[Rhodes22-list] Trailer Retrieving

[ed kroposki]

Bryan:
	The ties down rings are on the trailer.  You attach the straps to
the rings and put them over the trailer.  The tie down rings are situated so
the straps would cross the cockpit just behind the winches and across the
foredeck just foreword of the cabin hatches.
	You would have to attach straps that would cross about the same
places.  How would you do this?  Go to a welder and have him weld loops to
attach straps to.  Or, just get big u-bolts and bolt them on.  The same kind
of devices that hold the springs on.  Or, loop the straps around the trailer
frame.
	I used to have the '84 trailer.  It did not have anywhere to tie
straps onto.  Stan has always said that straps were not necessary.  The new
trailers are coming thru with strap attaching points.
	You need to pad the straps so that they do not scratch the boat.  
	If you use tie down straps, the boat does not bounce as much.  The
boat stays in the same place on the trailer.
	If you are coming down I-75, you come near Wally.  Rummy, Captain
Bob, and I are on the other side of the Smokies.    

Ed K
Greenville, SC, USA


-----Original Message-----
From: Bryan Childs [mailto:bchilds1 at peoplepc.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 7:12 PM
To: ed kroposki
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Trailer Launching and Retrieving

The tie downs are a good idea, however, my boat was built in 1984 and does
not have any tie down locations.  I did talk to someone for a different type
of boat that uses a strap around the keel and front of the trailer to keep
it from moving rearward.

I am in Michigan and will be towing the boat to Florida (1500 miles) the end
of Jan. (I retired last Jan) The wife and I have a condo that we are renting
on Pine Island (just west of Fort Myers).  I am not using the boat for the
month of Feb since my wife does not sail.  She is going back to Michigan at
the end of Feb and I will take the boat to Florida.  I plan to put in a
marina at mile marker 115, which I did last year.  The journey southeast
will be slow with stops along the way.  I plan to stay for a while in Boot
Key Harbor, a popular spot for many sailboats.  If all goes well I plan to
continue to Key West and then on to Dry Tortugas.  I have been reading about
this place and I really want to go there.  I have a friend that plans to
join me for a couple of weeks but presently his job my conflict with the
trip.

I will spend the month of March sailing the Keys, but I need to get back to
Michigan shortly before April 15 to complete my taxes.

It would be fun to have other Rhodes link up with this excursion.

-----Original Message-----
From: ed kroposki <ekroposki at charter.net>
Sent: Jan 14, 2005 6:26 PM
To: 'Bryan Childs' <bchilds1 at peoplepc.com>, 
	'The Rhodes 22 mail list' <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Trailer Launching and Retrieving

Bryan:
	What I do not remember is the year of your boat.  The newer boats
are apparently heavier and are harder to balance on the trailers.  On my
'84, I found that taking the motor off and putting it on the adjustable
stopper arm was sufficient to make the tongue weight ok.
	My approach of winching it twice seems to keep the boat forward when
pulling the boat out of steep ramps.  Once you get the boat where you want
it, the challenge is to keep it there.
	After the second winch tightening you might add trailer load tie
downs.  The new trailers actually have fore and aft attaching rings welded
on.  It takes a 16-foot strap to wrap both fore and aft using the new
attaching points.  Using the strapping might keep the boat from moving.  I
know that keeps the boat positioned once you are loaded and hit bumps in the
road, the boat does not move.
	Maybe you can persuade Rummy to take a picture of my trailer's tie
downs.  He has the digital camera and is at Big Water more than me.
	Now, when are you going to be in the Keys this year.  How many miles
do you tow your boat?  Do you have a location where you put your boat in?
My wife gets a week off sometime in March, but I have been thinking of some
place a whole lot closer, however?

Ed K
Greenville, SC, USA
Sailing on Rummy's Pond, aka, Lake Hartwell