Yes, the wheel idea was tongue in cheek, though if I ever have the good fortune to find myself in possession of a dinghy with a Halibut case in the bow, I will seriously consider to make good use of it by installing a wheel there. Protruding oars from the transom as barrow handles is much better than "two stout handles" in the bow, by the way - for wheeling, that is - you can stand between them, face forward and straighten your back. That's why wheelbarrows work so well. And a trolley is only good for use adjacent to your home base (such as a marina) - otherwise you have to walk all the way back "half a kilometre through the village" to return it, before going for a sail. That's 1.5 km walked through the village. Little wheels in the skegs should work OK on smooth concrete, such as a proper launching ramp.
Also, I nearly forgot the obvious. For wheels on the transom, these "dinghy wheels" are not horrendously expensive, and often for sale second hand as they sometimes come off clapped out inflatables. Permanently mounted, flip up when not in use. I've used these on a dinghy before and they are tough, and work well on all surfaces.
![](/resources/MemberAlbums/38026503/wheelbarrow%20boats/preview/dinghy%20wheels.jpg)
These would be ideal on Halibut's transom.
Fenders and rollers
I think Arne and both Davids (T and D) are right, the most practical method for casual beaching is probably inflatable fenders as rollers. They are a bit expensive. I'm looking out for second-hand ones of the right size. I won't be having side seats like a Wayfarer, but was considering carrying them clip-secured to the boat as flotation when under way - either near the gunnel - or in the aft quarters of the Golden Bay for sitting on when sailing.
Speaking of which: sausage fenders. I meant to thank David T for his suggestion "...I once made some from closed cell pipe insulation inside a canvas cover...". Closed cell pipe insulation seems to be expensive here too. Polyurethane rubber would be ideal as it is light and very resilient, but it too is expensive enough to be not worth the trouble of rolling it up and sewing a cover.
These things here looked promising:
![](/resources/MemberAlbums/38026503/wheelbarrow%20boats/preview/pool%20sticks.jpg)
They are called "pool sticks" - for swimming pools? I don't know what they are made of, but very light and evidently meant to be immersed. Already covered, 2.4m in length and about 100mm diameter - $59 each - might be a proposition as fender sausages for the gunwale?
All things considered, three or four decent inflatable fenders might be the best all-round investment, to serve as temporary seats, floatation and rollers - as well as serving as conventional fenders.
While on the subject of fenders...
Most of the old fishing boats here used to use car tires as fenders - rafting up in the viaduct basin, (not sheltered in a NE) sometimes 6 boats wide, they were used all the time. No covers either. They don't ride up like those fancy yachtie ones.
![](/resources/MemberAlbums/38026503/wheelbarrow%20boats/preview/fenders%202.jpg)
No good for us yachties though. Rafting up seems to be frowned on these days, in these parts. I can tell you, though, from much rafting up experience (and the joys of a good yarn and a cup of tea while rafted, baiting up for the morning set) - by far the best fender for two boats rafted up in a bay is a couple of decent size windy buoys.
![](/resources/MemberAlbums/38026503/wheelbarrow%20boats/preview/windy%20%20buoy.jpg)
They are tough enough to keep a couple of five-tonners apart even in a slight chop. You just throw them in the water between boats (on a rope of course) and let them float. They never ride up and never need adjusting.