[Rhodes22-list] Retrieval of Boat
Claude Cox
ccc974 at comcast.net
Fri Oct 12 10:58:49 EDT 2007
Thanks, Alan. All these good suggestions I get will go into a file to be
used when I'm ready to write up my own description of how to prepare the
boat and trailer for travel.
Claude
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Robertson" <bigal_61 at msn.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 8:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Retrieval of Boat
> Good to hear from you Claude. One tip I omitted was to run a tight 3/8 -
> 1/2" line secured to the bottom of a bow pulpit side support down to the
> trailer's side channel itself. When hitting a bump or pothole at higher
> speeds, this restrains the boat bow from jerking up and down and keeps the
> trailer hitch from jumping off the ball of the towing vehicle. We used
> this with only the cockpit tie down strap securing the boat on the trailer
> and it work very well.
> Alan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Claude Cox<mailto:ccc974 at comcast.net>
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 12:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Retrieval of Boat
>
>
> Hi Alan;
>
> For this trip, I was able to find a speed at which there was no
> fish-tailing. I did retract the bow chock, but only after hitting the
> road
> and needing to stop to do some adjustment. And I will leave less of the
> bunks showing the next time I pull.
>
> I left the motor and rudder attached to the stern, but secured them well,
> and had no problem with tail-gaters.
>
> I'm probably a couple of years away from replacing my tow vehicle, but I
> will be getting a heftier engine to be sure. Thanks for your post and
> the
> useful suggestions.
>
> Claude
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan Robertson" <bigal_61 at msn.com<mailto:bigal_61 at msn.com>>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>>
> Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 10:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Retrieval of Boat
>
>
> > Claude,
> > We trailered from '83 to '04 using the GB -Triad single axel trailer
> and
> > found that about 400 lbs. of tongue weight is needed to keep trailer
> from
> > "fishtailing." Also back your trailer in the water further than you
> > stated and retract the bow chock, do not extend it to get Rhodes
> centered
> > fore and aft. We found that center cabin window should be over the
> trailer
> > wheel for horizontal balance and proper weight on the hitch; aft window
> > over the axel if you transport boat with outboard still on the transom
> > which I would not advise because of harmonic effect if rig starts to
> sway
> > a little. Don't go over 55 mph; this is what Stan Spitzer advised. If
> ramp
> > is steep, raise rudder blade before pulling forward so it does not hit
> the
> > ramp surface when bow is "up" and stern of your boat is "down." A good
> hit
> > on a concrete ramp can damage the rudder or at best make it jump off
> the
> > gudgeons ( i.e. the brackets on the transom).
> >
> > Take the rudder off and lay flat in the towing vehicle if you can. If
> some
> > tailgating A H rear ends you and takes a chunk out of the rudder blade,
> > it's darn expensive to replace although Stan can do it; at last he did
> it
> > for us about 12 years ago.
> >
> > Finally, with the weight of the boat, trailer and equipment you carry
> in
> > either one gets up to 3500 lbs. your towing vehicle is somewhat
> > underpowered for highway speed unless you stay in next to highest gear
> > selection on the AT. We trailered with a 5.3 liter V-8 on a big Buick
> > Station LeSabre wagon which was just about adequate. Went to a 5.7
> > Suburban with trailer towing package which handled it effortlessly on
> road
> > and ramps with gas saving rear wheel drive! Good Luck!
> > Alan & Barbara Robertson - "Thor IV"
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Claude Cox<mailto:ccc974 at comcast.net<mailto:ccc974 at comcast.net>>
> > To: Rhodes22
> list<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>>
> > Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 8:39 PM
> > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Retrieval of Boat
> >
> >
> > Hello Everyone;
> >
> > I'm mostly a lurker on this list, but occassionally I have something
> to
> > say---like now.
> >
> > I pulled my celtic Lass today, for the first time; it started out
> well,
> > and went up from there. Following the Commodore's instruction manual
> made
> > the experience an awesome one! I drove the boat onto the trailer, and
> it
> > centered just like the instruction's say it will. Because of the
> shallow
> > water at the ramp, I used the 10' tongue extension, and backed into the
> > water until there was about 2 1/2 feet of bunk above water.
> >
> > The trailer is a 1988 Trailmaster, single axle, which I purchased from
> > Peter Thorn this past spring. I replaced the bunks, recovered the bow
> > stop bunks, and, at PT's suggestion, installed what WM calls "Trailer
> > Sliks (P. 757 in the catalog). They worked beautifully, as they
> provide a
> > slick surface, for an extended time, on which the boat can move. I
> > installed a 5,000 # winch strap, which worked like a charm; as I pulled
> > the boat out of the water, it held the bow eye close, even as the angle
> of
> > the strap changed when the stern settled onto the trailer. The bow eye
> > came up "eye-to-eye" with the winch, but the boat didn't move as I
> pulled
> > up the ramp, which was a challenging ramp because of its somewhat
> severe
> > grade (at least for this boat retrieval virgin, it seemed to be
> severe).
> > The tow vehicle is a 2000 Ford Explorer, 2WD, 4.0L V6 engine. My
> > son-in-law helped with this adventure, and with the two of us in the
> > vehicle, along with "stuff" one accumulates on a boat, we w
> > er
> > e at the limit of this vehicle, however.
> >
> > The bow stop is on an adjustable arm. It was extended all the way
> toward
> > the stern of the trailer as I retrieved. Leaving it there, once we hit
> > the road the trailer began fish-tailing at about 45 MPH. Moving the
> winch
> > toward the tongue, I winched my 3000 # Rhodes forward (a real tribute
> to
> > the trailer sliks) until the edge of the rear port was over the axle of
> > the trailer (another PT-suggestion). That gave me another 10 mph,
> which
> > was plenty for the roads over which I was towing.
> >
> > Several of you on the list are in the decision-making process about
> how
> > to equip your Rhodes. If you get nothing else, GET THE MAST HOIST
> > SYSTEM!!! At least for me, it is worth its weight in gold. Lest I
> seem
> > too fulsome about this experience, there was a slightly down
> > side--preparing for the road. We were going just 40 miles, so how we
> > prepared didn't seem as critical as preparing for 400 miles. Still,
> > getting all the shrouds and loose lines secured presented a challenge.
> > I'm sure finding a satisfactory way to prepare for the road will come
> in
> > time, however. What we wound up with was a pretty messy bundle, but
> when
> > we got to the end of the trip, it was still all just where we had put
> it.
> >
> > When I returned home at the end of the day, I celebrated my success
> with
> > one of those drinks Rummy talks about all the time--what's it called
> > Rumster? I had one....then another....then another. And as I have
> come
> > to the end of my post, I'm going to have another.
> >
> > Peace ya'll.
> > Claude
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use
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> >
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