I have a Precision 18 and have sailed 3 years. all day trips except one 5 day overniter on Chesapeake and one 5 day overniter on Cayuga Lake. I don't like maintenance but I do it. I am thinking about a bigger boat. I was leaning really hard toward an Oday 25 or 26. I just found an Irwin 27. Of course the Irwin is heavier and better constructed. Here are my questions. Please read carefully so I get your good information. I have hauled bulldozers and driven bus in NYC. I want to dry sail my next bigger boat and occassionally,say once or twice a season haul her to L.I. Sound or Chesapeake and keep her on trailer mast up. I will launch her myself. I have a Chevy 3500 dually. My sail trips will be 3 to 7 days long. I know most people would not launch/retrieve each trip. I would think I could launch from a marina ramp and be fully rigged in 2 hours if I already have the mast up beforehand. my questions concern the Irwin 1. Assuming I leave the boat on trailer at a marina ramp mast up, can my wife and I launch/retrieve this boat if I am in the water? I retrieve my P-18 this way by myself each day normally. 2. Will there be more routine maintenance with the Irwin than the Oday. 3. has anyone fashioned a rig to step/unstep their masts with 2 people? I can do the Oday 25 myself because it has a tabernacle. but can 2 people rig and step and Irwin? Remember, I am willing to take extra time to perform these operations myself rather than hire the marina. I am willing to take 4 hours to step/unstep the mast for each road trip. I am willing to take 2 hours to drysail each launch for overnite trips. thanx,gene.
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Mast stepping
I have friends that operate a sailboat rigging business and they use a pair of extension ladders as a bipod for stepping and unstepping masts up to about forty feet. So the short answer is yes two people can do that. The more important question is, can you float a boat with a four foot draft off a trailer at a launch ramp? At our marina we only have six feet at the ramp at high tide. When I had my Islander 30 hauled to the marina we had to get wide load clearance from MDOT and if I recall loading and unloading took about 2 hours each and that was for setting it on the hard. My wife and I can step and unstep the mast in a couple of hours.
I have friends that operate a sailboat rigging business and they use a pair of extension ladders as a bipod for stepping and unstepping masts up to about forty feet. So the short answer is yes two people can do that. The more important question is, can you float a boat with a four foot draft off a trailer at a launch ramp? At our marina we only have six feet at the ramp at high tide. When I had my Islander 30 hauled to the marina we had to get wide load clearance from MDOT and if I recall loading and unloading took about 2 hours each and that was for setting it on the hard. My wife and I can step and unstep the mast in a couple of hours.
answer to Ross
the draft is about 2'10".(centerboard) but with height on trailer one would need 4 feet or so total, if that's what you mean. At a particular marina my buddy launches his oday 25 swing keel and comparing the water lines of the 2 boats they appear to be close to the same draft.??? I wonder if the foot of the mast could be drilled and pinned in order to provide a grab/attachment point for stabilizing the bottom of the mast while tilting with a gin pole affair.
the draft is about 2'10".(centerboard) but with height on trailer one would need 4 feet or so total, if that's what you mean. At a particular marina my buddy launches his oday 25 swing keel and comparing the water lines of the 2 boats they appear to be close to the same draft.??? I wonder if the foot of the mast could be drilled and pinned in order to provide a grab/attachment point for stabilizing the bottom of the mast while tilting with a gin pole affair.
Tabernacles
It is perfectly feasable to build a pivot point for the foot of the mast but that only controls the foot. the shrouds and either the fore stay or the back stay must be in place and just a little slack before you start to raise the mast. The shrouds will keep it from falling sideways and the fore/back stay will keep it from falling on your head when you haul it up straight. Also watch your overhead clearance, trees, power lines, etc. We have had to visiting boats distroyed here because they tangled with powerlines near a railroad bridge. The other consideration is make sure you KNOW where the end of the launch ramp is on the deep end. I have seen people drop their axel(s) off the end and lay the frame on the concrete. Also in the Chesapeake bay a strong north wind will blow the water out to the extent that high tide is lower than a normal low tide. The tidal range is not as great here as it is in L.I.Sound.
It is perfectly feasable to build a pivot point for the foot of the mast but that only controls the foot. the shrouds and either the fore stay or the back stay must be in place and just a little slack before you start to raise the mast. The shrouds will keep it from falling sideways and the fore/back stay will keep it from falling on your head when you haul it up straight. Also watch your overhead clearance, trees, power lines, etc. We have had to visiting boats distroyed here because they tangled with powerlines near a railroad bridge. The other consideration is make sure you KNOW where the end of the launch ramp is on the deep end. I have seen people drop their axel(s) off the end and lay the frame on the concrete. Also in the Chesapeake bay a strong north wind will blow the water out to the extent that high tide is lower than a normal low tide. The tidal range is not as great here as it is in L.I.Sound.
bow eye
okay I found the boat has no bow eye. how do I retrieve. I can't float it precisely into place. Is the hull strong enuff to install a reinforced bow eye mounting. thanx,gene p.s. I appreciate the feedback.
okay I found the boat has no bow eye. how do I retrieve. I can't float it precisely into place. Is the hull strong enuff to install a reinforced bow eye mounting. thanx,gene p.s. I appreciate the feedback.
bow eye?
I am going to presume that you mean for the trailer winch cable. If this is a proper persumption and you are able to wiggle all the way into the bow the you can add several layers of glass and resin and install a bow eye. Remember this won't be the only point attaching the boat to the trailer. Just try not to drive out from under it at a traffic light.;-)
I am going to presume that you mean for the trailer winch cable. If this is a proper persumption and you are able to wiggle all the way into the bow the you can add several layers of glass and resin and install a bow eye. Remember this won't be the only point attaching the boat to the trailer. Just try not to drive out from under it at a traffic light.;-)
bow eye
yes to hook up the winch. I'm not sure but I think the anchor locker is open to the berth if I remember correctly. I just have to get design help. If left to my own, I'll end up adding a 500 lb. 3 foot by 6 foot by 6 inch thick slab of epoxy resin fiberglass steel reinforced with composite aluminum to the hull just to make sure!
yes to hook up the winch. I'm not sure but I think the anchor locker is open to the berth if I remember correctly. I just have to get design help. If left to my own, I'll end up adding a 500 lb. 3 foot by 6 foot by 6 inch thick slab of epoxy resin fiberglass steel reinforced with composite aluminum to the hull just to make sure!
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