[Rhodes22-list] For those who have yet to launch

[Rob Lowe]

Jerry,
Thanks for sharing.  Having already contributed to the "don't do this"
discussion in the past, I can appreciate how hard it is to admit mistakes.
But it will help someone else down the road.  - Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cjlowe" <cjlowe at bright.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 10:45 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] For those who have yet to launch


Remember to have your centerboard up and the pendent secured, before backing
the trailer in the water.Don't ask me how I've come to know this is a good
thing.Just let me assure you, not heeding this advice will possibly have you
:
1-testing the foam flotation
2- testing the capacity of the bilge pump,or at least, seeing the need for
one
3-Learning much more about how your boat is put together(and taken apart)
4-And,of coarse,Brushing up on your fiberglass repair skills.

OK,OK, the only reason I'm admitting this is because I don't want anybody
else to have to go through this.

In the middle of June I hauled the boat 100 Mi. for a long weekend,the day
we had to pull out to go home,the winds were 25+ mph.So I  put the center
board down to assist retrieval.When I went to put it back in the home port,I
didn't have the pendent in the cleat. As the boat started coming off the
trailer, the unrestrained CB caught on the bottom of the lake and was driven
up by the weight of the boat coming off the trailer hard enough to crack the
centerboard cap.Luckily that day we were tired,and didn't set up the
rigging.Instead,we went under the bridge that we can't go under with the
mast up,and checked out the rest of the lake for an hour and a half under
motor.When we got back to the slip,I went to put in the hatch board and
noticed something not so funny.2 inches of water covering the cabin sole.
Well at least I didn't have to tear down the mast,and I just happened to
have the trailer near by.Loaded her back up on the trailer and dripped all
the way home. At home , I pumped over 50 gallons of water out of the bilge.
Well, off to the lake for a short sail,then pack the boat up for a weeks
vacation at Lake Erie.
Happy 4th of July,
Jerry
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