DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLE BOAT
TRAILER FOR FEDERAL COLLEGE OF FRESHWATER
FISHERIES TECHNOLOGY NEW BUSSA.
ABUBAKAR. S., ADAMU. R ., ADUDAKAR, B., OMOTAYO, O.
and
B.MAGAJT .
FEDERAL COLLEGE OF FRESHWATER FISHERIES TECHNOLOGY,
P. M. B. )500, ~W BUSSA, NIGER STATu.
ABSTRACT
A simple boat trailer with an overall length of 4.59m, breathes 1. 68m, and weight of87kgwa'i designed
andconstructed using locally available metals and scrap materials. The boat trailer was used /0 tow a boat
of 250kg weight through a distance of 14km without qffecling the safety and speed of the car. The
constructionresulted to theproduction of an open cart that is light and easily maneuvered that oneperson
can move it manually without difficulty. The total production cost was N32, 300 which is affordable in
relation 10 the cost of transporting boats through the use of pick up vans. The boat trailer can be easily
maneuveredwhen coupled to any car or van. This makes it adequatefor towing andfor safer movement of
boatsfrom the school boatyard to any water bodies.
Keywords:boat, towing, construction
INTRODUCTION A
boat trailer is a cart desi gned to launch, retrieve, carry and sometimes store boats (Wikipedia, 2011). Due to
thefact that towing device is not available in the college boatyard, conveying a boat to the lake or any water
body for fishing and related practical works have always been with difficulties and full of risk. Boats were
always conveyed by carrying them on pick up vans, which is not a good option as the boat eould be
scratched or damaged on transit and the occupants of same van could be endangered inaddition to high cost
for hiring. Learning how to build a boat trailer can be a fun project that will save money, boat trailers are
very expensive and hard to find. Trailing or towing a boat imposes several challenges, selecting the right
towing equipment, driving safely and launching and retrieving the boat on a slippery boat ramp, all while
other boater wait their team and look on critically, Responsible boat owners understand that meeting these
challenges isjust as important as handling a boat safely and courteously on the water (Tyler 2010). To tow
safely and effecti vely depends on many factors, most of which are elemental in their simplicity. Yet critical
when taken as a whole for example, having your tow vehicle equipped with the right lowing equipment and
proper drive train components is not sufficient in and of itself ?-.either is keeping your tow vehicle in top
condition. However, this work was prompted by the need for a towing device that will make movement of
boats from the college to any water body easy with the following objectives.
To build on the technical knowledge and capacity to upgrade the college fishing boat yard through
the usc oflocally available materials for safety and cost reduct jon.
To produce a towing device that will make movement of boats from the college to any water body
easy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
DESIGN
The design was kept simple to allow anyone to be able lObuild their own trailer; however, a lot of
detail was kept in the design to give the most realistic look possible. The boat trailer was first drawn
free hand on a sheet of paper with lIB pencil. The details of component parts were projected in a profile
view. The layout of the construction was drawn indicating all dimensions of the parts.
CONSTRUCTION
The skeleton
The main skeleton or rail was constructed with 50mmxSOmmmild steel hollow pipe. The pipes were
measured and cut into the required pieces with tape rule and hacksaw respectively. The cut pieces were
joined by arc welding to form the required sketeton.
The fixings
The fixings to the skeleton includes: Chine bunk, Axle, Rollers, Winch stand, winch and the Coupler.
25mmx50mm hollow pipe and 2Smmx25mm mild steel angle bar were measured and cut out to the
required pieces. The pieces of hollow pipe were first joined in 'T' shape by welding, and then the pieces of
angle bar were used as reinforcement at the angles. 17mmbolt and nut with 3mm thick iron plate welded to
the rail were used to construct the adjustable securing point of the bunk to the skeleton. 2Smm thick rubber
was fixed to the top surface of the bunk with (ivostick) gum. The axle was constructed with Smrn 'H' bar cut
to required size. The bar was set with try square and welded to a mechanical disc brake assembly (car front
hubs) on the two sides to carry the wheels. Size 14 wheel and tire were coupled to each side. 6 rubber
bushings were used to form the rollers. 2 bushings were put together by passing a central rod through them,
then fixed to a small frame made with 25mm flat bar. This was then fixed at 3 positions along the centre of
the main frame of the trailer. 37mrn and 25mm galvanized pipes were cut to required sizes and fitted
together by sliding the 25mm into the 37rrun in an adjustable position secured with 17mm bolt and nut.
