[Rhodes22-list] Steep Launch Question

Fri May 30 10:46:31 EDT 2003

Julie,

I'm confused re your description of how pressure from the boat during the
launch caused the trailer's bow V-stop to "pop off"?  The hard rubber bow
V-stop on my boat trailer is thru-bolted.  Unless it were squeezed hard
enough to rupture the hard rubber casting or shear off the thru bolt, it
can't "pop off".  Or did you mean that the bow of the boat itself "popped
off" the rubber V-stop & slammed down into some metal part of the trailer?

If the rubber V-stop casting or the thru bolt somehow failed; then, they
were either defective or old & worn out.  Replace them with new pieces/parts
& all will be well.

Rollers are not intended to be used as bow stops, so I don't recommend
changing the bow V-stop to a roller.  Consider upgrading your bow V-stop to
the newer clear or yellow urethane rubber models.  These premium bow V-stops
cost a little more than black rubber, but they won't leave black marks on
your hull.

Assuming it was the boat that popped off the V-stop, the solution is to keep
the bow hard up against the V-stop during the launch.  Think of the boat
being launched as a teeter-toter.  As the stern goes into the water, it will
start to float.  As the stern rises, the bow must drop.  The bow V-stop is
capable of pivoting on its thru bolt.  If the bow of the boat is held
tightly up against the V-stop; then, the stern of the boat will rise up as
the trailer is submerged & the boat will rotate around the bow V-stop.  Note
that restraining the bow up tight against the V-stop is only necessary on a
very steep luanch ramp.  Basically, if you are concerned that the launch
ramp is steep enough that the boat might slide off the back of the trailer
prematurely; then, tie the bow to the V-stop.

On a launch ramp with a more reasonable slope, the SOP is to have the boat
completely free of the trailer, motor & rudder up, tiller locked amidships.
Keep the bow secured to the trailer until the stern of the boat is about
15-20 feet from the water's edge.  Make certain you are properly lined up
with the launch ramp; then, stop & release the bow line.  The trailer is
backed down into the water at walking speed, say 3-4 mph.  It's very
important to have the trailer properly lined up with the launch ramp, drive
smoothly, & don't touch the brakes until the boat is in the water!  When
only about 4 feet of trailer bunks are still visible above the water, the
brakes are applied sharply.  The boat will slide backwards off the trailer
slick as a whistle!  You can even do this launch singlehanded if you tie a
bow line onto the trailer or tow vehicle.  Once the boat is clear of the
trailer, you walk it over to the dock, tie it off, make certain any dock
lines are not fouled on the trailer or tow vehicle, & then drive the trailer
back out of the water.

I frequently launch & retrieve Dynamic Equilibrium single handed with this
technique.  I can launch & retrieve at least as quickly as any other 22' LOA
boat, power or sail.

Good luck!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Thorndycraft" <julie at circle7.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 8:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Steep Launch Question

> Wally--
>
> Thanks for the suggestion and the words of encouragement for Julie.
>
> The launch speed is a detail missing from our initial description of the
> inaugural launch: I was backing the trailer into the water very, very
slowly
> before the boat came in contact with the bow stop and broke it. We also
had
> people manning dock lines on both sides of the boat as it backed down the
> ramp.
>
> The boat may have been slightly askew on the trailer from the long haul
from
> Edenton to Minnetonka. Could that be a factor? If so, is there a solution
> for righting such a heavy boat on the trailer?
>
> Would it be prudent to have someone in the boat to lower the motor and
start
> it up as soon as the stern is afloat, then put it in reverse? We see power
> boats do that.
>
> Finally, would the type of bow stop make a difference? Would a roller stop
> be better than a V-shaped stop, or is that not the purpose of a roller
stop?
> It looks as though a roller stop has to be mounted on a bracket, which
would
> not be as strong as the square steel that supports the V-stop. Is hard
> rubber the best material for the bow stop? Boating catalogs also sell
> mon-marking polypropylene V-shaped bow stops and roller bow stops.
>
> Dan (and Julie)
> s/v Blue Loon
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wally Buck" <tnrhodey at hotmail.com>
> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 6:57 AM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Steep Launch Question
>
>
> > Julie,
> >
> > As one who has broken ribs on two different occasions I feel your pain.
I
> > hope you have a quick recovery.
> >
> > Regarding launch I am not sure my trailer is set up the same why but in
> the
> > past with deep ramps we have backed in very slowly. When we got close to
> the
> > point of the boat floating we let the bow line going to the winch out so
> > there was some slack. Then we backed a little more until the boat just
> > started to float and pushed the boat off the trailer. If it needed to
> float
> > more we would back in just a tad more.
> >
> > It has worked for me on several different boats. Go slow!
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> > Wally
> >
> >
> > >From: "Julie Thorndycraft" <julie at circle7.net>
> > >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > >To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Steep Launch Question
> > >Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 22:47:18 -0500
> > >
> > >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)
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
> > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>