Splash! (and lessons learned)

[tgentry]

We pulled Copacetic up to Madison, WI yesterday and put her in Lake Mendota for the first time. We launched at Marshal Park, which went well thanks to our trailer's tongue extension.

Although we had very little wind we were sailing on a beautiful day and really enjoyed it. The boat worked as expected except for some motor overheating which may have been due to weeds clogging the intake. I'll look into that more to make sure we don't have an impellor problem.

I didn't know it yet, but the channel leading to and from the launches shallows fast away from center. On our way back in I moved over to give a boat coming out room. I unlocked the rudder, just in case. The rudder hit bottom and hit the prop. I shifted to neutral immediately but we were in a tough spot, unable to steer properly or use the motor and drifting towards rocks. Luckily the soft bottom stopped our drift and gave us time to ponder our predicament.

We were able to push away from the rocks with a boat hook, and then back up with me holding the motor partially tilted so that the Admiral could steer us into deeper water. End result: No damage to boat or family (I wasn't the first one to hit the rudder with the prop) and we "learned" what we already knew, the motor and retracted rudder interfere making both useless.

1 - I'm considering some sort of block to lock the motor in a partially tilted position for shallow maneuvers. Has anyone done that?

2 - We're working out ways to streamline our setup and takedown procedure. Although we didn't buy the boat for daysailing, I think we can get it under an hour.

3 - The mast carriers I made worked well but I'm already planning some improvements including a bow roller on the stern carrier to make the mast easier to move back and forth.

4 - I'm planning some stops on the tongue extension to make it more user friendly to deploy.

It was a good day, with just a little "adventure" near the end.

[EmergencyExit]

Excellent !

(I wasn't the first one to hit the rudder with the prop)

No you weren't. And you won't be the last either.

[thepartydog]

During the current refit, I had to reshape the tip of my rudder. I thought about going ahead and shaping in prop sized gashes.

[Sailfrog]

>4 - I'm planning some stops on the tongue extension to make it more user >friendly to deploy.

Mine has a easy stop in it. Someone put it in there already, and it works well. Just move the extension to it's full extended length (or where the pin and hole line up), put the pin in, then drill an additional hole vertically in the tongue extension right at the back of the fixed frame member.

When you're ready to extend the tongue just pull the horizontal pin and drop into the vertical hole you drilled. Pull the tongue out 'til the new pin hits the frame and stops the extension. Your two holes should be lined up; just reinsert the pin and back it into the water.

Dan

[Chrysler20%26]

My outboards have a shallow water drive bar. For vary slow trolling speeds in shallow water. On the C-20 & Mac.25 I can steer with the outboard. The steering fricton screw on my chr. 12hp 280, has the steering locked up. I could not get the screw to turn, so I drilled it out, But the motor will not turn.

[dennis knudson]

Tom, I read your description of your first launch. Not to worry. That boat has touched bottom many times and weathered tem all. I repaired the rudder 3 times over the years and had the prop straightened at least that many times. Avoid bottom as much as you can but but don't stop sailing.
fair winds to you
Dennis

[tgentry]

Sailfrog, I had a bit of trouble understanding your description until I realized that your extension is partially outside the main frame member. Mine is completely enclosed. So while that's a great idea, it won't quite work for me.

Currently I'm thinking of a simple stop on the extension for putting it in. For coming out I might install a chain that will stop it at the required point.

[Bhacurly]

Morning!

My Catalina trailer has a tongue extension I thought I'd share. The forward end goes on the truck stinger as usual. The back end has another ball a couple feet from the end for the trailer receiver, and the very end has a couple tangs that bolt up from below and clamp the end.

I haven't used it yet myself, but the PO said it makes backing more controlled, as the only pivot point is at the truck stinger...

Oh Oh,,, Found out I can attach picts using my Kodak Gallery acct... Cool! You can see the extension here just above the wheels and below the keel... May be a simple build or mod if you have the means. I can get better picts if you want them...