[Rhodes22-list] Commissioning - preparation to launch

[Peter Thorn]

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
> >
> >
> __________________________________________________
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