rungi wrote: Where is the bests place to attach a winch to pull a catamaran?
I was using dolphin striker rod. Is this strong enough? It is used to right the boat all the wind power propels the boat from this rod, but I don't want to bend it at all or change the tension of the v bar. I just replaced it today because it was slightly bent by the pin when lowering the mast too far before removing pin.
The main beam is difficult to pull from because the trampoline get in the way. I need 2 attachment points o pull it straight onto a trailer or up a steep beach.
To get back to the original question.... On my Nacra, I would make a bridle with each tail tied around the front beam at the hull. I had a spin pole which would help center the boat, but I think you could get a large diameter ring (4-5") to go around the block and tackle pulling the boat. Have the ring centered by a line on each side going to the forestay attachment tangs. This will keep the nose following the pull of the line.
rungi wrote: When putting the boat on to the trailer do you just recommend pushing it on.(this can be done but if it is steep it is much easier to winch the boat onto the trailer) I had been getting the bow on to the trailer rollers, backing up the car a little to raise off the beach wheels, then removing the cat trax and winching boat onto trailer while mast is still up. Is the the front beam a safe place to attach a rope to pull the boat up?
I always just pull/push my boat by hand onto the trailer, and that's what I recommend as Plan A. (Staying out of the mast/rudder removal fray.) Pulling seems easier, so I do that as far as I can first, but I'm short. (I installed some non-skip tape where I stand on the trailer frame to keep from slipping.) Once I've pulled it as far as I can, it's close to the balance point, so lifting the rear and pushing isn't so bad.
I know some who winch, but I cringe when I see that done with the boat at a steep angle point-loading the hull where it meets the roller. In any case, don't winch from the DS rod as others have said. Attaching to the main beam/frame should be okay, but I don't know the particulars to attach on your boat. If the boat were at only a slight angle to the trailer, I think winching would be okay. Before putting bows on rollers, maybe move cattrax aft as far as possible to reduce the angle?
Just an observation...the higher the rollers are off the ground, the more difficult the loading. Some trailers have the crossbeams below the frame and others above. Some have larger diameter wheels/tires than others. Even the angle at which the trailer is attached to the vehicle may come into play. The point being that every situation is different and so may be the best solution to the problem.
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi
Another option is to release the trailer from the car and manually position the rollers or cradles under the hulls close to the beachwheels. Then you can move the beachwheels aft (after locking the trailer wheels) and then winch the boat into the trailer, at a more natural angle. Not so natural is the position of the winch handle but it works for me. Though more often I keep the trailer on the car and as Jerome says I pull and push the boat part way before using the winch.
thanks for all the ideas. i had done all these and the bridle on the cat trax works very well for me. the bridle on front beam to pull up on trailer also works well to pull the boat onto trailer it is kind of heavy althogh i had pushed it up a few times. i have to say that taking rudders off solo is close to impossible with 5.7 while on the beach. it is hard to balance the boat and remove the pins. i know you can remove each rudder if you remove the tie bar sorry to say that the pivmatic system prevents this. edchis i listen to every piece of advise and link you have ever posted. i am not an enginner and apologize if a little slow. thanks again for all your help!
i know you can remove each rudder if you remove the tie bar sorry to say that the pivmatic system prevents this.
Hey Rungi,
The pivmatic does NOT prevent the tie bar from being removed. Probably you have have done yet another mistake when rigging the rudder system.
Edited by revintage on Oct 28, 2021 - 09:04 AM.
i have to say that taking rudders off solo is close to impossible with 5.7 while on the beach
Why on the beach? You can remove it with the boat on the trailer or on the beachwheels.
One little stupid detail that I took too long to figure out is that you don't need to start inserting the pin from the lower gudgeon with the casting already in position, if you do that with the boat on the ground, you need to raise the sterns to make room to insert the pin and it gets tricky to hold the casting at the same time. It's better to first raise the hull and insert the pin on the lower gudgeon, without the casting, and then lower the hull and put the casting, lower hole first, slide it down and then the upper part. π
I converted to the newer system and it's a different story, you really forget about the topic, except for removing the cross bar, unless you don't (I do).
https://www.murrays.com/product/nacra-rudder-gudgeon-upper-countersunk/
https://www.murrays.com/product/rudder-gudgeon-lower-countersunk/
https://www.murrays.com/product/56-1002/
i have to say that taking rudders off solo is close to impossible with 5.7 while on the beach. it is hard to balance the boat and remove the pins.
IF you prefer to do this while on the ground, you can adjust your beachwheels a bit stern of CE and the boat will stay put with it's transoms in the air- you can fiddle with your rudders or whatever and re-adjust your wheels back to Center for easy movement
MN3