| island nation our maritime history and heritage is | | | | used on boat trailers tends to be rubber wheeled |
| well documented, however castors and wheels | | | | castors, as they are resistant to the marine |
| are the driving force moving boats in our marinas. | | | | environment. For longer term storage castors are |
| There are several hundred marinas dotted around | | | | used on boat frames, which house the boats on |
| our British coastline, housing a variety of boats | | | | dry land. As these frames are not used to launch |
| and yachts both moored or stored on dry land. | | | | the boats, they tend to be simpler in design, |
| Marinas tend to be defined as a harbour or wharf | | | | utilising polyurethane castors or nylon castors. The |
| for keeping boats and yachts for recreational | | | | boat frame is a cradle on castors, and can also |
| purposes. They differ from ports as they do not | | | | have braked castors to ensure the frame |
| engage with cargo or passenger ferries and boats. | | | | remains in a stationery position. |
| Most marinas provide a range of services, such | | | | For larger boats and yachts, hydraulic trailers |
| as cleaning and repairs, mooring, dry storage, | | | | moved by castors or launching gantries sitting on |
| refuelling and chandlers shops. Many castors and | | | | castors and wheels are the preferred options. |
| wheels are utilised in the transportation and lifting | | | | These heavier duty castors and wheels have to |
| equipment used to manoeuvre the boats and | | | | have strength and durability and also resistance to |
| yachts around on dry land, and in and out of the | | | | the harsh marine environments. The corrosive |
| water. Castors and wheels can be seen in marinas | | | | nature of sea water, salt and bad weather can |
| on boat trailers, castors on boat racks and | | | | affect the type of castors and wheels used on |
| castors on sling lifts and gantries. | | | | gantries and heavy duty trailers. Lighter weight |
| The most common types of castors used in | | | | gantry cranes can sit upon nylon wheeled castors. |
| marinas would be on the large variety of trailers. | | | | The nylon wheel material provides the gantry with |
| A boat or yacht trailer needs to be able to launch, | | | | manoeuvrability as well as strength and durability. |
| retrieve and carry the boat or yacht as required. | | | | Nylon is not corroded by the harsh elements in |
| Traditional designs are trailers housing two larger | | | | the marine environment. For heavier duty gantries |
| wheels at the rear of the trailer and jockey | | | | and boat lifting and towing equipment, the most |
| castors at the front. Jockey castors are swivelling | | | | suitable choice of castors and wheels would be a |
| castors designed to aid the manoeuvrability of the | | | | cast iron castor. These heavy duty castors, |
| boat trailer and are often fitted with castor | | | | mainly used on rails, provide the strength and |
| clamps or castors brakes to keep the trailer in a | | | | durability that is required when moving larger |
| locked and safe position once stationery. Jockey | | | | yachts in and out of the water for maintenance, |
| castors on trailers often have a ratchet attached | | | | storage and repairs. The heaviest duty castors |
| to enable the castor to be raised or lowered into | | | | for moving boats and yachts would be the twin |
| position as required when stationery or on the | | | | wheeled fabricated towing castors. All these |
| move. These types of boat and yacht trailers on | | | | castors both light duty castors and up to the |
| castors are not designed for long term storage, | | | | heavy duty castors, keep boats and yachts |
| more for launching and retrieving small boats from | | | | moving in and out of our British waters. |
| the water. The preferred castors and wheels | | | | |