I have been told that astroturf provides a good liner for a launch trolley.  Apart from carpet (which doesn't really dry out) what can anyone suggest.  And Astroturf - where can you get a small quantity or is it down to cutting a doormat?  PS the boat is wood and varnished.

You can buy a 6" wide roll of "pro-grip" about 2 meters long from Purple Marine (or others) and it has a self adhesive backing that sticks well to the moulded cradle type trollies. It does not let the water penetrate and therfore dries out quickly and will not scratch your varnish whilst offering a good level of grip when the boat is on its trolley. I have it on mine and it works a treat.

Carpet is a very poor substite as it does not dry out as you have commented, it rots and smells !

Hope this helps

ed

Cutting up a door mat is fine and easy. Astro-turf is good except if you sail where there is a posibility of getting bits of gravel caught in it.  Some trolleys have a form of corrugated rubber strip which has the same effect. Thin corded carpet isn't to bad either as it holds less water than thicker carpets.

Or wet suit neoprene lots of offcuts free from Wet Suit Makers.

One doormat does one trolley - 2/3 for rear, 1/3 for front. I thought you Scots were the skinflints and that's by far the cheapest option!!

Perhaps it's because I am Irish (living in Scotland) that makes me too thick to work it out.  As was said if you get gravelly bits into the astroturf doormat (and let's face it that's what it's designed to do!) you could scratch the hull.  Would like to get some wheels with pneumatc tyres if possible -what are the sandhopper wheels like though as a cheaper option?