[Rhodes22-list] Steep Launch Question

[Julie Thorndycraft]

With the patient and generous help of Steve Alm (aka Slim), our newly delivered recycled Rhodes 22, Blue Loon, was rigged yesterday and launched today on Lake Minnetonka just outside of Minneapolis. The launch was at a marina used mostly by keelboats and they generally use a travelift/sling to drop them in the water rather than from trailers. Because of the this, the ramp is short and very steep.

We ran into a problem with the stern floating completely and the front still resting on the bunks. The angle forced the bow onto the V-shaped rubber bow stop on the trailer, popping it off completely and dropping the bow onto the metal support underneath - end result:  the boat now has a long, deep scratch on her previously unblemished new paint job.

Prior to the launch the bow was 4-5 inches away from the bow stop and the support arm was retracted. The marina manager suggested that we may have had better success had we moved the bow support arm out so that it was actually touching the boat before we started and tying a line from the bow eye to the the support to keep in snug. I'm not convinced that that would have made a difference.

Does anyone else have any experience launching with short, steep ramps and suggestions about avoiding future mishaps like this? 

Slim - if you want to add a more detailed explanation, please feel free.

On a more positive note, the new Yamaha that we got from Stan (9.9 extra-long shaft) fired up and ran beautifully. Steve and Dan enjoyed a nice but somewhat calm sail on Blue Loon's maiden voyage under new name and new sails.  They also tested out the 'new' modified IMF batten sail but you'll probably have to wait for a stronger wind to get a report on how well it functions. 

I unfortunately had to stay on shore and watch - I was in a major auto pile-up on Friday and spent the holiday weekend in the hospital. My sailing season will have to wait until my broken ribs have some time to mend.

Julie (and Dan)
S/V Blue Loon ('96 Rhodes 22, recycled April 2003)