Boat ramp launching

I'd recommend dunking the trailer. Put PVC pipes on the side rollers (like power boat trailers) to help you mange the launch in the incoming surf. You will also need a second hand with bow and stern lines to tie to the windward dock. Your spare hand can use their feet to keep the boat clear of the dock. All of this is no fun BTW.
You may consider anchoring your boat off shore for hoisting sails. I hate having anchors on the cat. You may be able to leave it with a line to a buoy and wade out to retrieve it when you come back in.
If you have to have you mast down for getting to the launch then it is not much more effort to find a ramp with a neighboring beach to paddle to for setup. Sorry for rambling.

Complicated. Was afraid of that.
Probably easier to petition the city to clear a path to the water’s edge. We can sell it as a kayak launch... 😀

" but miles away from a useable beach"
how far? under 15 miles = drive to the beach

otherwise ... it's not all that hard to launch of a boat ramp but not optimal

everything to do with catamaran sailing is "complicated" until you figure out your system

I agree- dunk the trailer. They’re designed for it. Just make sure you service your bearings regularly and inspect for corrosion/rinse the trailer if you’re dunking in salt water. The only other consideration is if you have a boat box, be aware that if it isn’t sealed, it will fill with water. If it is sealed, it may start to float the trailer.

If the ramp is large and/or uncrowded, you can put down a large piece of scrap carpet and make your own “beach” for rigging. Definitely easier to hoist sails and launch from a beach rather than a dock if possible.

sm

I launch from ramps exclusively. It can be a pain. I find a boat hook most useful. I have one that doubles as a paddle.
I like dock lines for and aft. Whenever possible I paddle to the nearest sandbar to rig up and down. If you have to rig at the dock, find a way to tie off so you drift downwind as far from the dock as possible. My boat gets real unruly at dockside. Keep the rudders up.

MN3 wrote: " but miles away from a useable beach"
how far? under 15 miles = drive to the beach

otherwise ... it's not all that hard to launch of a boat ramp but not optimal

everything to do with catamaran sailing is "complicated" until you figure out your system

It’s probably 15 miles or so. Maybe more.

Dogboy wrote: I agree- dunk the trailer. They’re designed for it. Just make sure you service your bearings regularly and inspect for corrosion/rinse the trailer if you’re dunking in salt water. The only other consideration is if you have a boat box, be aware that if it isn’t sealed, it will fill with water. If it is sealed, it may start to float the trailer.

If the ramp is large and/or uncrowded, you can put down a large piece of scrap carpet and make your own “beach” for rigging. Definitely easier to hoist sails and launch from a beach rather than a dock if possible.

sm

The cat box is what I’ve really been trying to keep out of the water.
Carpet...That is quite the idea. It is a neighborhood ramp, so it’s usually pretty empty.

gahamby wrote: I launch from ramps exclusively. It can be a pain. I find a boat hook most useful. I have one that doubles as a paddle.
I like dock lines for and aft. Whenever possible I paddle to the nearest sandbar to rig up and down. If you have to rig at the dock, find a way to tie off so you drift downwind as far from the dock as possible. My boat gets real unruly at dockside. Keep the rudders up.

Our ramp is on a windward shore so keeping her off the dockside isn’t a problem. Paddling out to a place to finish rigging isn’t really an option. It’s all bulkhead and rock, with the exception of a tiny sliver of sandy beach in some brush close by. This is where I’m thinking about asking what it would take for the city to allow me to clear a path.
Then again, what’s that old saying? Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission and be told no.

Trailers are fine for getting wet, but you need to be sure any lights are sealed, and I suggest using "bearing buddies". The Bearing Buddy is a spring loaded grease feeder with a zerk fitting that displace water and ensure the bearings stay lubricated. I have never had a problem since using these, and they simply replace the bearing cap.

"I’m thinking about asking what it would take for the city to allow me to clear a path.
Then again, what’s that old saying? Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission and be told no."

