We bought our H26 in October, 06, trailered it to Ventura and have had it in a slip since then. I pulled it out yesterday; we are going to trailer it up to Port Alice on Vancouver Island where I plan to sail it until October. When I pulled the boat everything went smoothly; however I am uncertain about the position of the bow eye relative to the roller mounted on ther trailer post. I tried running the webbing both up over the roller and under the roller and in neither case could I get the bow eye above the roller, as I expected it should be. Nor can I get the bow against the roller, which means that the boat seems to rock up and down excessively when going down the highway. The closest I could get it was about 3" away. When I pulled it I let all of the water drain out and then closed the drain and put it back in so it would float higher. It didn't seem to make a difference regarding the position on the trailer. Any suggestions would be appreciated
Trailering H26
- Thread starter pmeyers
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Sailboats are floated unto a trailer
not pulled to it. The curvature on the bunks does not allow the boat to slide very well. Try backing up the trailer far enough so that you can float the boat all the way to the bow stop. Tie your safety cable or line to the eye fitting and the pull the trailer out of the water. The stern will line up on the trailer as it is pulled by the bow. PVC Trailer guides are great for letting you know where the trailer is and holding the stern against current or wind. A keel boat trailer should have a keel guide to line the keel. High tide may be necessary to pull some boats out so that the trailer can be submerged enough to be able to float it on. Check the length and drop angle of your ramp. Good luck.
not pulled to it. The curvature on the bunks does not allow the boat to slide very well. Try backing up the trailer far enough so that you can float the boat all the way to the bow stop. Tie your safety cable or line to the eye fitting and the pull the trailer out of the water. The stern will line up on the trailer as it is pulled by the bow. PVC Trailer guides are great for letting you know where the trailer is and holding the stern against current or wind. A keel boat trailer should have a keel guide to line the keel. High tide may be necessary to pull some boats out so that the trailer can be submerged enough to be able to float it on. Check the length and drop angle of your ramp. Good luck.
Not quite orthodox but
Last season when we pulled my H23 out, we wrapped a come-along around the keel, tensioned it, bounced the bow up and down and it slid forward, retensioned and repeat until bow eye is correct. You dont have a keel though, so im not sure where you could get a good sturdy attachment to the boat to put that sort of load. We did this because we just happened to be driving by the marina on the way home from an unrelated trip in the tuck, and realized "hm, the lease expires soon, should pull the boat" It was low tide, so we dealt with it. unfortunately there were some beautiful days in november that I missed!!!
Last season when we pulled my H23 out, we wrapped a come-along around the keel, tensioned it, bounced the bow up and down and it slid forward, retensioned and repeat until bow eye is correct. You dont have a keel though, so im not sure where you could get a good sturdy attachment to the boat to put that sort of load. We did this because we just happened to be driving by the marina on the way home from an unrelated trip in the tuck, and realized "hm, the lease expires soon, should pull the boat" It was low tide, so we dealt with it. unfortunately there were some beautiful days in november that I missed!!!
H26 Trailering
After loading, drive a little then do a couple SAFE quick stops; the boat will slide forward no problem. I always stop and check everything after towing for a mile or so. The boat will settle into place and you can adjust your front and rear straps and make sure everything is OK. There is a lot more on towing the H26/260 at this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/travel/travel.html
After loading, drive a little then do a couple SAFE quick stops; the boat will slide forward no problem. I always stop and check everything after towing for a mile or so. The boat will settle into place and you can adjust your front and rear straps and make sure everything is OK. There is a lot more on towing the H26/260 at this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/travel/travel.html
I have the same problem
when retrieving our H260. The hook can have the eye up tight with the bow against the roller and then at the top of the ramp a 2" gap appears between the two. When I bought our previous boat (MacGregor 26s) the previous owner gave me a lesson he called the "MacGregor stomp". This basicly was a hard stop from 15 mph after the rigging was down and the safety chain / tie down straps were in place. This settled the boat against the bow roller and centered the final inch from port to starboard. After the stomp all that was left to do prior to going down the road was to retighten the now loose stern tie down straps & bow hook. The only problem to watch is that you do the stomp while the carpet on the bunks is still damp. I don't know if it will work as well if you go off for dinner our something prior to taking the rig down.
