Has anyone converted a small boat trailer to an HPR launch rail? If so, do you have any pictures or advice?
inheriting small boat trailer, may turn into a launch pad
- Thread starter Chad
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Our club has an old boat trailer that was converted probably 20+ years ago.
The good things about it is that it was welded from solid steel pieces (1/4" x 3" x 3" angle) so there is no flex in the structure. The antenna mast used to hold the unistrut is hinged in a way that nearly reaches the ground when it's vertical so it's easy to reach av-bays etc. Also the antenna mast has a built in ladder on the struts between the three mast so you can easily climb it if you need to.
The unistrut is 20 ft. long and we have a 16' piece of 1515 with unistrut button on one side that can be slid into the unistrut and locked in place so you can fly 1515 buttons very easily.
I know most would recommend hydraulics for raising and lowering the mast, but we used a small winch with a stop switch when it reaches vertical and a garage door spring to pull it back down when you want to lower it. Much cheaper than hydraulics. Make sure you put the safety cable through the spring like you would do on a garage door. We used a weather proof tool box to hold the battery and winch controls and the solar panel is mounted to the cover. It's been three years since we added the winch and everything is still working great. Of course without the winch, we had to do the Iwo Jima thing to raise a rocket. It worked for a lot of years.
I have pics of the trailer and winch install, but can't find them right now.
The good things about it is that it was welded from solid steel pieces (1/4" x 3" x 3" angle) so there is no flex in the structure. The antenna mast used to hold the unistrut is hinged in a way that nearly reaches the ground when it's vertical so it's easy to reach av-bays etc. Also the antenna mast has a built in ladder on the struts between the three mast so you can easily climb it if you need to.
The unistrut is 20 ft. long and we have a 16' piece of 1515 with unistrut button on one side that can be slid into the unistrut and locked in place so you can fly 1515 buttons very easily.
I know most would recommend hydraulics for raising and lowering the mast, but we used a small winch with a stop switch when it reaches vertical and a garage door spring to pull it back down when you want to lower it. Much cheaper than hydraulics. Make sure you put the safety cable through the spring like you would do on a garage door. We used a weather proof tool box to hold the battery and winch controls and the solar panel is mounted to the cover. It's been three years since we added the winch and everything is still working great. Of course without the winch, we had to do the Iwo Jima thing to raise a rocket. It worked for a lot of years.
I have pics of the trailer and winch install, but can't find them right now.
