. . . .

3. Crew dimbs down carefully, attadles trailer wirch rope to stemhead fitting, and winds in. 4. C>wner et t»g winch v.Vlds in winch rope, roat settling on trailer, Lr'ltil1raJler rises sufficiently above water

to be chocked. Support is adjusted W'Ider skeg. Rope Is detached and WOl.f'ld in. 1 oarted trailer Is rt:IN removed promptly. Bring wellingtxls; f"I8Ve( risk going barefoot in the walar; US8 pIimsoUs as n'inimcxn protection..

ME1HOO 2: WE ID\IG ROPE" fa) THE TOWROPE 10 flOAT QEfJfLOAT ON

A tow-rope, approx. Bm or 25' plus, is prepared with two eye-spjces: a small eye b fit closely over the towball, and a large eye b fit CHef the COl ping on the trailer.

After arriving at the laurdling slte and removing liltrting board, securing devices, etc., 1. Driver reverses vehicle and trailer till trailer wheels are at water's edge, 2. Trailer wheels are d lOCked. Trailer trake Is applied. Jockey v.tleeI ls lowered. 3. Trailer Is un, upled and '.-ehide Is moved up just enoUgh to allow tow rope b be allaJK!d 10 towbaIl on vehicle and coupling on trailer, by means of the eyes. 4. A k:xl;! warp is seo 'fed on the boat and the free end I:lrous;lt ashore. (Or use painter if long eoough). 5. T �rQ vende is rooved fuI d w::r up the slip.vay lXItiI 10 .. rope is taut Blake Is applied. 6. Crew- removes c:hodcs from trailer (tweaks rope If dlOCks wedged), holds warp, and releases trailer brake.

. .

6: A30IJT "TU FLOAT OfF

�;,���;;� 7. Driver reverses vehicle with caution, aew-steering at Jockey wheel, LI'rtiI trailer For reoovery, trailer is immersed using the same prepared tow-rope as above.

L Crew on IoreOed< (or In ax:kpit) rnanoetMas boat between docking arms. 2. When stem (or stern) meets SOItter, crew-holds it there with boalhcok.

2: A6()(JT To FLOAT ON

3. CNmer enters water (N.B. weHir$IOIIS or plimsolls essential) and attad K!S stem (or skeg) 10 snubber using shadde (described In Modifications), or uses bailer 'IIU d. wire to hook onto stemhead fitting and wind In. 4. Towing vehicle Is driven In low gear up slipway to haul trailer and ooat out. Boat settles on trailer ard keels drop via guides into dlameIs. (lljs Is wt era � several mcxIifications pay off 0 5. Trailer is braked and d 1CXi<ed; bN ,ope is removed; vehide is reversed and m .,.ad b trailer. 6. Jockey wheel is raised; baded b'aller Is t,hJwxi<ed, unbraked, and towed away promptly.

SLitable purchase, latrehing can be cootrolled by hand. The long rope Is attached kl the trailer and the free end

an eye on the rear of the towing vetW::le, then back b the trailer rope is pUled taut and vt100 the canies out stage 6.

at least a . , ill'IT16rsed.

10 a bollard a eye on the sIIPNSY il. elf, and the then !'Ol.nd the t:lwing ntil on the vehicle. �n. !he paid out graduaHy.

hauling out marually. The . A longer rope often

�T� �:..':::::.::::::::!:==:.:..::next:: issue). -

(1))

SIX METHODS OF LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY: 3 - 6

MEIHOO 3; :ruE PUSH po! E" : to 8.OAT OFFIfL.DAT ON •

This is a further variation on Methrx12, using a spechJIy ptepared drawbar. TRAILER.

