[Rhodes22-list] Commissioning - Shock Cord

Sun Apr 16 15:16:34 EDT 2006

Peter,

Yes, you can cinch up a fast buckle, and it won't move provided that the 
pull on the strap is at a 0 degree angle to the buckle.  Turning the 
buckle to 90 degrees is what loosens them.

I use double braid line for tie downs, too.  I've already got the cleats.

I found over time that shock cord degrades (just like a rubber band left 
in the sun) and that they can suddenly fail, with either the head flying 
off, or the rubber bands inside giving.  Not good enough for me.

The webbing is so cheap, and the buckling so easy, I just keep adding 
more until I'm satisfied.  I'm basically a Lilliputian, too.

Although, I must say that the method has worked so well I'm a lot less 
silly about it than I used to be. 

Bill Effros

Peter Thorn wrote:
> Bill,
>
> Webbing and fast buckles -- great idea!  Can you readily cinch up a fast
> buckle?
>
> My approach to shock cord is similar to the Lilliputian approach to tying
> down Gulliver -- lots and lots of small tie points.  I'll bet fewer buckles
> would be faster. I did not mention this earlier, but I use 1/4 doublebraid
> line for the critical structural tie downs (front of mast, etc).
>
> I made up 1/4" sc with 1 1/4" twing balls, assembled in three sizes so they
> have just the right tension for each particular use.  They are not over
> tight or too loose.   With 10-12 around the headsail it stays put at highway
> speeds.   I also use some smaller premade 1/8" sc/twing balls from Northern
> Tool which are good for holding standing rigging coils together and holding
> the stern ladder up.
>
> Gosh I wish I was sailing...
>
> PT
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 1:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Commissioning - Shock Cord
>
>
>   
>> Peter,
>>
>> I never use shock cord any more.  It has snapped too close to my eyes,
>> too many times.
>>
>> Instead I am using webbed strapping with adjustable buckles that don't
>> have to be sewn on.
>>
>> I carry strapping and buckles on board in addition to pre-made straps I
>> use for specific functions (Like wrapping the jib every time before
>> leaving the boat--1 click and the job is done.)
>>
>> Whenever I need to tie down something new, I just cut off a piece of
>> strapping, thread it through a pair of buckles, and "Walla!" (as they
>> say--but not Alain.)  The webbing has never failed.  I have broken a few
>> buckles under extreme stress situations, but nothing snaps when this
>> happens; you just put on a new buckle and don't load it as heavily.  No
>> harm; no foul.
>>
>> Bill Effros
>>
>>
>>
>> Peter Thorn wrote:
>>     
>>> Bill et al,
>>>
>>> This is mostly about rigging and launching, not pre-season
>>>       
> commissioning.  I
>   
>>> just offer it for some of the newer owners to consider (congratulations
>>> Dave!).
>>>
>>> Mark told me most of Raven's neat little features that make her easy to
>>> set-up on the trailer came with the boat.   I've never met Raven's "PO
>>> once-removed" Gary Sanford, but have a strong feeling he had a lot to do
>>> with why it is so easy to set her up at the launch ramp.  Here are a few
>>>       
> of
>   
>>> the little things that came with the boat:
>>>
>>> 1.    fast pins on the forward lowers
>>> 2.    big fast pin on tiller
>>> 3.    GBI mast hoist crane and aft carrier
>>> 4.    fast pins on traveler bar
>>> 5.    quick backstay adjuster (easy to reeve and set)
>>> 6.    fast pin on forestay
>>> 7.    mainsheet with snap shackles
>>> 8.    vang with snap shackles (don't use much)
>>>
>>> To this I added a couple of dozen of shockcord/tweak ball assemblies I
>>>       
> made
>   
>>> that make strapping down the rigging fast, easy and secure.  Also made a
>>> forward mast holder that sits on the bow pulpit to hold the mast.
>>>
>>> I can be ready to launch Raven 30 minutes after arriving at a ramp.
>>>       
> There
>   
>>> are four basic operations to getting the boat ready to launch: remove
>>>       
> road
>   
>>> straps, mount outboard, mount rudder assembly, and set-up the rig.
>>>
>>> I have the lightest 8/9.8 motor available at the time of purchase (05
>>> Tohatsu long shaft).  Still, at about 85#, this is the most daunting
>>>       
> part.
>   
>>> (I will remember never to try this tired.)  The fuel is already onboard
>>>       
> and
>   
>>> just need to connect the fuel line.  For trailering simplicity and
>>> lightness, it's just a pull start motor and there is no electric cable
>>>       
> to
>   
>>> connect.
>>>
>>> After the motor, the rudder and tiller take maybe 2 minutes to set up.
>>>       
> It
>   
>>> takes about 20 minutes to raise the mast, set the traveler, and remove
>>>       
> the
>   
>>> mast raising equipment.  Both the main and the Genoa are already mounted
>>>       
> in
>   
>>> the mast and on the CDI furler. The boom is carried on the mast with
>>>       
> outhaul
>   
>>> and main furler line already reeved and rigged.  The mainsheet snaps on
>>> quickly.  The fastpins make securing the forestay and moving the forward
>>> lowers from the hoist crane to the chain plates go, well, fast.
>>>       
> (Raven's
>   
>>> hoist is 1988, newer boats do this differently).  The mast crane rides
>>> already rigged on the bow, with a high-tech 1/2" super strong line run
>>> through the bow eye and chocks already made fast to the crane cable.
>>>
>>> Others have written extensively on how to set the boat up.  This is just
>>>       
> to
>   
>>> show that it can be done quickly with a few small speed improving
>>> enhancements.
>>>
>>> Fair winds,
>>>
>>> PT
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 12:19 PM
>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Commissioning
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Dave,
>>>>
>>>> Could you write up what went wrong during commissioning?
>>>>
>>>> Commissioning after coming off a long trip into an unfamiliar launch
>>>> area is a lot different than commissioning after you have left the boat
>>>> for yourself in a place you know well.
>>>>
>>>> Were your problems unique to your place?
>>>>
>>>> Was needed equipment not available?
>>>>
>>>> Was the boat less than 100% ready to launch?
>>>>
>>>> What went wrong?
>>>>
>>>> Working tired is one of the biggest mistakes we make.  I still do it,
>>>> instead of working only when well rested, and it makes the work take 10
>>>> times as long as it should.
>>>>
>>>> As you can see from the many splashdown reports, many people on the
>>>>         
> list
>   
>>>> can launch a boat that has made only a short trip in less than an hour.
>>>> Some can do it in less than a half hour, if it's something they do
>>>> frequently.
>>>>
>>>> Bill Effros
>>>>
>>>> DCLewis1 at aol.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> We got our boat, Respite rides again!  Bill Churchman, her former
>>>>>           
> owner
>   
>>>>> should be proud and happy, Gen Boats really did a nice job
>>>>>           
> refurbishing
>   
>>> her.  His
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> baby is in good and caring hands.
>>>>>
>>>>> FWIW, commissioning the boat took the entire day.  Elton showed up Fri
>>>>> morning, we started mid-morning and got out of the marina at about
>>>>>           
> 11:30
>   
>>> PM.  I
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> was exhausted!  Will every year be this “easy”?
>>>>>
>>>>> My thanks to everyone on the board who offered input as we pursued
>>>>>           
> this
>   
>>>>> project.  Your comments along the way were always helpful and I
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> appreciate  your
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> patience. Each of you adds to the experience of owning one of these
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>> beautiful
>>>
>>>       
>>>>> boats.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dave
>>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>     
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>   