here goes
first off i presume this is a capri 18. which is what i had for about 4 years. here is how i rigged and maintained boat and trailer. lets start with the boat. to drop the mast, ill assume you have a mast crutch and a topping lift. if you dont you will need a friend instead. next sping buy the mast up from catalina and put on a topping lift. 1)i left the mainsail attatched to the boom(quicker to rig) .with the cover tied on it , i pulled the boom off the mast and took it down below with the topping lift holding up the back. i then undid the topping lift and slide the boom into place in the cabin. i attacted the mainsheet between the jib halyard and forestay chainplate. i run the line out before the cam cleat on the mainsheet and cleat to the mast. (if you are 1/2way down and need to cleat or un cleat you are screwed(unless you have that friend along)i use the mainhalyard cleat , take a bit of strain and cleat off. go forward and undo the forstay. return aft and (i stood in the cockpit) uncleat the mainsheet and let the mast come down. i grab the mast as soon as i can to not allow too much of a load build. but on my 22 i use the mainsheet to lower all the way. take out the tabernacle pin and roll the mast forward, i use bungees to tie off the mast and to hold the shrouds up off the deck. pretty much reverse this to set it all up . i sail solo and never had a problem with rigging the boat. as far as the trailer goes that is a different story but basicly i had a tounge ext fabricated for about $200 i could have been longer. 8' didnt cut it. pack the wheel bearings at least 2x a year.(in salt more often) carry a spare hub with a bearing kit packed and ready to go . dont forget grease , gun, and tools to replace a bearing on the side of the road it you have to. put on the heaviest load tire that will go on the rim. and carry a spare. if the side walls on the tires are checked at all replace them .i get 2 years out of tires( but i dont cover them ,it might help). launching is not too bad if there is finger pier right by the ramp and i mean parallel to the ramp right there. i used waders when it gets colder because you get wet loading this boat . on most army corps ramps you will be standing in 3" of water while you winch the boat onto the trailer. if there is no pier then motor the boat up slowly and have the trailer a little out of the water. so you can see the bunks a litte. you need something to aim for . if you dont have keel guides you will need something to keep the boat from drifting off to the side of the trailer. if i owned the boat again id get rid of the keel guides and put the tubes on that go agianst the rub rail. why? i came out of a ramp with the boat on top of the guide instead of between it, the wind was blowing like stink and there wasnt a soul around to ask for a hand to drive the truck out while i waded out to keep the boat square. talk about a pain . anyway dont let this get you down , its better to have heard the story and prevent it than live it i say. send me an email at mattmansh@yahoo.com i can send picks or whatever might be helpful to you. i did cruise this boat for 2 weeks at time and really liked it but moved up due to, well... you know 2 ft-itis. in hind sight i should have kept the 18 but thats a dif. story. good luck mg,
