Does, everybody fall into the same trap (trailering)

Just a quick question to see how many of you think you have to trailer your boat Bows Foward, I have trailered my boat both ways. THE BIGGIST poin is in trailering the boat (BACKWARD) or correctly is that a single person can step up a mast of an 18, even a 21 by themselves, gravity dose most of the work. WHY oh WHY do we fall into the trap of trailering the boat the most difficult way , also a whinch can attach to the eye bracket where you tie your finnal loop of the traveler and whinch your boat right on to the trailer by your self. I am a single handed guy I guess>>

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Rene J. Messier
16 owner, 16, 18 sailer, 16- 18 racer

oh I work also!!

OK. I have to ask, and I now I'am a little slow I,am from Michigan. but how is it better to raise the h18 mast with the boat positioned backward Years ago at a div. 10 champ. event I noticed a group of 16 and 18s traveling backwards to the site, however I never saw them set up, 300 boats and all that, Just thought they were from Ohio Just kidding folks.
Thanks Harvey ( h16 h18 since 1979)

I thought we wanted to keep the mast OFF of the car. Won't doing this backward increase the likelyhood of me scuffing my beautiful 1992 Chevy Conversion van?

I think he's refering to the fact that the mast is easier to step if the bows are lower than the stern. That allows you to raise the mast, and let the 2 shrouds and the weight of the mast hold it in place while you walk around and attach the front stay to the bridle. At our old marina, we used to launch the 14 from the trailer without the mast up, then beach the boat backwards on the lake shore off to the side to raise the mast (beaching backwards also kept the bows lower, as there's a significant slope to the bank in that area).

These days, we step the mast on the trailer a ways away from the ramp (there's no power lines around - no worries). We find that using this method, it's easier having the boat on the trailer the right way. We just disconnect the trailer from the car and drop the tongue on the ground - this lets the bows drop a bit lower than the stern.

But if you were going to step the mast while the boat is on the trailer on the ramp, you'd definitely want the boat on the trailer backwards to keep the bows down. RJ, is this how you do it? How do you keep the mast from hitting your car/truck?

I imagine launching "backwards" would also help you to avoid scratching up your rudders during launching (depending on how far you back your trailer into the water). Of course, you'd have to worry about scratching up your bows then instead, but at least they're buoyant.

Interesting - I've seen pictures and videos of boats loaded backwards, but never really thought to try it myself.

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-Bill

Conesus Lake, NY
1976 Hobie 14

Stepping the mast with the bows facing the rear of the trailer does sound easier when I think about it. How do you keep the mast off your car? Simple, it rests in the mast cradle already on the trailer. It also means less lifting as the hard part of lifting the mast from a deep crouch or bending your back is eliminated. Thanks for the tip, RJ.

pretty simple, I trailer my boat normal, as to not scratch my car, pull er off the trailer in the water, float er around so the aft faces up the beach, step the mast (with the boat leaning forward) and we're off.

I have two teenagers that sail. If they want me to pay for all their parts/trips/gear etc......they'll step my mast.

Hmm I don't think with the boat backwards on my trailer that it would sit that low enough. I could get the bows lower, by unhooking the trailer, putting bricks under the tires and letting the tounge sit on the ground.

Two answer both questions, When you ar ready to stp the mast you launch the boat half way off the trailer so the bows are on the ground/ water, this allows gravity to hold the mast in place. As for dinging up the top of a car / van, I raised the Mast cradle on my trailer 4 inches for vans and it cleard my kia sedona. but for cars you don't have to do this, it clears just fine.

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Rene J. Messier
16 owner, 16, 18 sailer, 16- 18 racer

oh I work also!!

Lowering the mast might be the operation that makes you re-consider the BACKWARDS trailering.
If you were to miss the mast support on the trailer the next stop is the top of your rig!!
Also if you experience equipment failure during derigging, ie. standing rigging failure or shackles, pins, and swegging. The results will not be pretty.

It might make more sense to rig up a long support at the rear of the trailer to help with the transition. This would allow you to get under the mast for the final lift skyward.

No need to worry about my Hobie hauler. A 1993 minivan, you know the kind with the dark blue paint that peels off. In fact I help my buddy raise his mast on a monoslug by walking on the hood and roof. I also doubles a scaffolding for my sister when she buffs & polishes her 36' monoslug.

Cheaper to run than my Dodge Truck.

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

If you are going to launch the boat part way off the trailer why not just launch it completely and beach it with the sterns highas mentioned before. If you don't have a beach to do this and launch from a ramp, there is really no advantage unless you have a hill in your ramp staging area with a steep enough grade to be advantageous. I know when I launch off a ramp, I don't have the time to step a mast while on the ramp. I rig everything in the staging area and then launch the boat. Otherwise I anger everyone in line behind me for taking so long.

Plus, how do you walk on the tramp with the boat hanging off of the trailer? Now that I know this is how it is done, I will keep trailering my boat bows first. If you want I can describe how I step my H18 mast solo and how I stepped my H16 mast solo. It works in almost any situation (as long as there are no power lines between where I step and the launch area).

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

We double stack two H-17's and always trail bow first. Putting the wings on, reversed on the lower boat before loading the top works well. It keeps the top boat from sliding off when loading. One person can load a H-17 easily. Drag the boat from the front cross bar, lift bows on to the trailer, lift from the rear cross bar and push on. The top boat can be also loaded by one person, same way, if the trailer is parked lower, and the second boat is slightly above.

On my H-17 the mast jumps out of the mast step quite often, when coming down. Not a good idea to have anyone or car below.

When single loading with one boat, I use a pulley at the front of the trailer, with line lead to the trap handle, going up and coming down. I tie line off at the trailer front cross bar stop on the trailer, while connecting the bridle. A winch at the trailer cross bar stop, helps when getting the boat up on the trailer. The winch line is connected on the striker or front cross bar.

Many of us off load from the trailer to the ground using Cat Trax. A pad made of Styrofoam Noodles works well, strapped to the rear of the hull protects the bottom, while coming off the trailer. With the bows still on the trailer, and stern on the ground, the Cat Trax are connected. You can then back the boat off the trailer, on to the Cat Trax. Going back on to the trailer, reverse the move, leaving the Cat Trax on, until the boat is up on the trailer. This also cuts down on the ramp time, and allows launch where you can not use the trailer.

Just some more ideas.

Caleb

I don't like dunking my trailer so I back it up to the water but just above the surface. My 21SE slides off just fine and my trailer stays dry. Coming on we just lift the bows a bit up onto the rollers and winch the rest of the way. No way this works going stern-to.

Beachboy,

Where in MA do you sail. I am probably going to move back up there this summer and am always looking for people to sail with. I used to sail out of Salem and Beverly Harbors.

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Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO