[Rhodes22-list] Commissioning - Shock Cord

[Bill Effros]

Peter,

I never use shock cord any more.  It has snapped too close to my eyes, 
too many times.

Instead I am using webbed strapping with adjustable buckles that don't 
have to be sewn on.

I carry strapping and buckles on board in addition to pre-made straps I 
use for specific functions (Like wrapping the jib every time before 
leaving the boat--1 click and the job is done.)

Whenever I need to tie down something new, I just cut off a piece of 
strapping, thread it through a pair of buckles, and "Walla!" (as they 
say--but not Alain.)  The webbing has never failed.  I have broken a few 
buckles under extreme stress situations, but nothing snaps when this 
happens; you just put on a new buckle and don't load it as heavily.  No 
harm; no foul.

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
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>     
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>