Maiden Launch

[hinmo]

well, here we go. I've been talking a good game here on the forum for 3/4 a year. Going to launch in 30min.

Ramps is 3 blocks from my house, a state ramp with tons of people and activity!

Fears
1) axle on trailer breaks (its nasty looking but made to Ma from Ct last fall)
2) boat sinks (not sure about the integrity of the scupper tubes)
3) standing rigging breaks....looks ok, but who knows

....other than that...HERE I COME!

[hinmo]

All Good
All Great!
15 kts with a slightly large genny up....will de-power next time. But at least I know what the rigging will handle
Slips alittle in light air (started light, then puffed up), but once you get used to it its great!

I need to get a jib bag to keep the jib on at the mooring tho.....260 lbs climbin the bow in wind and chop is alittle hairy.


My nissan 3.5 2s pushed it very well.

Overall.....thrilled

[hinmo]

One thing i did notice, at the end of the day, the side shrouds (stays) seem to have "relaxed" a bit?
Any concerns?
Should I be inspecting anything or just tighten them up?

[Citroen/Dave]

I think mine relaxed a bit too the first time.   My previous boat, a Rhodes designed Picnic 17, had no compression post; the rig sagged so much the first time I nearly fell overboard trying to tighten every thing up while on my first (solo) sail.  I thought I was going to loose the standing rigging as the wind picked up.

If in doubt, take it down. Inspect each and every part of the rigging. It is easy to do with the C16 rigging and won't take long to do. Replace every suspect part.

Don't rely on the previous owner's ability to get to a marine store to replaced a failed or dropped-over-board part with proper strength-rated look-alike parts. I found a couple of Lowes clothes line parts on my new-to-me 27 year old C16.  Also secure the threaded position of all adjustable parts with stainless steel rigging wire so that they cannot back off from vibration or repeated loading and unloading.  Then you can sail worry free for a whole season at a time . . . until next year.  Then do that simple inspection thing again for next seasons worry free sailing.

Welcome to the joys of C16 sailing!

[wes]

It's totally normal for rig tension to change when the boat is put into water, because the hull flexes in a different way when supported by flotation than when sitting on the keel on the trailer. If you pulled her out and checked the tension on the trailer again, I'll bet the rig would be tight. So you need to make your final adjustments in the water.

Wes