[Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes 22 List] Centerboard Down When Motoring on to Trailer?

Fri Sep 17 11:08:26 EDT 2021

Hi Mike, I'm glad you found that helpful.  As you saw, I didn't go for the
bigger engine, but the factory tow package was on my list of requirements
when picking a vehicle.  Fortunately, I had plenty of power and I'm happy
with the vehicle selection.  Good luck towing and sailing!

Jesse

On Fri, Sep 17, 2021 at 9:17 AM <mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Jesse, this is a fantastic article!  Your towing kit is virtually
> identical to mine except my Grand Cherokee is a 2020 I bought in April
> specifically so I could tow my Rhodes.  I like the idea of the rudder cover
> since the ablative paint comes off rather easily.  I have an old sail bag
> that I think will work well for that.
>
> Thanks for documenting this and what sounds like a great adventure.
>
> ~Mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of
> Jesse Shumaker
> Sent: Friday, September 17, 2021 9:39 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes 22 List] Centerboard Down When
> Motoring on to Trailer?
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> On a trip over Labor Day weekend, I checked my tongue weight (with rudder
> in the v-berth) and stopped at a certified scale to weigh the trailer and
> overall rig.  It weighed more than I anticipated but it towed smoothly.  I
> had a cover made for the rudder to make it easier to handle moving into the
> cabin.  I went into some details about this and my towing setup at the top
> of the second page in the attached document which you might find helpful
> for reference.
>
> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20210908/722d8ac5/attachment.pdf
>
> Jesse Shumaker
> S/V Zephyr
>
> On Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 8:17 AM Michael McKay <mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Thank you Roger—that is excellent advice.
> >
> > Michael McKay
> > (630) 209-2054 (m)
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > > On Sep 17, 2021, at 8:11 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Michael,
> > >
> > > It all depends on how the weight is distributed on your trailer.  The
> > transom is strong enough to support the static and dynamic loads of the
> > mounted rudder going down the road.  So, if you have enough tongue
> weight;
> > that, your trailer is stable on the highway; then, it’s OK leave the
> rudder
> > on the transom.  I’ve been leaving the rudder mounted for trailering for
> > years.  I like to kick up the rudder blade a few inches and cleat it off
> > for more ground clearance.  The rule of thumb for stability is the tongue
> > weight needs to be 10-15% of the gross loaded trailer weight (i.e. the
> all
> > up weight of the trailer + boat + motor + water, fuel, food, sails, gear,
> > etc).  Note, I also leave my Honda 8 bhp extra long shaft outboard
> mounted
> > on the transom for trailering and it weighs ~130 lbs.  Check the list
> > archives for a discussion of how to measure and increase your trailer’s
> > tongue weight.
> > >
> > > With my trailer and mast carrier, the masthead is the thing that
> > protrudes furthest aft past the transom.  I put a red flag on the end of
> > the mast so the police won’t ticket me.  Depending on your trailer and
> mast
> > carrier, you might have to red flag the masthead or the rudder blade,
> > whichever is furthest aft.
> > >
> > > Other than the extra rigging/unrigging steps, it certainly doesn’t hurt
> > to unstep the rudder and store it in the cockpit.  If you need more
> tongue
> > weight, you can even put the rudder in the cabin up in the V-berth.  If
> you
> > have to do that, I would wrap the rudder in something like a mover’s
> > blanket to protect the V-berth’s cushions.
> > >
> > > If you leave the rudder stepped, remember it’s hanging out there on the
> > transom, possibly the 1st thing to hit if you back into something.  & you
> > can’t see it back there in your rear view mirrors!  I always kick the
> > rudder blade up all the way before backing up.
> > >
> > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >
> > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > Windows
> > >
> > > From: Michael McKay<mailto:mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2021 11:51 PM
> > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes 22 List] Centerboard Down When
> > Motoring on to Trailer?
> > >
> > > Roger,
> > >
> > > I’m preparing to trail my Rhodes on my own for the first time next
> > weekend. When I brought her home last year, the seller had removed the
> > rudder and put it in the cockpit for transport.  Is that step unnecessary