when retrieving our H260. The hook can have the eye up tight with the bow against the roller and then at the top of the ramp a 2" gap appears between the two. When I bought our previous boat (MacGregor 26s) the previous owner gave me a lesson he called the "MacGregor stomp". This basicly was a hard stop from 15 mph after the rigging was down and the safety chain / tie down straps were in place. This settled the boat against the bow roller and centered the final inch from port to starboard. After the stomp all that was left to do prior to going down the road was to retighten the now loose stern tie down straps & bow hook. The only problem to watch is that you do the stomp while the carpet on the bunks is still damp. I don't know if it will work as well if you go off for dinner our something prior to taking the rig down.
Hit the brakes.
Only once or twice have I been successful in getting the bow pulled all the way up against the roller. Like the others have said, try stomping on the brakes at slow speeds to get the boat to slide forwards a bit and then take up the slack on the trailer winch to keep it there.
Only once or twice have I been successful in getting the bow pulled all the way up against the roller. Like the others have said, try stomping on the brakes at slow speeds to get the boat to slide forwards a bit and then take up the slack on the trailer winch to keep it there.
Use a Hill
I had same problem so I would drive to a hill or incline after rigging was secure, set the parking brake, and just go back and crank the boat up tight to the winch stop. The hill made all the difference, and yes do it while the bunks are wet. Enjoy the boat!
I had same problem so I would drive to a hill or incline after rigging was secure, set the parking brake, and just go back and crank the boat up tight to the winch stop. The hill made all the difference, and yes do it while the bunks are wet. Enjoy the boat!
Port Alice! Shhh. Don't tell
anybody about Port Alice! We're on Gabriola Island, next to Nanaimo. Wave as you go past. We may tow our H26 up to Port McNeil this August. Lots of great cruising up that way.
anybody about Port Alice! We're on Gabriola Island, next to Nanaimo. Wave as you go past. We may tow our H26 up to Port McNeil this August. Lots of great cruising up that way.
Good ideas
Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I hadn't thought about using the brakes to cause it to slide into place. I noticed last night that while bringing it home, about a 3 1/2 ride, the boat jiggled slightly off center from the roller. I think that I'll take it up to a local lake and try to get it back on straight and try some of the suggestions to get it snug. I was curious; when you trailer it long distances, do you remove all of your rigging from the boat to eliminate any potential chafing? I took off the main and the boom, but was wondering if I should remove the shrouds? Also still curious to know if your bow eye ends up above or below the rubber roller once properly seated on the trailer?
Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I hadn't thought about using the brakes to cause it to slide into place. I noticed last night that while bringing it home, about a 3 1/2 ride, the boat jiggled slightly off center from the roller. I think that I'll take it up to a local lake and try to get it back on straight and try some of the suggestions to get it snug. I was curious; when you trailer it long distances, do you remove all of your rigging from the boat to eliminate any potential chafing? I took off the main and the boom, but was wondering if I should remove the shrouds? Also still curious to know if your bow eye ends up above or below the rubber roller once properly seated on the trailer?
Port Alice
Fred, We'll wave as we go by. We plan to sail out of the Quatsino sound and head down the west coast. Not sure how far we'll go. Have a great time out in the Broughtons! Send me an email if you think you might come over to Port Alice. Great place to sail; wind almost everyday. Here's a link that shows our little Yacht Club:
Fred, We'll wave as we go by. We plan to sail out of the Quatsino sound and head down the west coast. Not sure how far we'll go. Have a great time out in the Broughtons! Send me an email if you think you might come over to Port Alice. Great place to sail; wind almost everyday. Here's a link that shows our little Yacht Club:
H26 Checklist
Have you looked at the checklist at this link? Might get some ideas. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/index.html
Have you looked at the checklist at this link? Might get some ideas. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/index.html
Checklist
Great Checklist George! Everything went pretty smoothly, and lowering the mast was easier than I expected. I printed the check list and plan to follow it when I launch again. I think that I will wrap things with carpet and cable ties as suggested by Dave. There are already a few rubbed spots from chafing from PO. Thanks for all of the information!