This was fixed on the skeleton towards the front by welding at an angle of 600to serve as the winch stand. 2
plain helical gears were meshed together in a simple constant mesh arrangement as tow and drive gear,
such that the drive gear was connected to the winding handle and to the tow gear 12mm pipe was fixed Lo
hold the towing cable. The coupling part was reinforced by welding 50x50mm mild steel angle bar at the
two sides. 20mm Mis rod was cut to required length and bent by tightening 011 a bench vice then forced to
bend to shape with the aid of a short pipe for easy handling. 3mm MIs plate was fixed to cover the open
spaces.
FINISHING, TESTING A~H)COST
After completing the main construction, the trailer was sanded off thoroughly then cleaned with a rag to
prepare a good surface for painting. Aller sanding, three coats of oil gloss paint were used to paint the
whole construction allowing one coat to dry before applying the next. This was to give the trailer a polished
surface to avoid easy roasting.The trailer was coupled to a car while carrying a boat, then moved through a
distance of about 14km, while observing the drag force, how stable and balanced the boat was during the
movement, employing all safety regulations. The trailer was also towed manually by one person then
observed as above. The cost of the trailer was estimated based on thelocal market cost of the materials used
forthe construction inrespect of their sizes and specifications.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The design sketch and layout showing the details and shape of the trailer are presented in figures 1 and 2
respectively. The steps followed in the construction are present in plates 1to 3. The construction resulted to
the production of an open cart that is light and easily maneuvered such that one person can safely move it
manually without difficulty, The specifications of the trailer (Table 1), indicates that the breadth overall is
1.68m, and the length overall is 4.59m. These specifications are in line with the trailer design guidelines
according to Tyler (2010). The light weight gives the trailer an advantage of been towed with less effort
hence can be used to transport boat by towing with any small car. The cost of construction was N32, 300 (
table 2), which is affordable in relation to the cost of transporting boats trough the use of pick up vans.
These will definitely cur cost for local fishermen during launching and retrieval of boats and canoes on
nearby water bodies for fishing activities.
'Whenthe trailer was coupled to a small car (Toyota Corolla) with a boat of about 250kg weight (plate 4)
'.
and moved through a distance of 14km the drag force was minimal as it did not affect the speed of the ear
significantly based on the statement of the driver of the vehicle. When one person towed the trailer with
boat manually, it was done with less effort in relation to carrying the boat directly .
....,
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FIGURE 1: DESIGN SKETCH AND DETAILS
FIGURE 2: DESIGN LAYOUT
Table 1: Specifications of the trailer
Length overall 4.59m
Breadth overall 1.68m
Height below frame 0.21 m
Maximum height 0.37m
Table2: sizes and cost of materials
Material Si7.e Quantity Unit price Amount N
Mis Hollow pipe 50xSOmm 3No 1,800 5,400
Mis Hollow pipe 25x5Ornm 2No 1,200 i,400
Mis Angle bar 50x50mm lXo 2,800 2,800
Mis Angle bar 25x25mm 1);"0 1,200 1,200
Mis rod 12mm 11'\0 1,800 1,800
M's rod 6mm lKo 1,250 1,250
Plain gear 2:--ro 500 1,000
Mechanical disc brake assembly 2No 1,500 3,000
Rubber bushings 6No 350 2,lOO
Gloss paint gal. 2g1 2,500 5,000
Sanding disc No 4No 250 1~OOO
Bolt and nut 17mm S No 60 480
Labour cost 4,530
Rubber band 50mm 1roll 500 500
Total cost N32, 300.
Plate 1: Construction of the skeleton Plate 2: sanding of the constructed trailer.
Plate 3: completed trailer with boat coupled to a towing car.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The trailer, have light weight, least cost and easy maneuverability as its advantages. These important
qualities are adequate for a safe towing device required for the easy movement of craft from the college
to and from any water body. . '.
It is recommended that same technology be used to construct bigger trailers that can be used to carry
larger crafts. .
'.
REFERENCES
BRUCE W. SMITH (2008): The complete guide to trailering your boat,
The frailer boats magazine, International Marine I McGraw-Hili
Camden, Maine New York,177p.
Microsoft Encarta (2009): Encarta Dictionary 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
GJeD-L (2010): http://v.'Vvw.glenl.comJdesigns/desntrir.
Tyler Adams (2010): http://wwv ....mademan.comlmmlhow-build-boat-trailcr.html.
Wikipedia (2011): http://www.wikipedia.com/bllildinga-l/lO-scale-flatbed-railer.html
