C20 in the Water for the Our First Time!

[jbbkamp]

Thanks for the input earlier on a # of my questions regarding our new to us C20. We pulled out the tongue extension and put it in the water with our 2005 Sienna with the Marina on hand with a tractor if needed. Come to find out the Sienna did just fine in and out of the water. Tried it on dry and wet pavement and couldn't get it to slip. We sailed both Friday and Sunday. My wife is even liking this boat. The comment was made that it sails like a Cadillac. The waves don't effect it much and it doesn't heel hardly at all. On Sunday we even got her parents out on it. They've never sailed and really enjoyed it. It's so easy to sail. The kids loved using the rudder and we did a lot of swimming off of it. My brother in law and I jumped off the boat at the same time from the same side and the boat just every so slightly rocked. I'm definately not used to this having a background in smaller 10-15' sailboats. Anyway the sailing was a blast winds were 6-10mph. Can't wait to take on some stiffer breezes!

Here's a few pics:
http://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/x40 ... 151550.jpg

[CaptainScott]

Now that is an awesome story! Thanks for sharing and the photos are great!

Scott

[cs3079]

JB,
Great pics of the boat and the family, thanks for sharing them. I'm glad to hear the Sienna worked out fine for you. The tongue extension on the trailer sounds like it made things much easier at the launch. I'll have to give mine a try. I found a couple of boogie boards in the back of the hull of my boat and the kids are raring to give them a try. We'll see how the works out on a sailboat : ).

[jbbkamp]

There's really 2 positions that you can put the tongue extension out. We launched one time with it in its furthest out position with the back tires of the van approx 2' from the water and the other time with it in its middle position and the back tires were in the water. Granted when we retrieved the boat we pretty much just floated it right up to the front stop. Not much cranking needed. It's kinda hard to get the extension to fit back into the "pocket" so we're leaving it partially extended in the dry dock. If your kids are old enough they may enjoy you pulling them behind the sailboat. We pulled our kids in their life jackets this past weekend while we were sailing in a fairly calm breeze. They had a blast. We're headed to Michigan next week and will take either our 9' Hobie Hawk or the Laser along with us. Back to the small boat thing for a few days on Lake Muskegon and Lake Michigan if its relatively calm.

[mcrandall]

Hey, that's my stomping grounds! Enjoy your stay!

[Chrysler20%26]

When you load the c-20 on the trailer, leave the keel down about 20% an the back of the boat will center it's self. Out board must be an extra long shaft, or prop will come out of water in ruff seas. Try sailing your c-20 with 40 mpr winds an 4 to 6 foot waves. You will love it, i did it a lot.

[jbbkamp]

Muskegons a great place...we love staying at the state park there. We enjoy sailing the lake there. My 9yr old daughter took the Hobie Hawk out for the first time by herself there last year. She was hit by the wave of a 36' cabin cruiser that cut right in front of her so she had a rough ride for a moment to say the least, nearly capsized the boat. Those darn incosiderate motor boaters! She thought it was exciting and talked about it for days...like the adventorous side of her.

Secondly, thanks for the suggestion on the keel part way down. I'll remember that trick for next time!

[jbbkamp]

Oh, and regards to the 40mph winds and 4-6' waves. We have the 40mph winds in Iowa, quite certain though Lake Red Rock has never seen the like of a 4-6' wave. When we have 2' waves though they're really choppy! Look forward to stronger winds.

[Alanhod]

The comment was made that it sails like a Cadillac.

I completely agree but since these were made by the Chrysler Corporation maybe we should say they sail like a Chrysler New Yorker.

No your 100% in the right of it, a Cadillac.

Thanks for the report and the photos. Most excellent!

Alan

[jbbkamp]

Good point on the Chrysler New Yorker. In fact I should have thought of that. My teen years we had a 1977 Chrysler New Yorker w/ a 440 (unfortunately no horsepower in the late 70's models). It was longer than the C20 and it road like a boat. Funny how we liken the ride of boat to a car and a car to a boat.

[NYCSAILOR]

the real big boat was a Chrysler Imperial..remember those... it was like a bus..

[jbbkamp]

Imperials that I remember were the early 80's. Just did a Wikipedia search. I thought the 77 New Yorker was long (232") the 73 Imperial was 239". Wow... there's always a bigger fish out there...or car!!! My 08 Impala is 200" and it's a big car today.