I'm considering the purchase of a C22, moving up from a C14.2. There is a dry-storage area very close to the boat launch ramp in Redwood City where I could store the boat with the mast up. I would usually be launching the boat myself, and my GMC truck can handle the boat+trailer weight easily. My question to the current C22 owners is whether it is relatively easy to launch the C22 with only one person? Is this a practical idea at all or is it such a huge hassle that you don't really want to do it very often? I want to dry-sail because I'm not keen on the maintenance required when a boat is always in the water. Thanks for any advice.
How difficult to launch 22
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I did it for the first time last October. I never sailed before and really had no issues. I had the help of my brother who has been sailing for some time although he has a larger boat in a slip. I'm looking for a mooring in that I cannot store mine with the mast up. I felt confident enough after the first time that I would love to be able to launch her with the mast up. I don't have the experience with moorings and the added expense is another issue.
We usually had two people launching and retrieving the C22. That's because you can't be in two places at one time: backing the trailer down, loosening the eye bolt from the trailer winch and tying off the docklines from the launching ramp slip dock and the boat's cleats. You could get inventive, and I suppose with the mast up it could be done. Or, you can hope there's someone there just standing around waiting to help. Getting the boat centered on the trailer, assuming you have bunks instead of rollers on the trailer, would make a singlehanded retrieval quite a feat.
That said, if you know what you're doing, it can be done if you plan it step by step ahead of time.
That said, if you know what you're doing, it can be done if you plan it step by step ahead of time.
I don't have any problems launching mine by myself with the mast up. Somewhere on this board is a thread about centerboard guides for trailers. After looking at the picture that some generous person posted I built my own on the trailer and it is now self centering...no problem now. Biggest issue I have is the folks waiting to launch their bass boats while I'm running back and forth between the boat and my pick-up.
Two ways to accomplish this by yourself.
The first way requires a lot of room at the launch ramp.
Back your boat into the water far enough for you to exit it, say dry payment at the waters edge or in the water where you will get your feet wet but not far enough to launch the boat. The trailer winch must be disconnected and definitely do not try this with a trailer with rollers. Tie a bow and stern line to the dock with about 10 feet or more of slack unless the dock cleats are way behind the boat. Get in the truck and finish backing into the water until the hull floats off the trailer or you can pull the trailer out from under the boat. If the mooring cleats are next to the boat or ahead make sure the docklines do not become tight, with dock lines tied behind the boat you will have plenty of room for backing up without the additional 10 feet of line. Now, the wind becomes a factor in all this, with loose dock lines where is it going to push your boat over the next 2 minutes till you get the trailer away and you get back up on the dock, so lots of room may be needed.
The second way is the way I do it. This requires a lot of trailer towing or backing up experience. I’m not a truck driver, I worked at a desk all my life but, I did drive a custom van for 17 years that had no windows so I had to learn to back up with outside mirrors only.
You back your trailer and vehicle so close to the dock that you can climb out the window, and step onto the dock, you’ll not be able to open the door this close. From the dock you step onto the open tailgate and unhook the winch from the bow. With a bow and stern line right at the bow you step from the tailgate to the dock and float the boat backwards and tie up. Then step from the dock back onto the door window and climb back inside. With real good keel guides wind does not become a factor unless it is so strong you can not handle the dock lines by yourself.
Using the close to the dock method I’ve even recovered my boat by myself without getting wet, but you definitely must have very good keel guides to keep the boat lined up straight on the trailer.
The first way requires a lot of room at the launch ramp.
Back your boat into the water far enough for you to exit it, say dry payment at the waters edge or in the water where you will get your feet wet but not far enough to launch the boat. The trailer winch must be disconnected and definitely do not try this with a trailer with rollers. Tie a bow and stern line to the dock with about 10 feet or more of slack unless the dock cleats are way behind the boat. Get in the truck and finish backing into the water until the hull floats off the trailer or you can pull the trailer out from under the boat. If the mooring cleats are next to the boat or ahead make sure the docklines do not become tight, with dock lines tied behind the boat you will have plenty of room for backing up without the additional 10 feet of line. Now, the wind becomes a factor in all this, with loose dock lines where is it going to push your boat over the next 2 minutes till you get the trailer away and you get back up on the dock, so lots of room may be needed.
