I am considering buying a h240. I will be sailing single-handed in most cases for the next few years. Unfortunately, there is a long waiting list for slips. How difficult is it to launch and retrieve a h240 by yourself or should I just stick to sailing my dingy until my kids get older?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
K
Ken Shubert
It's a Challenge
I have launched and retrieved my H23.5 single handed many times and it presents some challenges. You need a good ramp that's well protected (no waves) and is not very busy. That usually limits things to weekdays. My best success has been to float the boat off the trailer to a dock nearby and secure it while tending to the tow vehicle/trailer. Most ramps do have a dock handy so it's not a problem. I've reversed the procedure for retrieving and find that this works better than trying to 'motor' onto the trailer. It's easier to control things by pulling on a rope and the keelboard, motor and rudder are already up. This would be a nightmare if there's a line waiting for the ramp because it takes me nearly a half hour to retrieve alone. Draining the ballast, repositioning the boat on the trailer, etc..... singlehanded is slow. Any crosswind causes problems too. Procedures like this do improve with practice, however! The key here is a well protected launch ramp. If your kids are school age, they can be a big help here. Put a PFD on them and put them to work. These boats aren't set up too well to sail single-hand. Not as handy as the Catalina 22 but..... once I bought an autopilot, it got a whole lot simpler. The problem is the winches and rope clutches on the cabin top are almost impossible to reach while holding the tiller. Put one of those kids on the tiller. Your kids will grow into being real helpers and when they get really good, they will abandon you. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
I have launched and retrieved my H23.5 single handed many times and it presents some challenges. You need a good ramp that's well protected (no waves) and is not very busy. That usually limits things to weekdays. My best success has been to float the boat off the trailer to a dock nearby and secure it while tending to the tow vehicle/trailer. Most ramps do have a dock handy so it's not a problem. I've reversed the procedure for retrieving and find that this works better than trying to 'motor' onto the trailer. It's easier to control things by pulling on a rope and the keelboard, motor and rudder are already up. This would be a nightmare if there's a line waiting for the ramp because it takes me nearly a half hour to retrieve alone. Draining the ballast, repositioning the boat on the trailer, etc..... singlehanded is slow. Any crosswind causes problems too. Procedures like this do improve with practice, however! The key here is a well protected launch ramp. If your kids are school age, they can be a big help here. Put a PFD on them and put them to work. These boats aren't set up too well to sail single-hand. Not as handy as the Catalina 22 but..... once I bought an autopilot, it got a whole lot simpler. The problem is the winches and rope clutches on the cabin top are almost impossible to reach while holding the tiller. Put one of those kids on the tiller. Your kids will grow into being real helpers and when they get really good, they will abandon you. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
R
Rick Webb
Let them wait
Always take your time and be safe if the others at the ramp are in too much of a hurry they need to learn some patience anyway.
Always take your time and be safe if the others at the ramp are in too much of a hurry they need to learn some patience anyway.
M
Mike Epp
dock it
I know others would disagree but I trailer sailed a Siren 17 for 10 years and that one was easy to rig and run single handed but it's still a pain and you need all day to take it easy and enjoy yourself. I've upgraded to an H23 and I wouldn't consider trailer sailing it. Need at least one helper to step the mast and all the control lines are at the mast. I do single hand her but for rigging, launching, etc. working alone with a boat this size is no fun. Keeping her at the dock on the other hand is great! I use her week nights which I would normally never do.
I know others would disagree but I trailer sailed a Siren 17 for 10 years and that one was easy to rig and run single handed but it's still a pain and you need all day to take it easy and enjoy yourself. I've upgraded to an H23 and I wouldn't consider trailer sailing it. Need at least one helper to step the mast and all the control lines are at the mast. I do single hand her but for rigging, launching, etc. working alone with a boat this size is no fun. Keeping her at the dock on the other hand is great! I use her week nights which I would normally never do.
