[Rhodes22-list] Steep Ramp Question

[Kroposki]

To all, ramp question contributions:
	I usually tie a long line to the bow ring, as in Stan
instructions, but move slowly and steadily backwards down the ramp. As
soon as the boat floats free, I stop and climb in the boat from the
trailer onto the bow, set up the motor and tiller, pull in the line and
use the motor to back straight away.  Go dock the boat and retrieve the
trailer.  Of course this approach assumes climbing ability.
	I have used this method because with the way the wind was
blowing or tide was pushing, it either was pushing the boat back on to
the trailer or would have pushed the unattended boat quickly on the
rocks or concrete wall next to the ramp.
				Ed K
-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of General Boats
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 8:47 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Steep Launch Question

All:

Launching the Rhodes on a Rhodes trailer is a single handed job I have
done an
untold number of time all over the country - which suggests you may have
to get
to my age before you get it right.:

make sure the cb and rudder are locked up.

make sure the trailer winch is disconnected from the boat.

use the extension tongue.

slowly back down the ramp making a straight entry into the water. (I use
a hitch
on the front of the van to avoid neck strain and it lets me thread a
needle.)

start picking up speed.

when the transom of the boat lifts off the trailer, apply the car
breaks.

the boat will self launch.

dive in and swim after it using the transom boarding ladder.  alternate
single
handed method it to have a sufficiently slack line to the boat with the
other
end to the ramp dock or to the trailer to retrieve the boat after it
clears the
trailer.  I have used both methods successfully.  the last swimming
technique
was fully dressed using an Australian racing stroke to board the boat
before it
hit a million dollar yacht in Newport Harbor.  the technique was
successful in
spite of the a heart attack.

try and do this operation single handed  - using helpers only leads to
laughing
which is no good for people with broken ribs.  helpers tend to panic as
the boat
leaves the trailer so they pull on the lines prematurely, returning the
boat to
the trailer.    the driver is thus surprised to find the boat still on
the
trailer when he or she takes the trailer out of the water.

in another instance the helper ran along the dock holding the boat line
and off
the end of the dock when the momentum of the boat leaving the trailer
took the
helper along with it..  I became aware of this when I no longer could
see the
helper anywhere.

good luck.    retrieving is even easier, however, while there is no
charge for
launching instructions, a voluntary $25 donation to the GBI foundation
is
required if you ever want to get a Rhodes out of the water.

stan/gbi


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