Need Trailering Advice

[Bill]

I am preparing to help my son-in-law haul out his newly acquired Catalina 22 and relocate it to South Texas. My boating/trailering experience is limited to centerboard boats many years ago. He has purchased a tilt-trailer from a local dealer which is supposed to be suitable for this boat. I would welcome any advice with getting the boat on the trailer, securing it, unstepping the mast, etc.

 

[Troy Baker]

loading

Bill,its prob already done but it is actually very easy, I do this as often as possible with my own boat every chance I get to sail, with a friend helping I'm usually in and out of the water before most of the motor boats around me, sometimes causes curious looks! My trailer is the original float on style for a cat 22 I've intalled a ruuber tire cut in half and bent in half on each side of the keel guide, works perfect and was a cheap modifcation. On my trailer there is a mast holder on the tounge of the trailer I attache a ratchet rope (pulls one way locks the other) if stepping or lowering the mast I lock to the holder on front and just put some muscle into it, only the forward stay and tow front stays need to be re-leased. With help I hook to the forward stay/cable and have some one hoist or lower while under it, a crashing mast is not good as it can bend or cause boat damage. Its not as hard as it looks just give it some thought and two should be able to tackle with ease!Have fun and Happy Sailing!Troy Baker

 

[Barry Lenoble]

trailering

Hello,It is not that difficult to remove the rigging.My only comment is that it can be tough to removethe bolt that hold the mast to the tabernacle.The mast must be held up in the cockpit area whilesomeone removes the bolt. Make sure you have a hammer or something else ready to help get thebolt out. The mast gets heavy real quick when youare holding it.When you get it on the trailer, be sure to raisethe keel all way up before loading, then you aresupposed to lower the keel down onto a supportbefore trailering. The cable is not supposed tohold the keel up then.The manual for an 87 (better pics and descriptionsis available on line at catalina22.org. It hasgood instructions.Barry

 

[tomD]

about that trailer...

Tilting trailers are often associated with power boats. The axle is often placed way aft on the frame to balance a large motor on a powerboat. Balance on a sailboat is obviously different. And the swing keel is going to need a bed to rest on or else it will be hanging on the cable and liable to snap.The boat has to be floated onto the trailer, you cannot crank it on like a powerboat. And the beds that seat agains the bilgelines should conform to the hull in question. Presuming you got good advice on the trailer--ie the balance point is OK and the suspension is OK for sailboats (powerboats often lighter), float it on, tighten the winch on the bow eye, tow it out of the lake to flat ground and at 5 mph stop quick. that causes the boat to slide forward to the winch and then you can re-tighten the winch (it will be 6 or 8 inches back when you do a pullout). Be sure the tires are equally inflated and are inflated to max pressure. Your tongue weight should be 200 or 250 lbs, check it by getting a 200 lb friend to bounce off and on the transom and see if the tongue floats off the ball. Pump 3 quirts of grease into the bearings to displace the water. I have not used a tilting trailer for sailboats nor have I seen one in use, but hey, I don't get around much either.