Trailering a CP23 with rigid 8-foot dinghy

[SSouris]

Hi, all.  I'm new to this website.  I'm considering buying a new CP23 with the custom trailer.  I'd like to be able to take along a non-inflatable dinghy when I tow the boat—say an 8-foot dinghy (perhaps a Walker Bay .  Where would an 8-foot dinghy fit?  From studying pictures online of CP23s on a trailer, it looks to me like with the right configuration of the front end of the trailer a dingy might fit upside down at the front of the trailer right underneath the bow of the 23.  Any suggestions from those of you who have managed to include a rigid dinghy with the trailer?  Would any modifications have to be made to the custom trailer to make this possible?

[Tom L.]

I really don't know about your particular boat. In general when trailered boats are being launched the bow will nose dive, same when retrieving. I have a roller near the front of my trailer that brings the front back up. Anything stored under the boat up front would be crushed on my trailer.

If you want a hard dink why not carry it on a roof rack?

[HeaveToo]

I carry my hard dingy on the trailer.  When I get to the place where I launch the boat I take the dingy off.  I take pieces of pool noodle and put it between the dingy and the trailer for a little padding.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm199/HeaveToo/Compac23withdingy_zps02fad2d6.jpg

[brackish]

Heave too, how long is that dinghy?

And save us all a step, hit the image button on the "post reply" page, hit the "direct" button on your PB site for the particular pic and then paste the copied link in between the two bracketed image statements.  Almost as simple as copying the link.

[HeaveToo]

I keep on having issues with the image button.

My dingy is an 8' dingy. 

[SSouris]

HeaveToo:  Thanks for the photo! I see that your 8-foot dinghy (you say in another post that it's 8 feet) is positioned 90 degrees to the center line of the trailer.  Doesn't that increase drag when you're towing the trailer?  Would your 8-foot dink fit on the trailer facing forward?  ~ SSouris

I carry my hard dingy on the trailer.  When I get to the place where I launch the boat I take the dingy off.  I take pieces of pool noodle and put it between the dingy and the trailer for a little padding.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm199/HeaveToo/Compac23withdingy_zps02fad2d6.jpg

[SSouris]

Tom L:  I thought having the dink on the trailer instead of a roof rack would decrease drag when towing on the highway.  ~ SSouris

I really don't know about your particular boat. In general when trailered boats are being launched the bow will nose dive, same when retrieving. I have a roller near the front of my trailer that brings the front back up. Anything stored under the boat up front would be crushed on my trailer.

If you want a hard dink why not carry it on a roof rack?

[Tom L.]

Tom L:  I thought having the dink on the trailer instead of a roof rack would decrease drag when towing on the highway.  ~ SSouris

Not significant. The dink would probably not be as high as your 23 behind the tow vehicle.  I assume you will be towing at 60MPH or less.  The dink could actually act like a spoiler and reduce wind resistance of the whole rig.

However, if you feel the need for a dink,  I would mount it on the trailer like the other post shows. You just have to remove it before launching.

BTW drag will dramatically increase when you tow the dink behind your 23. Other handling issues will develop particularly when the wind/waves pick up. Docking maneuvers become more complicated as well. If you have never sailed before I would leave the dink at home until you get comfortable handling the boat by itself.

Tom L.

[HeaveToo]

That is the only way to fit the dingy on the trailer.  It travels well in this position but I haven't really pulled my boat long distances.  If I was going to trailer longer distances I would want to replace all 4 tires and that would be expensive. 

I thought of pulling my boat to other locations to start a trip but it seems like a pain in the butt.  I would have to find a deep enough ramp, plan the launch and retrieval around the tide, and find a place to leave the truck and trailer.  On top of that I would have rig and un-rig for the trip.  I find it easier to keep the boat in a slip and sail it.  My cruising grounds is the Chesapeake Bay and I am only 1 day away from there. 

[SSouris]

Thanks, everybody, for all the comments about trailering with a dink.  ~ SSouris