This an update to the boat mover dolly I created in 2014: http://www.justinchristie.ca/2014/10/01/building-a-boat-dolly/
After some repeated use I discovered that the bicycle tires I free-cycled were not coping well with the combined weight of the dolly and boat. The tires were starting to buckle, and one of them had a slow rim leak.
The threaded 1/2″ shaft I used was not sufficient either – it was bending under the weight load, causing the tire to rub against the chassis.
I decided to upgrade the wheels and the shaft. I used wheelbarrow wheels from Princess Auto, along with a 3/4″ iron shaft. I also added a tow mount at the front so it could be moved effortlessly by our lawn tractor.
Total cost for this upgrade was about $120 – most of the money was spent on the tires; even though they were on sale. In Ontario, they charge you a tire recycling tax, …I paid $5 per tire, so that was an extra $15 in expense. Ridiculous!
Below are images of the upgrade, and a video of the finished product.
![Bicycle tire and threaded shaft buckling under the weight load](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-172917-576x1024.jpg)
![New wheelbarrow tires from Princess Auto](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-142427-1024x576.jpg)
![New wheelbarrow tires from Princess Auto](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-142435-1024x576.jpg)
![new wheelbarrow tires and 3/4 inch shaft](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-141838.jpg)
![new tires and 3/4 inch axel shaft](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-141826-576x1024.jpg)
![3/4 iron shaft for front tire](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-142407-679x1024.jpg)
![Securing new shaft and tires to the boat dolly axel](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-143121.jpg)
![Height difference is the same, decent ground clearance](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-161538-1024x576.jpg)
![Height difference is the same, decent ground clearance](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-161545-1024x576.jpg)
![Front tire fits nicely](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-161556-1024x576.jpg)
![Installation is done](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-161529-1024x577.jpg)
![New tow hook for boat dolly](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-161605.jpg)
![Finished project - upgraded boat dolly](https://www.justinchristie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160129-upgrading-the-boat-dolly-161757.jpg)