Best of luck
if it were where i live & you tried to "cut a path" without permission. - they would castrate you, then burn you, then bury you, then ticket you - even with permission - you would need payouts, bribes and permits. and then they would change their mind and make you glue the bush and trees back together

tominpa wrote: Trailers are fine for getting wet, but you need to be sure any lights are sealed, and I suggest using "bearing buddies". The Bearing Buddy is a spring loaded grease feeder with a zerk fitting that displace water and ensure the bearings stay lubricated. I have never had a problem since using these, and they simply replace the bearing cap.

Have the bearing buddies. I have the little tiny tires so any way to keep those bearings cool and lubricated is insurance.

MN3 wrote:

"I’m thinking about asking what it would take for the city to allow me to clear a path.
Then again, what’s that old saying? Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission and be told no."

Best of luck
if it were where i live & you tried to "cut a path" without permission. - they would castrate you, then burn you, then bury you, then ticket you - even with permission - you would need payouts, bribes and permits. and then they would change their mind and make you glue the bush and trees back together

Haha! Sounds about right. I know people use a little foot path to get back to it with kayaks. I just want to widen it a bit. Say in the 8+ foot range. Call it a self-funded city improvement project. 😆

If you are going to try the footpath...

- check whether it's viable mast up, wrt trees/branches overhead
- get/borrow some beach wheels if possible -- some have the wheels inside of the hulls, those use a much a narrower track

Ideally you can stand the rig on the trailer, lower the boat to the beach wheels, walk it through the path. Set sails up on the beach...

martin_langhoff wrote: If you are going to try the footpath...

- check whether it's viable mast up, wrt trees/branches overhead
- get/borrow some beach wheels if possible -- some have the wheels inside of the hulls, those use a much a narrower track

Ideally you can stand the rig on the trailer, lower the boat to the beach wheels, walk it through the path. Set sails up on the beach...

I need to check because I know there are some power lines in the area. I know there are branches overhead, this is likely to draw complaints when I get out there with a chainsaw...
Beach Wheels are on my "need to buy" list, but for now I have a trailer dolly. Hoping that will suffice.

Now I know the F18 I was racing on never got rigged on the trailer so as to minimize point loading. Every other cat I have seen rigged on the trailer and then slide it off. Is there really any danger to 35+ year old hulls to be doing this?

Is there really any danger to 35+ year old hulls to be doing this?

Damn,I hope not. My cat's 36 years old.

Edited by gahamby on Mar 18, 2019 - 07:14 PM.

Two or four old tires can very useful for rigging and for launching without dunking the box.

Without seeing the launch site, but based on your claim that it is generally uncrowded, my recommendation would be to get yourself a decent set of beach wheels and chocks/pads for the sterns. Park the trailer somewhere near the ramp, step the mast and do all that stuff. Then put the boat on the beach wheels and walk it to the ramp. Hoist the sails and roll it into the water just like you would do at any other beach. Leave the beach wheels/chocks near the launch so your crew can grab them and put them under the boat when you return to the beach.

You can step the mast either on or off the trailer. A Prindle 16’s hulls should be fine either way.

Be careful walking the boat up and down the ramp as they can get very slippery. Definitely wear a decent pair of sneakers when doing this.

sm

Beachwheel it down the ramp instead of trailering?! Hoist the sail up on the ramp?!
I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you on that one.

Edited by gahamby on Mar 19, 2019 - 05:56 PM.

I think the question is how to do it without beach wheels. But yes, too many people regret having waited too long.

Dogboy wrote: Without seeing the launch site, but based on your claim that it is generally uncrowded, my recommendation would be to get yourself a decent set of beach wheels and chocks/pads for the sterns. Park the trailer somewhere near the ramp, step the mast and do all that stuff. Then put the boat on the beach wheels and walk it to the ramp. Hoist the sails and roll it into the water just like you would do at any other beach. Leave the beach wheels/chocks near the launch so your crew can grab them and put them under the boat when you return to the beach.

You can step the mast either on or off the trailer. A Prindle 16’s hulls should be fine either way.

