Other New Beach Cart for Stand-Ups

[LesterLester]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this,

This is a prototype of the Beach Cart I've been working on. It isn't finished, but I wanted to post a couple pics and let you guys see it and give me some feed back and opinions. It's very stout and utilizes rollers rather than bunks.

Additional information on it can be found here: http://crazylester.com/C-L--Parts.html

The site is brand new so please bare with it's simplicity

I don't want to quote a price, but I know it's the first thing that comes to mind. Hoping to be in the $350 range, but if I can do better I definitely will!

Thanks for looking!

 

[swapmeet]

This will might be moved, but anyway. For me, the rollers are a negative. I want the ski to be able to rest on the cart! I prefer the slight friction of carpeted bunks. Rollers seem like an opportunity for trouble. Otherwise I like the simplicity of the design and the price point. Will the handle be detachable?

 

[motoman96]

Sick, bring me a demo to put through it's paces.

 

[LesterLester]

Thanks for the reply

I know what you mean with the rollers. There is a tie down that is part of the system, and must be hooked up. Otherwise your ski will send the cart rolling across the yard! LOL The handle is detachable for shipping.

Bunks aren't completely ruled out, but even small bunks didn't seam to prevent from slipping underneath.

Kenny, I'll get the other one cut and welded up within the next few days-week. You guys can bash on it all you like

 

[garretonufer]

i like the design, just need something to thold the ski against the bumper at the pole. easy load/unload. low profile to the ground, less lifting.

I'd be concerned tha the "T" design may not be strong enough, and it doesn't appear to offer a straight forward means of break down for storage/transport.

otherwise i like, would like to give it a shot.

 

[swapmeet]

i like the design.

I'd be concerned tha the "T" design may not be strong enough.

Haha!

A couple local guys have the Bigfoot in the T-design and it works great.

 

[garretonufer]

understood, but that's bigfoot, a company who has done it for a while. if somewhere were using a light weight weak aluminum to reduce weight, they may also sacrifice the strength.

i have a bigfoot beach cart, and love it.

just giving my worthless $0.02 is all.

 

[kevbo]

understood, but that's bigfoot, a company who has done it for a while. if somewhere were using a light weight weak aluminum to reduce weight, they may also sacrifice the strength.

i have a bigfoot beach cart, and love it.

just giving my worthless $0.02 is all.

All the current 2 wheel carts place the ski above the wheels so they dont drag the tail and also for trailer/stand compatibility. They become an incredible PITA when trying to load a ski in rough water, they float so high that its a two person job. I am building a 3 or 4 wheel low boy wagon that will float with the bed near water level for quickly plucking skis out of the surf. I should know how well it works before the summer ends.

 

[LesterLester]

All the current 2 wheel carts place the ski above the wheels so they dont drag the tail and also for trailer/stand compatibility. They become an incredible PITA when trying to load a ski in rough water, they float so high that its a two person job. I am building a 3 or 4 wheel low boy wagon that will float with the bed near water level for quickly plucking skis out of the surf. I should know how well it works before the summer ends.

Right on man. I though about the floating and high center of gravity problems. This stand keeps the ski relatively low and the handle has an arch to make it comfortable to pull. Still in the testing phases of course.

 

[shaunsteezy]

thoes wheels wont roll well in sand. good start though!

 

[LesterLester]

Ya I know. These wheels work well, but aren't particularly ideal for deep sand. Big wheels cost a lot and I'm researching an affordable big wheel option at the moment. Working on a second prototype with bunks and a low center of gravity at the moment. I'll have pics of that one up soon. Thanks for the feedback guys! Keep the comments coming!

 

[LesterLester]

understood, but that's bigfoot, a company who has done it for a while. if somewhere were using a light weight weak aluminum to reduce weight, they may also sacrifice the strength.

i have a bigfoot beach cart, and love it.

just giving my worthless $0.02 is all.

That's not worthless at all bro, and I'm glad you posted. You definitely posted a valid concern. One that everybody is probably thinking.

The aluminum I'm using is 6061 and a nice .25" thick. It's heavy and super burly. The LAST thing I would do is sell something that might break and damage someone's pride and joy. Believe me I want to make the best cart I can at the best price I can.