Great Checklist George! Everything went pretty smoothly, and lowering the mast was easier than I expected. I printed the check list and plan to follow it when I launch again. I think that I will wrap things with carpet and cable ties as suggested by Dave. There are already a few rubbed spots from chafing from PO. Thanks for all of the information!
Trailering...
I completely concur with George and the rest of the 'brake check' crowd.. I float the boat right up to the roller (using George's genius guides of course!!) and get a reasonable tension on the winch. Every time I get to the top of the ramp the boat is back about one to three inches from the roller. Even if I tighten the boat to the trailer with the wide yellow industrial size straps. Now I lower the rig, tie it all down and ratchet the boat to the trailer using the wide yellow truck tie downs. Then I'll drive out of the parking lot hitting the brakes once or twice to make the boat slide all the way forward onto the roller. I get back out and retighten the tie downs so the boat and trailer will continue to go in the same direction for the remainder of the trip. I use the same tie downs (the ratchet kind) on the mast nowadays. I found simple tie downs (like moring lines) loose too many times during the trip so now I climb up and ratchet the mast down solid once or twice each trip. That's one of my 'pilot things' I guess. Every time I stop I do a complete 'walkaround' on the trailer and the boat to make sure everything is completely tied down and ready to hit 65 miles per hour. And even with that I paid 39 dollars last week for leaving a simple little metal venturi tube on the highway somewhere between Dallas and Austin. Oops, was that YOUR windhield? So by show of hands, who actually flies a red flag from the end of the mast while trailering?? A.
I completely concur with George and the rest of the 'brake check' crowd.. I float the boat right up to the roller (using George's genius guides of course!!) and get a reasonable tension on the winch. Every time I get to the top of the ramp the boat is back about one to three inches from the roller. Even if I tighten the boat to the trailer with the wide yellow industrial size straps. Now I lower the rig, tie it all down and ratchet the boat to the trailer using the wide yellow truck tie downs. Then I'll drive out of the parking lot hitting the brakes once or twice to make the boat slide all the way forward onto the roller. I get back out and retighten the tie downs so the boat and trailer will continue to go in the same direction for the remainder of the trip. I use the same tie downs (the ratchet kind) on the mast nowadays. I found simple tie downs (like moring lines) loose too many times during the trip so now I climb up and ratchet the mast down solid once or twice each trip. That's one of my 'pilot things' I guess. Every time I stop I do a complete 'walkaround' on the trailer and the boat to make sure everything is completely tied down and ready to hit 65 miles per hour. And even with that I paid 39 dollars last week for leaving a simple little metal venturi tube on the highway somewhere between Dallas and Austin. Oops, was that YOUR windhield? So by show of hands, who actually flies a red flag from the end of the mast while trailering?? A.
That's a pretty sweet spot!
How far is Port Alice from the Island Highway? Is the road paved all the way, or some gravel? What's your driving time from Nanaimo to Port Alice?
How far is Port Alice from the Island Highway? Is the road paved all the way, or some gravel? What's your driving time from Nanaimo to Port Alice?
It is a great place
Fred, It is paved all of the way and the road is pretty good. Port Alice is about 30 km off of the Highway. 45 Minutes from McNeil. It's about 4 hrs from Nanaimo, a little longer pulling a trailer
Fred, It is paved all of the way and the road is pretty good. Port Alice is about 30 km off of the Highway. 45 Minutes from McNeil. It's about 4 hrs from Nanaimo, a little longer pulling a trailer
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