Be careful walking the boat up and down the ramp as they can get very slippery. Definitely wear a decent pair of sneakers when doing this.

sm

Solid advice. Sadly no beach wheels right now. The other problem is I will be solo. Having pulled a dinghy up that ramp with a dolly, there's zero way I'm hauling a P16 rigged up that ramp.

Yes, beach wheel it on the ramp using the ramp just like any other beach launch. Nowhere did I suggest to sail up on the ramp.

The alternatives to this are to either hoist the sails with the boat on the trailer and back the trailer into the water and tie off at the dock or back the boat into the water using the trailer, tie off to the dock and then hoist the sails with the boat in the water. Both of these options will be more difficult and prone to disaster if the wind is strong and/or coming from a less than ideal direction.

As long as you’re not clogging up a busy launch ramp, just wheel the boat down to water’s edge and rig it like you would anywhere else.

If beach wheels are not available, then back down the ramp with the trailer. But my point is, avoid using a dock and driving around on the trailer with the sails up if at all possible. As long as the ramp isn’t crowded, beach launch from the ramp.

sm

Dogboy wrote: Yes, beach wheel it on the ramp using the ramp just like any other beach launch. Nowhere did I suggest to sail up on the ramp.

The alternatives to this are to either hoist the sails with the boat on the trailer and back the trailer into the water and tie off at the dock or back the boat into the water using the trailer, tie off to the dock and then hoist the sails with the boat in the water. Both of these options will be more difficult and prone to disaster if the wind is strong and/or coming from a less than ideal direction.

As long as you’re not clogging up a busy launch ramp, just wheel the boat down to water’s edge and rig it like you would anywhere else.

If beach wheels are not available, then back down the ramp with the trailer. But my point is, avoid using a dock and driving around on the trailer with the sails up if at all possible. As long as the ramp isn’t crowded, beach launch from the ramp.

sm

I see what you're saying and I think it could be done.

If you are solo - you are (possibly) in for real trouble if you get to the ramp and it's windy either launching or retrieving.

getting a cat on a trailer (even submerged) can be a pita in wind, unless it is a perfect "tail wind" it's gonna be pushing the boat all around

Unless you are highly skilled - i would suggest you just drive the 15 miles to a proper beach launch site and save yourself (and anyone else waiting to use the ramp) a lot of stress

your "title" says you are at the Texas City Dike Yacht Club...
don't they have beach launching?

MN3 wrote: If you are solo - you are (possibly) in for real trouble if you get to the ramp and it's windy either launching or retrieving.

getting a cat on a trailer (even submerged) can be a pita in wind, unless it is a perfect "tail wind" it's gonna be pushing the boat all around

Unless you are highly skilled - i would suggest you just drive the 15 miles to a proper beach launch site and save yourself (and anyone else waiting to use the ramp) a lot of stress

your "title" says you are at the Texas City Dike Yacht Club...
don't they have beach launching?

That they do. I am an officer for them and help them out however I can. However, I am not what one would call local to Texas City. It's a solid 2.5-3 hour drive to the dike. If I go for an event, it's an all weekend campout.

gotcha - what is the "local" launch spot (beach)

MN3 wrote: gotcha - what is the "local" launch spot (beach)

Magnolia Beach is where most people go. It’s a drive to be sure but that’s the most local to me.

sure looks like a great place to launch (according to google)

MN3 wrote: sure looks like a great place to launch (according to google)

Assuming the beach isn't filled with RV's (Thanks to a new city ordinance) it can be. The few things I really dislike, is the drive for one. I can literally walk to the water and put my feet in the water, but to put the boat in the water, it's a whole endeavor. Secondly, the beach is a dredging spoil beach as most are around here and the shell is freaking rough on hands, feet and hulls.

Nowhere did I suggest to sail up on the ramp.

Sorry I worded that poorly. I've edited my post.
I still disagree with the idea of hoisting the sail with the boat on the ramp.
I think you would grind up the bottoms trying to get her head to wind.
I launch and then tie off to the dock so I'm blowing off downwind of the dock.
I raise the sail with the boat in the water.