 

[garretonufer]

post a pic with ski on cart. give us a feel for it.

 

[LesterLester]

Sorry for the delay. Just got back home from my 4th fun. I'm preparing some adjustable metal bunks at the moment and have the cart so,me what disassembled. I'll post some pics up quick I promise.

 

[LesterLester]

Sorry for the delay dudes! I smoked the breaker in my electrical box last week welding in 100+ temperatures and had to wait for the new one to arrive yesterday.

I decided to toss out the rollers due to liability concerns. I made up some burly bunks out of .25" thick aluminum and the seam to work nice. I bent the handle further and welded in the handle piece as well. The bunks are turfed and grip the ski quite well. The ski weight can be easily centered and it can be tipped to rest on the front or back without any sliding. This could of course change with wear and tear, and water. A loop or soft tie will be included to hold the ski by the nose. The overall center of gravity is nice and low and should help with the "log rolling" problem of having the bunks to high up.

I did discover an undesirable amount of flex where the handle bolts to the axle tube, so I plan to make a revision to the design utilizing a square tube welded perpendicular to the axle tube, which will allow the handle to telescope inside it and be held with a pin. This will allow the tube to be removed quickly for transportation along with the wheels.

A "Big-Wheel" option is being researched currently to find a better sand wheel for a good affordable price.

Here's some pics! Please hit me with some comments and thanks for looking!

 

[swapmeet]

Thanks for working on this, I think theres defintely a market for a cart like this.

Comments:
I would either leave the bunks bare and let the customer cover them or carpet them. I've turfed a beach stand before and it was very difficult to get the ski on and off of. Just my $.02 on that.

As far as the handle, I think you have the right idea with the square tube and the pin. It might be worthwhile to use a complete square tube handle pole vs the round. Square tube would make it easier to adapt a hand winch. I don't know what your material costs are though.

Keep it up.

 

[LesterLester]

Thanks for working on this, I think theres defintely a market for a cart like this.

Comments:
I would either leave the bunks bare and let the customer cover them or carpet them. I've turfed a beach stand before and it was very difficult to get the ski on and off of. Just my $.02 on that.

As far as the handle, I think you have the right idea with the square tube and the pin. It might be worthwhile to use a complete square tube handle pole vs the round. Square tube would make it easier to adapt a hand winch. I don't know what your material costs are though.

Keep it up.

Thanks man!

I was thinking of using either turf OR grey carpet for the bunks. I thought about leaving that to the end user but I hate to sell something with bare aluminum. I would never expect anyone to pull their ski onto something that will scratch it.

I was using the round tube for the ability to bend it. I would need to convert my bender to hydraulic for something that big. Or go down to the 1.5 inch square tube. The square 1.5 tube doesn't have the same wall thickness and would thus be significantly weaker. I thought about adding a flat plate to the upper area for the addition of a winch.

Given the size of this cart and that it only works for stand ups I don't know if a winch is really necessary. My main goal here is to make this thing strong AND keep the price down. I'll post some more pics after I do the square tube mod. A hitch accessory in in the works as well.

Thanks guys and I appreciate the feedback and comments!

 

[swapmeet]

All good. I'm just going off how often the local riders use their hand winches to load the skis. Makes it easy to load it by yourself, but not necessary. I could make a bracket to adapt a winch to your cart.

How about square tube coming out like our round one is, then pinning the another square tube at a 90* angle and having a handle on that?

Like this? Winch optional...

http://www.australian-jetski.com.au/gallery37.htm

 

[garretonufer]

The winch or ability to add a winch is a nice feature. I met a rider out on the west coast who is an amputee and rides with one leg. He rips by the way but a winch not only makes it easy for someone like him but also it OS easier for a solo rider to load their own ski. Keep it up though

 

[LesterLester]

Just wanted to update my cart thread. I changed the design and mad the handle removable via a pin. I'm trying to work the numbers out currently to build a small run. Should be somewhere in the neighborhood of $300. I'll go lower if at all possible. Pending the results of the test prototype of course.

Check it out and let me know what you guys think.