[Rhodes22-list] Michael W.s Tongue

[Steven Alm]

I always use the extention because I've always worried about putting the
wheels in the water with my RWD.  All of the ramps I use are slimy and very
slick and I'd probably lose traction.

Slim

On Jan 31, 2008 1:34 PM, Michael D. Weisner <mweisner at ebsmed.com> wrote:

> Ed,
>
> The situation with the trailer was originally discussed with Lou Rosenberg
> (offline)
> since he was having problems with s/v Miracles about the same time (Sept
> '07).
> In response to his question "How did the launch go?" I replied:
>
>    Well, it's not good news, but it certainly could have been worse, much
>    worse.  We failed to launch yesterday due to a trailer problem.
>
>    At 8:45am we were down at the river, the tide was coming in, the sun
> was
>    getting warm, the wind was picking up, everything was ready.  As we
> extended
>    the trailer "tongue", we noticed that there was much more rust than we
> had
>    remembered.  The square stock pole had holes clear through in a few
> areas,
>    particularly on the bottom.  We extended anyway and made a note that we
> need
>    a new trailer (no news, really.)
>
>    As I backed down the boat ramp to the water, I applied the brakes and
> all of
>    a sudden the front portion of the trailer rose as the extension pole
> bent
>    right at the rearmost part.  I stopped the truck, we chocked the
> trailer
>    wheels and levelled the boat and trailer.  The extension was toast!  We
>    discussed launching without the extension but I really didn't want to
> dunk
>    the Nissan.  We also talked about walking the trailer into the water
> and
>    launching but I was afraid that I would have difficulty recovering at
> the
>    end of season, having to winch the trailer to the truck.  It could be
> very
>    cold and I would not want to be in the water.  If it was earlier in the
>    season, I would have launched figuring that I would have the whole
> summer to
>    obtain a trailer (or at least an extension.)
>
>    It required a sledge to straighten the extension pole enough to allow
> it
> to
>    be replaced into the trailer so that we could return home.  At least
> the
>    boat & trailer didn't break loose while launching and we were able to
> tow
>    home and park without further problem.
>
> As I said, in the spring, I will either have a solution or I will launch
> just to get the boat
> off the trailer for more detailed repairs or replacement of the trailer.
>  I
> actually thought
> about installing an offset extension as is used on the Precision 23
> trailer
> but I think that
> I would rather put the $$$ toward a more permanent solution such as a
> replacment trailer.
>
> As far as steeper ramps go, I do not have access to a deeper launch site.
> Most of the LIS
> ramps are shallower than the one at the Kings Park Bluff (Nissequogue
> River.)  Due to the
> 7-8' tides on the north shore of LI, I can only launch within 2 hours of
> high tide and recover
> within 1 hour of high tide even with the full extension and the rear
> wheels
> in the drink up to the
> hubs.  As a daily trailer-sailor 25 years ago, I watched the clock very
> closely.
>
> Mike
> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
> Nissequogue River, NY
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tootle" <ekroposki at charter.net>
> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:18 AM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Michael W.s Tongue
>
>
> >
> > Mike:
> >
> > I think that when under load all extensions bend.  Maybe your bending is
> > excessive?
> >
> > Go buy a piece of I beam long enough to reach from trailer hitch to
> > somewhere back on trailer that allows for physical attachment to main
> > trailer chassis.  Get about four large U-bolts with cross pieces and
> bolt
> > the whole thing to extended extension and actual trailer chassis.  Just
> > like
> > you were sistering a plank supporting a house?  I guess you could even
> use
> > a
> > wood 4 x 4 about 12 feet long and make it work for the occasion.  But
> that
> > might be too thick to get down a ramp.
> >
> > Locate a steep ramp that does not require extension.  When lake level is
> > up
> > here at Hartwell there are many that you do not need extensions on.
> >
> > Ed K
> > Greenville, SC, USA
> > "Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion relies on exposure to oxygen
> in
> > the air or water.  When you tape a stainless steel turnbuckle or rigging
> > terminal, you deprive it of oxygen, and the metal is more prone to
> > corrosion."  Bill Seifert
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > View this message in context:
> > http://www.nabble.com/Michael-W.s-Tongue-tp15204437p15204437.html
> > Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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>
>
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