[Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.

[Bill Effros]

Phyllis,

Congratulations.

Backing up trailers is fun once you get the hang of it.  Take the boat to a supermarket parking lot after the store has closed and practice when there are no cars around, and nothing to hit (and nobody to laugh at you while your mind figures it out.)  Decide if you are going to back up by turning around and looking backwards, or by looking in mirrors while facing forward.  There is a case to be made for either method, but your mind works differently depending on which you choose, and it can be very confusing to switch methods while you are in the middle of a maneuver. 

Also, remember that the boat is balanced on the trailer so that there is only roughly 200 pounds on the jack wheel.  Sometimes the easiest way to move in tight quarters is to detach the trailer, rotate it into position by hand, (like the way they turn the cable cars in San Francisco--easier with single axle trailers) and then either move the trailer by hand (it's on wheels--this is easy on level driveways) or reconnect the tow vehicle so it can push the trailer into final position.

Lots of safety warnings here.  Make sure the trailer won't roll away when detached from the tow vehicle.  Make sure it won't kick up because of too much weight in back.  But once you know what you are doing (write it down--make a checklist--follow it and improve it every time) you will find you can put your boat exactly where you want it every time--even when people are watching.  In fact, once you get good at it, people will literally applaud when they see what you can do.

Bill Effros



 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: P&M Beals 
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org 
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 1:08 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.


Thanks to Joe Ware who introduced me to Whisper, formerly his Rhodes 22, and
to the art of trailering (set up and all) I am pleased to say there is a
BEAUTIFUL recycled Rhodes in our driveway in Central NJ.  I made the 6 hour
58 mph trip from Onancock, Va. solo with my 6 cyl. minivan.  I put Joe to
work yesterday getting him to get Whisper out on the water, mast up and mast
down in the heat, test-sail and all.  It will take some time to learn the
art of sailing with the big Genoa jib, and I may still take Jay up on his
offer to sail at LBI area-  My family is excited and we look forward to a
lot of good sailing ahead.  Now if I can just teach myself how to back up
the trailer into the yard.  Within a couple weeks I hope it will be in a
different place for Sept, Oct. and maybe even Nov? sails.

The list has been very helpful, and I count on future expert advice from
all.

and yes I will give Rummy the ID # though what was Joe's for Whisper is now
mine.

Joe mentioned that a while back someone had info. on how to avoid the hex if
you change a boat's name....I might keep the name but it's not certain.

Phyllis Beals 
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