The second way is the way I do it. This requires a lot of trailer towing or backing up experience. I’m not a truck driver, I worked at a desk all my life but, I did drive a custom van for 17 years that had no windows so I had to learn to back up with outside mirrors only.
You back your trailer and vehicle so close to the dock that you can climb out the window, and step onto the dock, you’ll not be able to open the door this close. From the dock you step onto the open tailgate and unhook the winch from the bow. With a bow and stern line right at the bow you step from the tailgate to the dock and float the boat backwards and tie up. Then step from the dock back onto the door window and climb back inside. With real good keel guides wind does not become a factor unless it is so strong you can not handle the dock lines by yourself.
Using the close to the dock method I’ve even recovered my boat by myself without getting wet, but you definitely must have very good keel guides to keep the boat lined up straight on the trailer.
I've done it. Not a big deal launching, but as Stu described, centering the boat on the bunk boards during retrieval can be nearly impossible, especially in a good cross-wind...
We also dry sail out C-22, but the club has a crane so we can simply lift the boat off the trailer and swing her over and into the water. Launching by yourself souldn't be very difficult if there are finger docks along side the ramp. Simply back it in until she is floating, have line available to tie her to the dock while you un-snap the bow strap, then walk her back along side the finger docks to clear the trailer. But, without fingerdocks, could be a job...
Don
Don
Thanks for the detailed responses everyone. I think I will have to pay special attention to the keel guide on the trailer and possibly modify it. Sounds like it is doable though. The ramp is not that busy so if it takes a bit longer that shouldn't be a big issue most days.
Everything on a C22 can be done singlehanded.
You will have no problem doing it yourself. I had my boat in a dry-dock parking lot for 3 summers where I could leave it set up as if on a finger dock. I only put the fenders and dock lines away each time. The extending trailer hitch got exercised each launch but otherwise there was nothing else done with the trailer.
I mounted 2 spare tires on the trailer frame under the boat for keel guides. Accessible with the boat on the trailer, it is about the only logical place for a full size spare on the trailer too. I made sure I left a little space extra so the keel does not fit snug between the tires and the tire shape itself acts to automatically center the keel as it moves in from behind or above.
With dock lines in place on the cleats, I back to the waterline only pausing to make a last check that I do as routine (you never know what could be out of place and in the water is not a time to discover it). I back in so the boat floats free but not so far as the bow slides off.
I'm not sure about all that climbing through the window mentioned by a previous contributor. With the trailer tongue extended the back wheels of the tow vehicle barely get wet. I place a wood wheel chock as I back down the ramp gauged for the trailer being in the right place as the front left wheel rides onto it thereby giving some measure of protection against launching the vehicle as well if not only to relieve the strain on brakes and parking gear. I can reach down and place the wheel chock with the door open without getting out of the drivers seat. I get out and in the drivers door.
Tie off the stern line to the dock with enough slack so it can move. Tie the bow line to where it can be picked up quickly after pushing the bow off the trailer. Pushing the bow off the trailer is no problem with the keel raised (! a lowered keel will keep the boat firmly to the trailer with the boat floating !). Once the boat is floating, move the bowline to a good location with sufficient slack and tie it off then do the same for the stern line taking up the slack so the boat is correctly at the dock. Then just move the rig back to the parking lot remembering to take the wheel chock as you begin.
Getting the boat out is a reverse process remembering to raise the keep before approaching the trailer and going slowly enough so the boat doesn't ram the trailer. The winch strap will draw the bow in nicely so all you need to do is get it over the trailer. I prefer to stop at the dock first before floating the boat over the trailer. Such gentle motion seems to be an anathema to powerboaters and those who rush about but the only time I caused damage to my boat was trying to load it too quickly onto the trailer.
Still, it will sit back a few inches from the bow wedge which is of no concern when keeping it parked on the trailer. Snugging it up happens quickly enough on the road after a few bumps when towing. It can be even faster with strategically engaged brakes as the boat lifts over a bump (but that maneuver isn't so good with passengers because of the motion and a concurrent back tire squeal but it is fun).
Most of my sailing, including setting up, launching and retrieval, and making it road ready is done single handed. If I couldn't do it that way, I would not be sailing any where near as often as I do. I hope you enjoy dry-dock sailing as much as I did (the lot no longer exists where I kept my C22).