Advantages lie in time-saving and roore precise control. Disadvantages may be seen in extra 'Neight, and danger ollrrmersing the bWing vehicle's rear wheels when womng on a slipway with a very shallow gradient In such a case, revert b using a long: rope. A rebuild of atf'J trailer chassis tor low loading woUd also allcrw the boat 10 ftoat oftllloat on in shallower water (See Ne .... sJetterNo.67, Winter 1989-90). After arriving al the Ial.n:hing site and rflI'nO'oIIng ligIali Ig board, sea ring devices, et., 1. Driver reverses vehicle and trailer till trailer v.tleels ate at water's edge. 2. Trailer wheels are d lOCked. T railef brake is 8, pfied. .hckey....tleel is lowered. 3. Trailer Is uncoupled arn vehicle Is moved up slipway far enough to allow the speciaJly prepared dlawbar to be attocJiOd first to the trailer roupIing and then (with r�tioning)" the tcN.baII on vehicle. 4. A long warp Is seared on boat and the free ere brought a..shoI"e. (Q- use painter if long enough). 5. Crew removes docks from lral1er (diver may have 10 move towing vehicle IoIward if cOOcI<s wedged), Crew holds warp, and releases lrailef brake. 6. Driver reverses vehicle with caution, Cff!W steering at jockey wheel until trailer immersion and fIoal-oft. For teet:NefY. trailer Is immersed using the same O"awbar as aI;me, wheels of towing vehicle at water's edge,

1. Crew on foredeck (Of in cockpit) maroet.Mes boat betv043en clocking arms. 2. When stem (Of stem) meets snubt ai, crew holds it there wi1tI boathook. 3. 0Nner enters water and attaches stem (or skeg) to snubber 11 using shackle, with short chain or strop and cartJine hook to use if the \Y..u 00 rot meet; a/ternatively, attarnes windl ... ilre to st.err-.he:ld fitting, and winds in. 4. Towing vehicle is driven in low gear up slipway to haul trailer and boat out Boat settles on trailer and keels drop via keel Qlides inb channels (thanks to modifications made ear1ierj. 5. Trailer Is braked and dlocked; drawbar Is removed and sbJ lie d; vehicle is reversed and COJPed to trailer. 6. Jockey v.tleeI is raised; loaded trailer Is unctxx:ked, unbral<ed, and towed fr.NaY promptly.

METHOD 4 '1l-IE BOBBING BUOYS" : to FlOAT OFFI FLOAT ON STERN fiRST

This system allows the use 01 a very basic trailer, even a f\at-bec! trailer, as long as a srVJbber and SOine bm 01 skeg Sl!AX)rt are added (e.g., wWje plank fitted crossways and SI iJ'IPOrted on edge, or tilted, rut with shallow 'V for skeg). I1 the trailer has channels !or the bilge keels, It is �e to lit bilge keeI,gUdes for a1lgilrnent (see M:xifications In �s artide). l...a1rdVng Is "FIoat-otr' using lHE BIG WINCH, :THE LONG ROPE. or THE PUSH POlE. The ditterenca is in the recole(y. The booys need to be made up when the tnat Is on its trailer onshore. four are on $Iw cords 01 COIled length to reach from the trailer chassis and to be hooked together under tension In the oxkpit. Ru eyes as atlaJlnent points can be filted to the trailer itself to take (optional) snap hooks, as a time-saver. The fifth buoy is also 00 a shock oord fttted kl a defaI::hatje pole assembly v.tdch requires a heavy Wty tr.lss or Dlc-plated t:utt hirge 'IMh no side � when the pole is raised. The pole locates and runs up the � roller. For an economy version use 5 sealed plastic tottIes Instead of aJITVTl6!'dally-made pickup buoys. (Details In 1'Ji!!�sletterNo.67, Winter 1989190, p.5.

Advantages lie mainly in economy. Disadvantages: this system (Y.1thout docking arms) prefers a calm day without 'Mnd or Wieillt; and ass�ng owner on shore. it ne ads tYoO Q6W on board to operate effectively .

•

RECOVERY ,'" f",toG�SS

8

METHOD 5; 11iE BBEAJ<.8ACK" or TlLHRAME: to EASE OFFJfJ.OAT OFF and flOAT lfiPBAG ON •

Though not widely used, the lill·frame trailer has several advantages: speedier recovery; possible single­handed; no immersion 01 wheel bearingS; and the CJYrKIer remains dry (y.;th the aid of a pair of wellingtons !)

