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solo launch
Tie the bow to the winch with enough line to reach just to the end of the trailer. Then back the boat into the water slowly. As you submerge the trailer speed up for about 5 feet and then hit the brakes. The boat will slide off the trailer and be retained just off the end of the trailer. If at a finger dock walk the line to the dock and lead the boat to a dock tie-up. If there is no finger dock (as in Long Beach, CA) slowly pull the boat onto the trailer and board from the trailer. As for putting the boat back on the trailer, just lead it from the finger dock until you can engage the winch, then winch the boat onto the trailer. If there is no finger dock power the boat onto the trailer and connect the winch. Then climb off the boat over the bow and onto your car/truck. Novelman
Tie the bow to the winch with enough line to reach just to the end of the trailer. Then back the boat into the water slowly. As you submerge the trailer speed up for about 5 feet and then hit the brakes. The boat will slide off the trailer and be retained just off the end of the trailer. If at a finger dock walk the line to the dock and lead the boat to a dock tie-up. If there is no finger dock (as in Long Beach, CA) slowly pull the boat onto the trailer and board from the trailer. As for putting the boat back on the trailer, just lead it from the finger dock until you can engage the winch, then winch the boat onto the trailer. If there is no finger dock power the boat onto the trailer and connect the winch. Then climb off the boat over the bow and onto your car/truck. Novelman
Hmmm.... not how I do it.
I don't think novelman's method would work for me. If I let it slip out to the end of the trailer, on windy days the boat would get all sideways on me. Where I launch, we have no finger dock, so I back the boat in to the trailer until it floats. I then get in the boat, fire up the engine, lower the rudder, etc. Once every thing is ready, I go up to the front of the boat, unhook winch, and give it a good push. Then I run back to the motor, throw it in reverse, and take off. Coming in, I just drive it onto the trailer as easy as I can. I have found that I need to have the trailer just a little less in the water, or the boat seems to want to go sideways right as it is getting into the V by the winch. Mine is a 26S, so I'm not sure how this transfers to a 25. All in all, this is the biggest pain of the whole sailing adventure. With practice it gets easier. Also, much easier if the wind is not whipping.
I don't think novelman's method would work for me. If I let it slip out to the end of the trailer, on windy days the boat would get all sideways on me. Where I launch, we have no finger dock, so I back the boat in to the trailer until it floats. I then get in the boat, fire up the engine, lower the rudder, etc. Once every thing is ready, I go up to the front of the boat, unhook winch, and give it a good push. Then I run back to the motor, throw it in reverse, and take off. Coming in, I just drive it onto the trailer as easy as I can. I have found that I need to have the trailer just a little less in the water, or the boat seems to want to go sideways right as it is getting into the V by the winch. Mine is a 26S, so I'm not sure how this transfers to a 25. All in all, this is the biggest pain of the whole sailing adventure. With practice it gets easier. Also, much easier if the wind is not whipping.
Only slightly different
My version of launch is slightly different than Novelman's. My bow line is tied to the trailer itself, but the line is shorter than my stern line which is tied to the last cleat on the dock(short dock). I have my 'goal-posts' marked to average launch and retrieval water levels.Unless the water level is too low, as I hit the brakes at the correct level, the boat slides off and I start pulling forward slowly. The stern line keeps the boat from going sideways too much in wind and current. If the dock is longer I move to the best guess for the stern cleat. If water level is too low I need to rely on someone on the dock to hold the stern line. Retreival is similar, but any way you slice it, I'm gonna get wet most of the time except in optimum conditions when I can loop the bow line around the front of the winch support and work both lines mostly from the dock.
My version of launch is slightly different than Novelman's. My bow line is tied to the trailer itself, but the line is shorter than my stern line which is tied to the last cleat on the dock(short dock). I have my 'goal-posts' marked to average launch and retrieval water levels.Unless the water level is too low, as I hit the brakes at the correct level, the boat slides off and I start pulling forward slowly. The stern line keeps the boat from going sideways too much in wind and current. If the dock is longer I move to the best guess for the stern cleat. If water level is too low I need to rely on someone on the dock to hold the stern line. Retreival is similar, but any way you slice it, I'm gonna get wet most of the time except in optimum conditions when I can loop the bow line around the front of the winch support and work both lines mostly from the dock.
comming into the dock after sailing
The most awkard time for me is when Im comming into the dock especially if its windy. I normally have someone with me get off the boat and onto the dock once the boat "kisses" the dock and gets the boat under control while Im back with the motor and tiller. Even when I have help here, sometimes its not a pretty sight. It is during this time that I worry the most about taking the boat out single handed as I would have to leave the control at the back of the boat and go to the side of the boat and get the boat/dock relationship under control (sounds like a bad time to be clumbsy!) I bought a boat hook hoping this might help somewhat but Im still worried about trying this myself..
The most awkard time for me is when Im comming into the dock especially if its windy. I normally have someone with me get off the boat and onto the dock once the boat "kisses" the dock and gets the boat under control while Im back with the motor and tiller. Even when I have help here, sometimes its not a pretty sight. It is during this time that I worry the most about taking the boat out single handed as I would have to leave the control at the back of the boat and go to the side of the boat and get the boat/dock relationship under control (sounds like a bad time to be clumbsy!) I bought a boat hook hoping this might help somewhat but Im still worried about trying this myself..
