Hauling a C25 out at Dana Point - help!

[Carlos Peinado]

My girlfriend and I recently purchased a 1982 Catalina 25 located currently at Dana Point, CA. The mad scramble has been on to find a trailer to take her back to our home in Arizona and I think we've been lucky enough to find one for a reasonable price. It's an EZ Loader, model SR6-8000 that's being held just south in San Diego.Well here's the question... We are pretty up to speed with launching and retrieving our Mac VN23 as the swing keel makes it an almost painless job. However, the C25 is a fixed keel and we have absolutely no experience with getting one in and out. Apparently, Dana Point Marina has a ramp and my thought was to use it instead of a crane. Is this possible and what should we look out for from anyone who has prior experience with such things. I feel a little like we put the cart before the horse, having such little experience in such things, but the boat was such a great buy that we just couldn't pass from lack of knowledge.Also, if anyone is from this area (Dana Point) and would like to give us some pointers we'd be only happy to oblige you with a pint of ale at the end of it all.I'm unfamiliar with this site, so it's probably easier to email me direct to "azcarlos2001@yahoo.com" with responses, if that's okay.Thanks to your thoughtful responses to our situation.Carlos PeinadoScottsdale, AZ

 

[Bob Braddy]

Putting a C-25 on a trailer

I once had a C-25 and had the same problem. But here in the Rocky Mountains, a technique has been developed and refined that works pretty well.Get yourself about 30 - 35 feet of 1/4" cable. Fit about 2' of chain to each end with a pair of nicro press fittings. Have a good way of securing the chains to the trailer and truck, like a bolt with washers.Back the trailer down the ramp until it is almost in the water. Block the wheels of the trailer solidly (I'd do all four) then disconnect the trailer from the truck. Be sure to put the wheeled tongue support down. Hook one end of the cable to the trailer's hitch and the other to the truck's hitch. Pull the truck forward until there is tension on the cable, remove the wheel blocks and ease the trailer into the water to the correct depth. You can "drive" the trailer by pulling on the middle of the cable, one way or the other. The bunks should be under water You might want to have someone ride the trailer out to catch the boat and to tighten the bow cable.Once the boat is on the trailer, slowly begin to pull it out of the water. Check that it is centered before you get too far. If all is well, pull it the rest of the way out, block the wheels and reverse the process to get the trailer hooked back up to the truck.There is one scary moment and that is when you try to stop the moving trailer as you are coming out of the water. The truck will stop before the trailer which will continue forward then roll back on a slightly slack cable with a thump. It behooves one to try to make the stop as gradual as possible to minimize this bounce. Also, it is obvious that the cable and chains must be strong and well attached to the trailer and the truck.This is the standard method for getting keel boats in and out of the water in this part of the world. Believe me, one has to do a lot of it if one moves the boat at all.Good luck.