[Rhodes22-list] Commissioning - Tohatsu

[Bill Effros]

Peter,

I can set up and tear down my boat in about the same amount of time when 
I'm in practice.  I have essentially the same equipment you are using, 
and the job is fast and safe for the same reasons.  When I'm tired, I 
can still screw it up.

I wound up repairing my 53 pound Tohatsu for just that reason--53 
pounds.  The toughest part of the commissioning, but 30 pounds lighter 
than yours.

The guy who fixed the Tohatsu did an interesting thing.  He carried it 
by putting it on his shoulder.  Not across his shoulders; leaning 
against his shoulder with the engine head beside his head, and his arm 
holding the shaft against his body, waist high.  Held in this position, 
his legs did all the work.

Bill Effros

Peter Thorn wrote:
> 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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>>     
>
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>
>