[storms72]

Yeah Joe, allycraft had something similar in the past too but how can you go past the good reputation and reliability that comes with a Stessyl! Worth the extra $$$ I think.

[xtosea]

Hmm Joe, i thought they did sell bare boats to public, but will have to find out, i know a friend was looking at one from there, but can't recall if they sold to him or not? Good point there.
Kamil

[garth]

Thanks for your input guys.

Like alot of people now i just gotta figure out a way to make this work financially.

I'm thinking of sourcing a second hand trailer to save some cash. Am i right to assume the boat will fit on any trailer designed for 14-15 ft boats? Or is it not as simple as that due to the varying hull shapes of boats? I assume worst case scenario would only involve sliding some of the rollers to new positions?

For other peoples info the 435 truck was cheapest from holt marine in brissy for $5,840. 465 truck was only $450 more.

[storms72]

Garth....you can adjust the rollers/skids up and down to suit any boat so long as the length is ok....Even if the length is out a bit you can usually move the winch pole forward or back...be sure to be accurate with your measurements.

Only time a trailer is needed to be specially made is for multi hulls, v or flat bottom boats use a ready made 'off the shelf' type trailer thats just adjusted to suit the boat being put on it.

CHeers mate
Jason

[Haji]

Hi Garth
Rollers are not a good idea for small ally boats as they can end up putting dents in the bottom of thin sheeted boats. (as most small tinnies are)

Fortunately it is not difficult to change a small boat trailer from rollers to teflon skids. All you will need to do is to remove the side rollers (leave the keel rollers as is) and make or buy some steel U brackets with stems that can utilise the existing clamp fitted to the trailer.

Get some lengths of timber to span between the supports and sized to fit into the U brackets, round of each end and then fit a blue teflon runner strip (Hunts marine have it) over the full length of each timber. Use countersunk SS screws.

You will be amazed at the improvement. When I changed from rollers to skids on my small SeaAl tinnie I did my usual thing which was to take all the straps of the boat, remove the winch cable and gently back it down into the water untill the boat floated off. Only this time when backing down the ramp the boat just flew of the trailer and ended up sitting on the ramp. Mrs Haji was not impressed!

If you have a look at new tinnies in the showrooms of dealers like Hunts you will see examples of skids.

Good Luck

Cheers

[garth]

Thanks for all ya help fellas!

Haji, i'll be sure to leave the straps on haha