I needed to pull the centerboard out of my Whitehall and make it a bit thinner so it would operate more smoothly. I wasn’t looking forward to dragging the boat off the trailer, setting it on the lawn, and rolling it on its side to get at the centerboard. That job really needs one person handling the boat and another managing the trailer. If I could just lift the boat up while it was still on the trailer, it would be a whole lot easier and I could do the job alone. It occurred to me that I could use my inflatable beach rollers as air jacks, like those used by rescue workers to lift wrecked cars. If I could slip the deflated rollers under my boat and then pump them up, they might lift the boat. I didn't know if the pump could handle the air pressure required to lift the boat, but it became evident that the weight, say 200 pounds, would be divided by the contact area, say 25 square inches at the full lift, to bring the pressure down to a manageable 8 psi.
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Thanks for this. It’s very helpful. I bought two of these rollers this winter, but I won’t be able to use them as beach rollers until up in Maine late this summer, when I have to get our boat over a rocky beach at low tide. However, they are perfect for adding buoyancy to our 18′ sailing surf dory. They snuggle nicely to the seat risers under the mid thwart, so they can be used even now when we are out on the Potomac. For inflation I’m using a battery-operated blower as the seller recommended, but what kind of air pump are you using? It doesn’t look like something for bicycle tires. I suspect that you can get much more lift with your hand pump than I can with my little, but very portable, blower.
The pump is dual action hand pump that is used for inflating rafts and inflatable kayaks. There are a lot of similar pumps on the web and in sports stores.
I switch boats on trailers pretty often. A line to a convenient tree lets me pull the boat off. I haven’t used my beach rollers for them to land; mostly I’ve used a nice collection of PVC pipe. The real heart of the system is an old fashioned spar cart (at least that is what I was told it was). Mine is a piece of old mast about 8 ” diameter with a hole bored in it. It has a pipe axle which goes into a couple of 2×6 ‘s on edge. They are tapered a bit and lagged into a couple of 2 x 4 cross pieces. The whole affair is set up so that when it is sitting on the frame there is a convenient fixed roller, then when it is turned over it is a cart where the boat is just clear of the roller. Making one out of readily available material is simply a piece of 6″ or 8″ PVC pipe with a couple of discs cut to fit in the ends, drilled for the axles.
I also have a pulley system in my garage set up to a trailer winch which is sometimes handy.
These Aere beach rollers are great! I purchased four rollers and a pump from Duckworks for my 1986 Sea Pearl 21. When they arrived I was very impressed with the quality. In addition to being a great tool for moving/lifting my Sea Pearl, I also use them to add flotation and for docking fenders. The do a great job of protecting the leeboard. Thanks for posting this product review.
Thank you for sharing this innovative “air-lift” technique for small boats! It’s fascinating to learn about different methods to manage and transport boats. I’m curious, are there particular types or sizes of boats for which this air-lift technique is most effective, and are there any specific considerations or adjustments needed for different boat materials or designs?
The concept of an air lift is nothing short of revolutionary. From enhancing water circulation in aquariums to transporting materials in industrial processes, air lifts showcase the ingenious application of compressed air. It’s a powerful and versatile mechanism that defies gravity, making waves in various fields. Here’s to the remarkable efficiency and innovation of air lifts – lifting expectations in the world of fluid dynamics!