another quick one....

[sanman60]

Anyone here Trailer-sail their C-19?

If so, How far is you average trip to launch? and how often?

My usual drive will be close to an hour and a half...
(although, I am planning on eventually storing on trailer at a marina, in order to beable to just "daysail" it probably won't be till next season sometime.)

 
How secure should the boat be for a "normal" trip to the lake? The P.O. had tied it down pretty solid... wire "zip" ties on the standing rigging every 6 or so inches, and  took the spreaders off....I thought this was maybe a bit of overkill for everyday travel, but as I had to drive almost 600 miles home, I certainly didn't mind... But it'd take probably a good 3 or 4 hours minimum to repeat that level of security.  

I figure that if I tie my mast to the pulpit and stern rail securely, Leave all shrouds and backstay atached, use zip ties on the standing rigging every few FEET (not inches), and support/secure the mast to the center of the boat w/ bungies to some sort of wooden crutch set in the mast step, that should be a-ok?

Ideas? suggestions? proven methods?

also: Does anyone leave thier roller furling jib on the furler? or should it be removed each time the mast gets dropped?

I realize these are all pretty basic questions, but I am new to "Trailer sailing" and I really do appreciate the advice!

[Gil Weiss]

My personal opinion about trailering is that if you trailer 10 miles or 100 miles you should secure everything the same way. Any mishap will certainly ruin your day so don't take any chances.

Go with your gut feel . . . if you don't feel totally comfortable, fix the issue as required.

[Craig]

I trailer my 16 every time I sail.  I leave all the stays attached to the mast.  The side stays stay attached to the tangs (or chainplates or whatever you want to call them).  I made a support that holds the mast in place on the pulpit.  The mast is tied down with line and a bungee to the pulpit.  The mast also sits on a wooden scissors that fits in the rain gutter for the lazarette.  That end is tied down with line and a bungee.  I use sail ties to tie the boom to the mast and catch the stays and hold them against the mast.  I use four.  

The only time I had trouble was when I only used a bungee to hold the mast on the scissors.  I didn't think there was enough stretch left in the bungee but there was.  I looked in my rear view mirror only to see the mast hanging off the side because it bounced out of its holder.  That's why the two ends of the mast are now doubled tied.  I'd trailer my boat anywhere with that set up.

Taking all the stays off every time I sailed would make me give up the sport in a hurry.  I believe in safety, and I believe in economy of effort.  If I can't pull or jerk the mast or stays free, then they're not going to bounce out on the road.  Next time I pull the boat out of the garage I'll get a picture and see if I can figure out how to post it.

Craig

[tsaiapex]

Before I got the slip, I trailer sail my CP19 exclusively.  Many times to the cost that is 100-150 miles away.

I tied the mast to the bow and stern pulpit, coil the backstay, and use 10-15 bungie cords to secure the stays to the mast.  I do not have a tie-down at amidship but do remove the OB (some don't).

A buddy of mine who also sails CP19 and travel to coast with me leaves the fuler on when traveling.

[Bruce Woods]

For about 7 years. All I ever did was take the forestay undone and lower the mast to the stern pulpit...bungee it on (I did have a towel under it)...then bungee all the lines together.

All that other stuff is not necessary. My main trips were between 100 - 150 miles each way.

[mgoller]

Hi Sanman,
OK, I tend to white knuckle it the first hundred miles.  I stop and check the bearings, the tire pressure, and whether anything is shifting.  After that I listen to talk radio and forget its back there.
Make it easy and secure at the same time.  Leave all stays attatched except the forestay.  Just bungee them (with little bungees from the hardware with a 1" black plastic ball and black bungee loop).  These fit snug and wont marr your anodized spars.  Make a mast crutch from 2x4's or just do as the book says and tie it securely to the bow and stern rails.  Put the boom with the mainsail on it with a mainsail cover down in the cabin.  Leave the rudder and outboard on.  (You'll do more damage the one time you drop these than by leaving them on.)  Use one strong tie strap across the cockpit coamings and to the trailer to prevent shifting.

Now, I am planning on leaving my genoa on the furler next time.  It adds a lot of weight so I am planning on a mast raising and lowering system utilizing a lever and a winch.  I have seen this illustrated and it makes sense.

Trying to lift the mast with the headsail on up to 45 degrees when the leverage becomes favourable to pull on a line from the block on the bow takes superhuman strength.  I did it once and thought I would die.  dropping the mast isn't a piece of cake either.

So here is what I'll do next time:
I'll use a 6' long lever made from 2x4 with an eye bolt at one end and secured to the mast approxiamately at 1' above the deck level on the mast.  I can't verbally describe the attachment to the mast but it will entail 2 18" pieces of 2x4 straddling the 6 footer and a 6" piece, with carriage bolts and wing nuts and some padding.  With the mast attatched at the mast step with the bolt in; the 2x4 lever will be sticking straight up to the sky.  This will be the lever to pull the mast up.  Far easier than pushing it up.  The only problem will be the tendency for the mast to lean out sideways.  I'll have to see if this happens.  At first I thought I could use the winch on the trailer but I don't know if it is lined up.  I don't think so.  I might just add another little winch to the trailer just for raising and lowering the mast.  You could use a block at the bow leading a line back to a the winch on the boat.

Once your mast is up you attach the forestay.  Then put the boom on, sort out your lines and sheets.  

Our goal should be 30 minutes from arrival to launch.  Your guests and family should have just enough time to gather their things and change their shoes.  You can hurry them up because the boat is ready.

People will be more enthusiastic with the boating if the setup and takedown is minimal.

I will make the "thang" and send along pictures and a report on how it works.  I take out in early November before snow falls in Michigan.

[Craig Weis]

Trip to launch. 0.6 miles from home to ramp, to store for winter, 16 miles twice a year. In and out.

To put the stick up about an hour. Most of that messing with the furler Harken pin at the bow. Two guys. One as a safety line holder around the trailer extion tube as I walk the mast up.

I have never unpinned the side standing rigging wires from the chainplates nor the stern wire.

I just loosen up the stern turnbuckle till the bow can be unpinned and mast lowered in the Tabernacle.

Then I just walk the base of the mast up to it's parking place on the bow and stern pulpits where I have  2x4's u-bolted down. Put the top-O-mast on the stern pulpit and secure the back and front. I use pvc electric tape to wrap everthing up on the mast so nothing drags when trailering.

I off-set the mast so I can slide open the hatch for access to the inside of the boat with out the mast in the way. skip.