Surf Launch - gum pole

Hi guys, looking for pictures/ideas on the backing plate and gum pole setup that is sometimes used to push ski-boats into the surf....

Preferably some pictures or diameters of the plate on the boat and thoughts on how to attach the gumpole to vehicle.

Thanks
Shaun

might be better to go the aluminium route here.
no rust, only corrosion!

the square plate is quite thick and quite big.
then a short section of pipe is welded onto the square plate.

se the guys also use aluminium poles.
quite thick.

maybe Rory Mundy will comment here as he has it on his F200.

I have a stainless steel "bracket" on the back of mine. The base plate is 3 mm thick, the part where the push pole goes into is 150mm diameter and about 120mm deep. This piece is much thinner, 1mm I would guess(this only holds the pole in position).

I did not want to drill holes in my transom so I made a bracket from 1mm stainless steel plate that fits over the transom(similar to the way the outboard sits to give you an idea). This bracket is then welded to the thicker base plate. This whole lot has been siliconed and stuck on. (used clamps and a pole to put pressure on it for a snug fit) Works like a charm and I have no extra holes in my transom.

I positioned the base plate in such a way that the position of the push pole is in line with the floor behind the transom.

Depending on the weight of your boat I would make sure the material you use is strong enough if you are going the aluminium route.

Thanks for the replies, do you have any pictures of the setup?

IWyk - how do you attach the push pole to your vehicle/trailer?

Out of country at the moment will post some pics when back.

Connecting the push pole to the Cruiser I just used a normal trailer hitch. Two bolts through the hitch and pole and then attach the pole to the tow ball. Bit of a hassle to attach/remove as you cannot drive with it in place.
Bear in mind I have a Ski Vee 500 original which is light, so this may not work for your boat(depending on the weight).

I am working on a new bracket which will allow the push pole to be pushed up and hooked in place for easy parking/driving. I want to connect it with a pulley system to the winch.

Hi Guys,

Does anybody have info on the size/wall thickness of aluminium pipe one would use for a push pole ??

Thanks

Use a 100/150 mm alu pipe with a 6mm wall thickness you can fill the pipe with floatations foam if you want it stiffens it up a bit

I use a 76x76 square tube 6mm but only used that as I had lenghts lying around that I used to join pontoons together

The longer the pole the better as tractor can push you that much dealer through the shore break

It is nice to fit a piece of that cutting board plastic on the end of pipe so you don't have metal on metal when pushing

Rory wrote:

Use a 100/150 mm alu pipe with a 6mm wall thickness you can fill the pipe with floatations foam if you want it stiffens it up a bit

I use a 76x76 square tube 6mm but only used that as I had lenghts lying around that I used to join pontoons together

The longer the pole the better as tractor can push you that much dealer through the shore break

It is nice to fit a piece of that cutting board plastic on the end of pipe so you don't have metal on metal when pushing

Click to expand...

Thanks...

I have had some time to do some calcs... A 63.5mm x 3.18mm pipe (6m long) can handle 530kg before it starts to buckle...

I want to push a Jetski, so I think this size will be sufficient for me...

If I extend the 6m, then the 530kg rating will drop...

Thanks

Sinwolf where are you thinking of mounting the bracket on a jetski ?

Similar to this...

Looks good.Im sure that's a first .

plugger wrote:

Looks good.Im sure that's a first .

Click to expand...

Couple of jets ski guys launching in Balito with a push pole...

Here's a video:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVcx_g-AQ9i/

SinWolf wrote:

Rory wrote:

Use a 100/150 mm alu pipe with a 6mm wall thickness you can fill the pipe with floatations foam if you want it stiffens it up a bit

I use a 76x76 square tube 6mm but only used that as I had lenghts lying around that I used to join pontoons together

The longer the pole the better as tractor can push you that much dealer through the shore break

It is nice to fit a piece of that cutting board plastic on the end of pipe so you don't have metal on metal when pushing

Click to expand...

Thanks...

I have had some time to do some calcs... A 63.5mm x 3.18mm pipe (6m long) can handle 530kg before it starts to buckle...

I want to push a Jetski, so I think this size will be sufficient for me...

If I extend the 6m, then the 530kg rating will drop...

Thanks

Click to expand...

huge diferance between a 250kg jetski and a two ton boat you can scale right down for a jetski as even the surface era that causes the resistance is much less

a bit of polish on the bottom of the hull also helps

Rory wrote:

huge diferance between a 250kg jetski and a two ton boat you can scale right down for a jetski as even the surface era that causes the resistance is much less

Click to expand...

More like 680kg... 750kg when you're 2-up

But yes, I agree... I can scale down