A couple of ideas related to this thread....
I have a friend that had very good results repairing a couple of rips on a (solid) vinyl H-16 tramp. He cut the patches out of an old, trashed tramp of the same material (that he got for free) and glued them on using the cleaner and glue for joining PVC pipe. He roughed up and cleaned the areas that would be fit together then put one patch on top and one on the bottom and kept it all pressed tightly together until it cured. From a materials compatibility standpoint, it makes sense, but I was very doubtful it would work, since these were some pretty big rips. I was amazed....they held up for two years of double-handed sailing right up until he sold the boat. Even if it doesn't work for you, you won't be out much in terms of time, effort, or money.
Regarding Swampcreek's mast stepping concern, I have another friend who has bad knees....previous surgeries on both. Regardless of his tramp's condition, he ALWAYS raises and lowers his mast with the boat off the trailer so there's less distance to fall (and less stuff to fall on) if things go wrong. A second pair of hands is nice for keeping the mast on deck while getting the boat on and off the trailer, and this technique would probably be difficult if you had to launch from a ramp. However, it actually seems to make rigging quicker, easier, and safer. I've done it a couple of times when there was a crowd and limited vehicle/trailer access to the unloading site. I dumped the boat and got it and the vehicle/trailer out of others' way prior to rigging....must faster for everyone.
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
|
