My 2000 CP16 mk 3 (with centerboard and bowsprit) came on an original (to the boat at least, but maybe not Hutchins) single axle Performance trailer with the tilt feature.
I've found only one poster on this forum who uses that tilt feature and likes it, while the prevailing wisdom is to dunk the trailer and gently float the boat off.
Now, I'm all about being gentle to the boat, but if the tilt feature is so widely disused, why was the tilt feature added to the trailers in the first place? Was this just a generic trailer base design common to sail and powerboats which was repurposed for many CP16s?
In launching my boat, the tilt feature does seem at the correct balance point, and does help the boat slide off with the trailer not as deep. The problem, as you doubtless understand, is either bashing the stern on the ramp, or the shoal keel slipping off one of the (in my case) 3 rollers, and the boat hull hitting the trailer or the keel guides.
I did the latter once; the boat keel fell off the first roller as it traveled back, and the hull hit the wooden keel guides. Amazingly, it didn't break the hull. The keel guide 2x4 did break though, and narrowly protected the hull from being punched by the steel upright.
I believe if my trailer has a bunk of keel rollers, or even just a 2x8 keel board with some slippy plastic that provided more consistent support than my original 3 rollers, that it would be easier to launch the boat without submerging the entire trailer.
I sure wish it were possible to launch with the wheel bearings at the water's surface... but I'd probably need a longer keel board and bunk pads to guide the boat all the way down, and winch it all the way back up.
So, any experience or insight would be appreciated.
My '85 19/II came with a tilting Hutch trailer. Never used that feature, never will.
my 16 had a tilt trailer. never saw the need for it
still have a 1981 C-16 on tilt Magic tilt trailer. though not using it all the time, some ramps are too shallow a gradient, flat, so if you don't use it you have to back tow vehicle way too far in water. Ramps in SE Michigan were that way, Metro park, Ford Lake,Spanish, Ontario etc.
I have thousands of miles on that trailer, emphasis ..on wheel bearing maintenance, and tires. Still going strong. For what it is worth.
I was told either when I bought my 16 years ago (Possibly by Keith Scott) or I read somewhere that the intent of the tilt trailer was less for launching and more for retrieval at low tide where you might not have enough ramp or were doing a (gulp) beach recovery. I never had the need to do such when I had my 16 or my Legacy - the trailers remained fixed when I was launching and recovering.