Nerves at the Dock
Walt, you summed-up my thoughts well. Getting to the dock is the most stressful part of my sailing day and the single biggest fear I've had of single-handing. I'm gonna do it this year, but pretty nervous about it.
Walt, you summed-up my thoughts well. Getting to the dock is the most stressful part of my sailing day and the single biggest fear I've had of single-handing. I'm gonna do it this year, but pretty nervous about it.
Solo Handling
It's like the musician's question on how to get to Carnegie Hall -- Practice, practice, practice. That said, it is best to practice several different methods until you find one that you like. Also, it's best to practice with someone on board to help only in extremis. Do everything yourself and only ask for help if needed. Don't mind the peanut gallery on the shore, they're always there and they're looking for enjoyment so give a show and have fun. Rusty
It's like the musician's question on how to get to Carnegie Hall -- Practice, practice, practice. That said, it is best to practice several different methods until you find one that you like. Also, it's best to practice with someone on board to help only in extremis. Do everything yourself and only ask for help if needed. Don't mind the peanut gallery on the shore, they're always there and they're looking for enjoyment so give a show and have fun. Rusty
Another twist...
Ok, one of the places I launch is too shallow for the rudder so it's laying in the cockpit. The sails are riggged but down and I tie a bow line to the trailer post. I back up, hit the brakes to slide off, get out and pull the boat to the beach beside the trailer to ground her. After making sure she isn't going anywhere (no dock) I park the rig, grab the bow and push while hopping on at the same time. I scramble for the oars (no motor) and paddle her about 100' off where I can attach the rudder (one piece IdaSailor). Recovery is a bit tougher at times. I usually sail (or paddle) her to the same beach (if I have enough speed the rudder gets over the bar and grounds right at the beach), pull the rudder, hop off the bow with the bowline and secure her. After the trailer is in the water, I push her off and pull when she's at the end of the trailer. She ALWAYS comes in about 3" low so I hook her up, back down further and climb into the bed where I can reach the winch to snug her up. I also have the bowline tied to the post in case she unhooks while backing down. Once she's snugged, I make any slight adjustments to straighten her before I hop in and drag her out. Getting on and off the ramp/dock is more of a challenge motorless but it's really not that bad provided ya don't let yourself get hung out there when the wind dies.
Ok, one of the places I launch is too shallow for the rudder so it's laying in the cockpit. The sails are riggged but down and I tie a bow line to the trailer post. I back up, hit the brakes to slide off, get out and pull the boat to the beach beside the trailer to ground her. After making sure she isn't going anywhere (no dock) I park the rig, grab the bow and push while hopping on at the same time. I scramble for the oars (no motor) and paddle her about 100' off where I can attach the rudder (one piece IdaSailor). Recovery is a bit tougher at times. I usually sail (or paddle) her to the same beach (if I have enough speed the rudder gets over the bar and grounds right at the beach), pull the rudder, hop off the bow with the bowline and secure her. After the trailer is in the water, I push her off and pull when she's at the end of the trailer. She ALWAYS comes in about 3" low so I hook her up, back down further and climb into the bed where I can reach the winch to snug her up. I also have the bowline tied to the post in case she unhooks while backing down. Once she's snugged, I make any slight adjustments to straighten her before I hop in and drag her out. Getting on and off the ramp/dock is more of a challenge motorless but it's really not that bad provided ya don't let yourself get hung out there when the wind dies.
Launching with an Unstepped Rudder
I used to launch my boat without first stepping the rudder assembly, even though I had one of the early gas strut prototypes from Idasailor. I would reach over the stern and guide the pintles onto the gudgeons. This was before the Unifoil head, I had attached a gas strut to my stock Mac rudder head. Anyway, as I was attaching the rudder, the assembly extended or unfolded itself. When I guided the rudder towards the pintle/gudgeons, the way on the boat caused the rudder to steer away from where I wanted it to go. Then I found that the lower pintle would not go on with the rudder extended. This is going on while standing on the boarding ladder and hanging onto the backstay. I was in water over a 100 feet deep and I knew that if I dropped the assembly, it was gone forever. Refolding the rudder with a strong gas strut was necessary, and I managed. Lesson to me: always launch with the rudder stepped. Now I have a Unifoil head and it never comes off of the boat.
I used to launch my boat without first stepping the rudder assembly, even though I had one of the early gas strut prototypes from Idasailor. I would reach over the stern and guide the pintles onto the gudgeons. This was before the Unifoil head, I had attached a gas strut to my stock Mac rudder head. Anyway, as I was attaching the rudder, the assembly extended or unfolded itself. When I guided the rudder towards the pintle/gudgeons, the way on the boat caused the rudder to steer away from where I wanted it to go. Then I found that the lower pintle would not go on with the rudder extended. This is going on while standing on the boarding ladder and hanging onto the backstay. I was in water over a 100 feet deep and I knew that if I dropped the assembly, it was gone forever. Refolding the rudder with a strong gas strut was necessary, and I managed. Lesson to me: always launch with the rudder stepped. Now I have a Unifoil head and it never comes off of the boat.
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