Fair winds,
Derek
Skyfree,
You will have no problem doing it yourself. I had my boat in a dry-dock parking lot for 3 summers where I could leave it set up as if on a finger dock. I only put the fenders and dock lines away each time. The extending trailer hitch got exercised each launch but otherwise there was nothing else done with the trailer.
I mounted 2 spare tires on the trailer frame under the boat for keel guides. Accessible with the boat on the trailer, it is about the only logical place for a full size spare on the trailer too. I made sure I left a little space extra so the keel does not fit snug between the tires and the tire shape itself acts to automatically center the keel as it moves in from behind or above.
With dock lines in place on the cleats, I back to the waterline only pausing to make a last check that I do as routine (you never know what could be out of place and in the water is not a time to discover it). I back in so the boat floats free but not so far as the bow slides off.
I'm not sure about all that climbing through the window mentioned by a previous contributor. With the trailer tongue extended the back wheels of the tow vehicle barely get wet. I place a wood wheel chock as I back down the ramp gauged for the trailer being in the right place as the front left wheel rides onto it thereby giving some measure of protection against launching the vehicle as well if not only to relieve the strain on brakes and parking gear. I can reach down and place the wheel chock with the door open without getting out of the drivers seat. I get out and in the drivers door.
Tie off the stern line to the dock with enough slack so it can move. Tie the bow line to where it can be picked up quickly after pushing the bow off the trailer. Pushing the bow off the trailer is no problem with the keel raised (! a lowered keel will keep the boat firmly to the trailer with the boat floating !). Once the boat is floating, move the bowline to a good location with sufficient slack and tie it off then do the same for the stern line taking up the slack so the boat is correctly at the dock. Then just move the rig back to the parking lot remembering to take the wheel chock as you begin.
Getting the boat out is a reverse process remembering to raise the keep before approaching the trailer and going slowly enough so the boat doesn't ram the trailer. The winch strap will draw the bow in nicely so all you need to do is get it over the trailer. I prefer to stop at the dock first before floating the boat over the trailer. Such gentle motion seems to be an anathema to powerboaters and those who rush about but the only time I caused damage to my boat was trying to load it too quickly onto the trailer.
Still, it will sit back a few inches from the bow wedge which is of no concern when keeping it parked on the trailer. Snugging it up happens quickly enough on the road after a few bumps when towing. It can be even faster with strategically engaged brakes as the boat lifts over a bump (but that maneuver isn't so good with passengers because of the motion and a concurrent back tire squeal but it is fun).
Most of my sailing, including setting up, launching and retrieval, and making it road ready is done single handed. If I couldn't do it that way, I would not be sailing any where near as often as I do. I hope you enjoy dry-dock sailing as much as I did (the lot no longer exists where I kept my C22).
Fair winds,
Derek
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Adding more clarity to my methods.
I guy says he climbs in and out of his truck window does sound dumb, but I failed to mention my procedure involves not getting your feet wet.
When I launch in the spring and haul out in fall water temperature is about 50 degrees and I don’t have the additional advantages of a trailer extension so I must place my vehicle into the water where exiting is going to be a wet and a very cold experience.
I guess with an extension one would have to get wet to reach the trailer winch.
Sorry!
I guy says he climbs in and out of his truck window does sound dumb, but I failed to mention my procedure involves not getting your feet wet.
When I launch in the spring and haul out in fall water temperature is about 50 degrees and I don’t have the additional advantages of a trailer extension so I must place my vehicle into the water where exiting is going to be a wet and a very cold experience.
I guess with an extension one would have to get wet to reach the trailer winch.
Sorry!
I always launch and retrieve single handed. Used to have a place where I could store the boat mast up. I really miss it because that's pretty much the best of both worlds. The sail club had a finger dock right alongside the ramp so it was easy to just float the boat off the trailer and tie off. Then park the truck, take the sail cover off, raise the sail and go. I never used my motor. 15 minutes tops from hooking up to sailing.
Where I live now, there is no mast-up storage available so I have to pull the boat to the lake and set everything up. But I still launch and retrieve single-handed. I also have a Dolphin Sr which is my go-to boat for most of my sailing cause it's so much easier to rig & go.
Where I live now, there is no mast-up storage available so I have to pull the boat to the lake and set everything up. But I still launch and retrieve single-handed. I also have a Dolphin Sr which is my go-to boat for most of my sailing cause it's so much easier to rig & go.
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