Catamaran launching trolley: how to choose the right one?

The launching trolley is the first and last crew member of every sail: it takes the catamaran down to the water, brings it back up the beach and carries it all winter long. A good trolley is easy to handle, looks after your hulls and lasts for years. We make our catamaran trolleys in our own workshops; here are the criteria we go through with you to choose the right model.

It all starts with the size of your catamaran

The size of the boat first determines where the wheels go:

• Small catamarans (10 ft and most 12 ft): the wheels sit outside the hulls. There is not enough room between the hulls to fit wheels while keeping the trolley stable.
• Medium and large catamarans (Hobie Cat 16, Dart 18, etc.): the wheels sit inside the hulls, which reduces the footprint ashore and makes it easier to move around the boat park.

Next, the width of the trolley must match the spacing of your hulls, so that the supports sit right under the hulls and not beside them. Our 4-wheel aluminium trolleys come, for example, in 2000, 2200, 2350 and 2500 mm widths. If in doubt, tell us your catamaran model and we will point you to the right width.

First criterion: the frame material

Aluminium is light: the trolley is easy to push, dismantle and store, which matters when you launch on your own. Galvanised steel is heavier but very sturdy, and it shrugs off the repeated handling of a club fleet.

As for corrosion, no need to worry: both stand up perfectly to seawater. Galvanised steel is coated with a layer of zinc that sacrifices itself to protect the steel; aluminium protects itself with a thin oxide layer that re-forms as soon as it is scratched.

Reinforced aluminium: the best of both worlds?

Our reinforced aluminium tubes have an internal wall that significantly increases their rigidity. The result: the lightness of aluminium with strength close to that of steel. It is the basis of our balloon-wheel trolley for large catamarans.

Second criterion: the wheels

400 mm wheels: simplicity. Standard pneumatic wheels, easy to maintain and replace. They roll very well on hard ground, grass and firm sand. They are fitted in pairs on small catamarans and in sets of four on larger ones.

Balloon wheels: manoeuvrability. Wide and inflated to a very low pressure, they spread the weight over a large surface and don’t sink into soft sand. On a beach, you feel the difference from the very first metres: two balloon wheels are enough to carry a large catamaran. Stick to the pressure shown on the side of the tyre: over-inflated, a balloon wheel loses all its advantage on sand.

Third criterion: hull protection

Foam strips: simplicity. A strip of foam screwed directly onto the trolley frame. The hulls rest on the foam, not on the metal. Simple, effective and economical.

Pads: the best protection. Pivoting pads adjust to the shape of the hull and spread the load better. The hull also slides more easily over them, which makes loading and unloading the boat simpler.

In summary: our range for your catamaran

Narrow catamarans

Wheels outside the hulls. Small catamarans: 10 ft and most 12 ft.

Aluminium
Light and easy to handle

WHEELS
2 × 400 mm wheels

PROTECTION
Foam strips

Galvanised steel
Sturdy

WHEELS
2 × 400 mm wheels

PROTECTION
Pads

Wide catamarans

Wheels inside the hulls, for a smaller footprint. Medium and large catamarans.

Aluminium
Light and easy to handle

WHEELS
4 × 400 mm wheels

PROTECTION
Foam strips

Galvanised steel
Sturdy

WHEELS
4 × 400 mm wheels

PROTECTION
Pads

Reinforced aluminium
Light and rigid

WHEELS
2 balloon wheels

PROTECTION
Pads

400 mm wheels: hard ground, grass, firm sand. Balloon wheels: soft sand, they don’t sink. Foam strips: screwed-on foam, simple and economical. Pads: pivoting, the best protection.

Find all models in our catamaran trolleys section, along with aluminium or galvanised steel drawbars for towing the trolley.

Our advice for the way you sail

• Sailing club or school: galvanised steel with pads. A fleet’s trolleys are handled every day by many pairs of hands: sturdiness comes first.
• Private owner, launching from a sandy beach: reinforced aluminium with balloon wheels. It is light enough to handle on your own, and balloon wheels go where standard wheels sink.
• Private owner, slipway or hard ground: aluminium with 400 mm wheels, simple, light and economical.

How to make it last

Rinse the trolley with fresh water after every sail at sea, paying particular attention to the wheel axles and the fittings. Check the tyre pressure and the tightness of the screws regularly, and replace the foam strips or pads as soon as they are worn: they are what protects your hulls.

Frequently asked questions