> > or a reasonable precaution?
> > >
> > > Michael McKay
> > > (630) 209-2054 (m)
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > >> On Sep 15, 2021, at 8:31 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Hi All,
> > >>
> > >> The centerboard is not a digital device.  You will find; that, if you
> > motor onto the trailer with the board about half way down, it will guide
> > the boat onto the rollers as per Stan’s claim.  With the centerboard
> about
> > half way down, there is so little pennant left in the well that it cannot
> > get snarled up.  If you have to back up, the centerboard will only drop
> > down until the pennant catches it, no harm done.  I’ve been retrieving
> S/V
> > Dynamic Equilibrium onto it’s trailer with the centerboard half way down
> > since 1987.  After the boat is up on the trailer, I disconnect the fuel
> > line from the engine.  While I’m waiting for the gas in the carburetor to
> > be used up, I kick up the rudder blade and cleat it off.  Then, I pull in
> > the rest of the centerboard pennant and cleat it off.  So, I always
> trailer
> > and launch the boat with the centerboard fully retracted and cleated off.
> > >>
> > >> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium has a proper, high aspect ratio hydrofoil,
> > centerboard.  But, I would imagine the newer diamond board centerboards
> > would function in a similar manner when loading the boat onto the
> trailer.
> > Try it with the board about half way down.
> > >>
> > >> All kick-up devices on sailboats are vulnerable to damage when backing
> > up.  This includes the centerboard and even more importantly, the rudder
> > blade!  I mention the rudder blade because, located on the transom, it is
> > most likely to hit something 1st when backing up.  There is tremendous
> > leverage to pry the rudder right off the transom if you back into
> > something.  Not only can you lose the rudder; but, you might rip a big
> hole
> > in the transom!  Leaving the centerboard &/or rudder blade  down when
> > backing up is hazardous at best.  If you hit something, I would call it
> > operator error.
> > >>
> > >> Roger Pihlaja
> > >> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >>
> > >> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > Windows
> > >>
> > >> From: Ric Stott<mailto:ric at stottarchitecture.com>
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 4:48 PM
> > >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] [Rhodes 22 List] Centerboard Down When
> > Motoring on to Trailer?
> > >>
> > >> I can assure you, it will ruin more than just the day.
> > >> I believe the Diamond board was redesigned from the original blade
> > style Center Board specifically to avoid such disasters, and is less
> > susceptible to damaging the CB cap. The pivot point is different, but I
> do
> > not know how it is different, I’ve never seen one. Stan is reluctant to
> > sell me a Diamond board because it takes significant intervention and
> > Fiberglass work to reset the pivot point.
> > >> I have a blade type CB and have repaired the cap once and replaced the
> > whole thing once.
> > >> I rebuilt the cap, trunk and replaced all the control line rigging
> with
> > new Turning blocks imported from England - the only source for them.
> > >> After a steep learning curve - I never back the boat up (put it in
> > reverse) with the CB down - it can cause damage to the cap.
> > >> If you launch with the blade type CB free to drop off the roller - it
> > can be catastrophic, I promise.
> > >> Ric
> > >> Dadventure
> > >> ’84 Continental
> > >> HBNY
> > >>
> > >> Richard F. Stott, AIA, LEED AP
> > >> ric at stottarchitecture.com
> > >> O -631-283-1777
> > >> C- 516-965-3164
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>> On Sep 14, 2021, at 4:27 PM, Graham <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> You can do that and It can be helpful perhaps with a strong cross
> > current that makes alignment with the trailer difficult but I am
> reluctant
> > to do this out of the fear that I will forget to retract  and cinch the
> > uphaul line. If you make this mistake the centreboard will drop when you
> > back the boat off the trailer and this can result in serious damage as
> the
> > centreboard can be pushed up with sufficient force to break the
> centreboard
> > cap. That will ruin your whole day.
> > >>>> On Sep 14, 2021, 4:00 PM -0400, Jeff Smith Photo <
> > jeffsmithphoto at gmail.com>, wrote:
> > >>>> The diamond board should be down when motoring on to the trailer -
> > right?
> > >>>> Best regards,
> > >>>> Jeff
> > >>>> JeffSmithPhoto.Net
> > >>>> w <http://NJphoto.Net>ww.jeffsmithphoto.net
> > >>>> Cell: 732-236-1368
> > >>>> Atlantic Highlands, NJ
> > >>
> > >
> >
>
>