Disadvantages are: greater oost; quite an effort required when winching on; and U'lsuitable for the GRP versioo of the lysander, as the boat Is "dl'aggBd" by the keels. Preparatiorl needed: I. Tmiler channels are widened or "fish·tailed" at the outer erd to ease entry for the keels. 2. Two wire cables are shadded to bilge keels and led forward to the waterline at the 00ws, forming a bride. This Is permanently in position, supported by lanyard, ready for use.

After arrMng at the Iaund1Ing site before h91 tide, and rem:Mng ��ling 00ard, ropes or strapS,ele.: 1. Driver r8V'erSeS trailer down slipway D the water's edge. Vehicle Is chocked. Trailer Is not unooupled. 2. Winch wire or strap is dil' e cl ont::l bridle and v.a.rd In til taut 3. Wing rots are removed from breakback section and d10cks from keel channels. 4. Using a separate rope to stemhead fitting for OOIibol, breaJd::' -k is encotxaged to tilt. 5. Using winch for conbol, keels are eased da.vn dlannels till tot.iChing slipway. 6. Bri:te is detaJiscI and pJled up to bows by lanyard Vet»de is aiven forward sklwIy in low gear to slow boallO settle. Rising tide (as preferred for an these methods) does the rest

For recovery, (based on a sketch by Nick HarrJey) 1_ Boat is nosed up slipway till agt'Olni 2. Trailer is reversed down slipway to the boat Towing vehicle is chx�ed.

-"'­(nol j.JSl""" SE :'i(ln ): (� VIr; G-NrtI'.r mtJ/tIod (aln �/SI btal P _w VI}.­(8) JM 8oy.r. _/hod

(UJJngIwo�'boII�:

3. WlI"Ignuts are removed hem the aft secbt Breakback tilted, trailer is pushed under boat as far as IXlssible. 4. Winch wire or strap is df� to brIcIe. Boat is wild .ed up, keels in charr.els. 5_ 010Cks are placed behind keels b prE!"<13nt relaunctt 6. Wirdl wire or strap Is rt::NI attad1ed to sfem.'1ew:l fitting and winch operated 10 PtA' bows dooo. 7. Wing nuts are repiare;t. T railef is 00ven off sliPNBY tor-c:ornpIetioo elsewhere_

REDUCING FRICTION BETWEEN KEElS AND CHANNELS C>.vners need not grease the chaMels; by using a soapy lilJ.:ict A ncNeI meh::ld of preparing the channels

involves fitting a bJgh plastic lining to reduce fric1ion. Po/yethaJene (ultra high moIeoJar weight poIyethylene), or acetal (copolymer), or Delrin (acetal lor�'yll et can be recomme .. 1ed. The material is b be cut by the suppliers from 5mm thick sheet1nto ships aw: ox. 60n ." wide, to be attached ID chaMeIs using COU'Itersunk •

rots and bolts or self-tapping SOCt'lS. See Yellow Pages tor � of P\asb'sheeling.

MElliOD 6; "THE PIGGY.BACK", with TllI-fBMAf' kI AQ!! OFF & EI.OAT OFFIflOATON & BQI! ON

Advantages of this trailer/trolley oorrtlinalioo system are: no Immersion of road wheel bearings, and single­handed operation if trolley Is fully modified (see previous articIe)_ Disadvantages are: greater cost; greater towing weight; and some altort even with 2-sr 3ed winJl when winching on_ (Details on req.:est).

ts & thanks to /he k;lkmjq} for ideas, SI rggestions or COfIT1ItNIts: Bin BoyaD, Fred Elx1y, AJan & Mkc Chigne/I, VIC Green, Nick l-lardey, GorOOn Heaver, Peter Kavanagh, John Rit::htooOO and Ray Trend

..bhn Garb.rtt

9