Launching

[Don Guillette]

Mates: I was at rather steep Colorado River launch ramp recently and 2 sail boats caught my attention. The power boats were sliding off easily but I was curious how the two sailors were going to deal with the ramp. The first boat crew grunted and groined and finally got the boat off the trailer. The second sailor was alone and I thought he'll never get the boat in the water by himself. What a surprise I got!! I've been out of trailer sailing for a long time so you guys have to bear with me as probably a lot of you already know how to deal with the situation. Anyway, in the event it might be helpful to someone, I thought this single sailor had a unique solution. What he did was attach a snatch block to a point on the trailer near the centerboard trunck and ran his winch cable through the block to boats bow eye. With about 4 or 5 cranks on the trailer winch the boat was moving off the trailer as easily as you please. Maybe some of you might find his simple and easy solution helpful.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Clean and jerk

I've seen other guys (OK, ok, I tried it once too) go forward up the ramp a foot or so, then roll back and slam on the brakes, albeit somewhat gently.A couple of years ago one or more people here said they squirt liquid dish soap on the carpeted bunks to ease getting the boat _on_ the trailer. I wonder if enough remains such that it eases the next launch any?...RickM...

 

[Jack]

Good idea

That's a great idea Don. Makes me want to go get a trailor now

 

[Paul Zetlmaier]

Hull Protection?

Thanks Don, do you recall if he had anything rigged to protect the hull from the cable? It must have lain against the gelcoat somewhere.

 

[Don Guillette]

Paul: To be honest I did not notice but I don't think he had any protection and he had a nice looking boat. The more I think about it, I believe he was farther forward on the trailer than I thought. His boat was a small keel boat so he had some angle to play with. On a retractable keel, it might be a rubbing problem but it really did not take many turns for him to get the boat moving off the trailer so protection would be simple. Actually, the while thing blew my mind when I was watching him do it because I'm used to the grunt and groan method of launching and this sailor never worked up a sweat. I think a sailor could take this method and figure a way to rig it so it would work and not hurt the boat.Some of the best husband and wife fights I've seen occur at the launching ramp and any way to mitigate those argument would be worth it.

 

[Don Guillette]

Launching question

Rick, Paul and Jack: I'm curious - how do you C30 guys find me over here on the trailer sailor list? Am I leaving a scent!!! I was never over here until we decided to move to Tucson and I'm seriously looking at a small boat.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Phew!

Don - I'm not a C30 guy, but a small boat (trailerable) Hunter owner. You know me from the Sail Trim forum, the More Fun With Vectors guy, and part-time book editor! ;-)...RickM...

 

[Don Guillette]

Phew

Rick MacDonald: Yup, I know who you are.

 

[Rick D]

Shared Forum

It's a shared forum, Don. Appears in all sites. Rick D.

 

[Bob B.]

No grunt

for me.I have a smaller boat but find that it is best to float the boat on