D
Dave Condon
launching
The trailer tahat is under that boat is a magic tilt. It does sit about an inch or two above the old Hunter 23.5 trailer but I have never had a problem launching. There is an extension and if you have to use it, do so. The easiest way to launch is to back up slowly and when the boat floats, it will come off. Have your wife hold onto the bow line but the main thing is to let the boat clear first of the trailer. Retrieving is a little harder which requires a little more work. Usuallyl, the bunk boards need to be submersed into the water. You can motor the boat onto the trailer. A little trial and error and you will know how far to back the trailer into the water. The trick is to have the bow of the boat pointing directly between the guide ons. That may be difficult if there is a cross wind affecting the boat. If a crosswind, then trim the boat up like an airplane when approaching. Simply speaking, you may have the nose of the boat into the wind and yet heading straight for the trailer. At the last second, turn the bow into the middle of the guides and bingo, you have made a fieldgold. Patience and practice pays off. Drysailing can happen. Extending the tongu depends on the ramp and do not leave it extended when traveling. If you ever you run into me ask me about the time I launched my car into a lake and dive like the titanic by accident with certain movie stars watching and luaghing. I guess that is why I am crazy. Crazy Dave
The trailer tahat is under that boat is a magic tilt. It does sit about an inch or two above the old Hunter 23.5 trailer but I have never had a problem launching. There is an extension and if you have to use it, do so. The easiest way to launch is to back up slowly and when the boat floats, it will come off. Have your wife hold onto the bow line but the main thing is to let the boat clear first of the trailer. Retrieving is a little harder which requires a little more work. Usuallyl, the bunk boards need to be submersed into the water. You can motor the boat onto the trailer. A little trial and error and you will know how far to back the trailer into the water. The trick is to have the bow of the boat pointing directly between the guide ons. That may be difficult if there is a cross wind affecting the boat. If a crosswind, then trim the boat up like an airplane when approaching. Simply speaking, you may have the nose of the boat into the wind and yet heading straight for the trailer. At the last second, turn the bow into the middle of the guides and bingo, you have made a fieldgold. Patience and practice pays off. Drysailing can happen. Extending the tongu depends on the ramp and do not leave it extended when traveling. If you ever you run into me ask me about the time I launched my car into a lake and dive like the titanic by accident with certain movie stars watching and luaghing. I guess that is why I am crazy. Crazy Dave
R
Russell
One more thing
I have retreived my boat at the coast in a 4 knot current. With no dock for walking the boat on the trailer like I normally do, I had to motor on. After that, I realized that I should have been motoring on all along. Its not as hard as it sounds. Like dave says, line it up, get close and the bunk boards and guides do the rest. I climbed down the ladder off the tounge and pulled the boat out. It really was simple. Did I mention that the current was a cross current? Russell s/v Summer Luvin'
I have retreived my boat at the coast in a 4 knot current. With no dock for walking the boat on the trailer like I normally do, I had to motor on. After that, I realized that I should have been motoring on all along. Its not as hard as it sounds. Like dave says, line it up, get close and the bunk boards and guides do the rest. I climbed down the ladder off the tounge and pulled the boat out. It really was simple. Did I mention that the current was a cross current? Russell s/v Summer Luvin'
T
Tom Adams
5 Minutes Only
I have sailed my h240 for two seasons now. I have always launched and retreived my boat single-handed. It is the easiest boat to retreive that I have ever seen. I have retreived probably 20 times and it has never taken more than 5 minutes. The way the trailer is set up, it is very easy to simply motor up to the trailer and she is set. I would not worry about it, because hunter has made this boat to be easily set-up, launched and retreived. Go for it! It is a great boat.
I have sailed my h240 for two seasons now. I have always launched and retreived my boat single-handed. It is the easiest boat to retreive that I have ever seen. I have retreived probably 20 times and it has never taken more than 5 minutes. The way the trailer is set up, it is very easy to simply motor up to the trailer and she is set. I would not worry about it, because hunter has made this boat to be easily set-up, launched and retreived. Go for it! It is a great boat.
J
Joe R
H240 SOLO
With a basic auto pilot, the 240 is an excellent boat to single sail. But you should have help the first 5 or 6 times out. If you can dry dock the boat on the trailer at the lake with the mast up, it is an easy process to launch and retrieve single handed. THE KEY IS A LONG PAINTER. at least 50 ft. You can maneuver the boat on and off the trailer without going swimming if the painter is long enough. (You will see what I mean the first time out.) Even if you have to rais the mast, the 240 is very easy and safe to rais or lower by your self. BUT DO IT A FEW TIMES WITH HELP before trying it alone. Perhaps the greatest benefit of solo sailing is that you can't get into the fights that most couples get into due to missed ques and other versions of missed communication. Keep your eyes & ears open and you'll have great entertainment without even leaving the dock. Joe R. Skooky 2 1998 H240
With a basic auto pilot, the 240 is an excellent boat to single sail. But you should have help the first 5 or 6 times out. If you can dry dock the boat on the trailer at the lake with the mast up, it is an easy process to launch and retrieve single handed. THE KEY IS A LONG PAINTER. at least 50 ft. You can maneuver the boat on and off the trailer without going swimming if the painter is long enough. (You will see what I mean the first time out.) Even if you have to rais the mast, the 240 is very easy and safe to rais or lower by your self. BUT DO IT A FEW TIMES WITH HELP before trying it alone. Perhaps the greatest benefit of solo sailing is that you can't get into the fights that most couples get into due to missed ques and other versions of missed communication. Keep your eyes & ears open and you'll have great entertainment without even leaving the dock. Joe R. Skooky 2 1998 H240
- Status
- Not open for further replies.