Lumos wrote:
I learned quickly that the TI is much better to propel and has more control going forward than backward. Since I usually launch at a boat ramp, it's quicker and easier to go in bow first (and return bow first). Some boat ramps I've used are too narrow to manually rotate the TI and the first time I had to paddle backwards with an unfavorable wind convinced me to avoid paddling the boat backwards in confined areas as much as possible.
My TI comes off the trailer at home to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned, then stored inverted with wide straps along with the amas/sail using an electric hoist (Garage Gator). This takes about an hour but keeps the boat in top-shape after a day in the salt. The Garage Gator works really well.
The trailer folds up and stores vertically taking up little space. Sometimes I store it inverted on the trailer if I'll be going out the next day and leave the truck outside the garage.
If the boat is on the trailer, it's trivial to reposition the hull before adding the amas/akas.
Gee, I can't help but think you are making your life much harder than necessary! In all honesty, a TI is infinitely more stable direction-wise when reversing. (It might be worth you trying, as it was a surprise to me, which I discovered when I had to cover a long distasnce in only one foot of water). I launch it backwards, and don't even hurry to drop the rudder quickly, as my TI show no sign of wandering off the straight and narrow while going backwards. Once clear of the ramp and other vessels, I drop centreboard, rudder and Miragedrive, performing a tight U-turn by applying reverse rudder and using the paddle..
Coming back to land, I use the paddle once the water is too shallow for Miragedrive etc.
Fortunately, I can store the TI on its trailer, so I do not need to disssemble anything, just give everything a good wash (we have washdown taps at the ramp, so the TI gets a blow-dry on the way home).