Getting ready to tow her home...

LandLocked66c · #1 (**permalink**) 04-02-2010

Got the 4runner ready with a pretty new hitch, wiring, and an ass lift. Here's the before and after. It was a chore putting these springs in, and I had a lift and the right tools. Today reaffirmed to me that i'm glad I chose my current profession over working on other peoples junk! I'll keep it as a hobby, thanks!

Spring comparison...

Before...

After...

We'll be picking the boat up on April 10th if the weather looks good. Can't wait!

LandLocked66c · #2 (**permalink**) 04-03-2010

I went and visited her, i'm STOKED!

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 04-03-2010

Congrats...

Stillraining · #4 (**permalink**) 04-03-2010

One suggestion might be to buy an adjustable height ball for your receiver...it doesnt look like you will have much lee way height wise looking at that low slung trailer.

Congrats by the way.

LandLocked66c · #5 (**permalink**) 04-03-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stillraining

One suggestion might be to buy an adjustable height ball for your receiver...it doesnt look like you will have much lee way height wise looking at that low slung trailer.

Congrats by the way.

Thanks guys! Yes, that is a great idea! That may solve my issue with backing it in to my driveway... Why didn't I think of that? I was showing my Dad how low it was in the back and wondering how I was going to back it in once I get it to the house. I'll pick one up, thanks!

On another note, now that the boat is thawed out. The cabin top is soft as hell! Good thing I can take it off!

I've got my work cut out for me!

LandLocked66c · #6 (**permalink**) 04-12-2010

Well, the springs paid off! It towed great and very little sag at all now, see for yourself.

BarryL · #7 (**permalink**) 04-13-2010

Nice!

My first boat was a Catalina 22. Very similar to your boat, it even had the pop top.

Do you plan on trailer sailing it (launch and recover each time) or keeping it in the water? It was not fun to trailer sail my Catalina. Rigging, launching, recovering and trailering was a real drag. Keeping the boat on a mooring was great. It was 15 minutes from arrival at the marina to motoring out of the harbor.

Good luck,
Barry

Architeuthis · #8 (**permalink**) 04-13-2010

Looks ready to drive across the country. Of course don't forget those little wheel bearings if you do that!

kwaltersmi · #9 (**permalink**) 04-13-2010

Good looking rig! You might consider adding a support for the middle of the mast and the bow (instead of the bowrail) if you plan to do a lot of trailering. I had a 25' trailer-sailer that had the bowrail bent a bit from the mast.

LandLocked66c · #10 (**permalink**) 04-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryL

Nice!

My first boat was a Catalina 22. Very similar to your boat, it even had the pop top.

Do you plan on trailer sailing it (launch and recover each time) or keeping it in the water? It was not fun to trailer sail my Catalina. Rigging, launching, recovering and trailering was a real drag. Keeping the boat on a mooring was great. It was 15 minutes from arrival at the marina to motoring out of the harbor.

Good luck,
Barry

At this point I don't know yet. We stepped the mast before we towed it home to be sure we had all the hardware. Thank god we did that - some had come up missing. It's not an easy job, that's for sure. I will experiment with a home made gin pole in the driveway first. For now there are repairs that need to be done before i'll feel safe sailing this boat. I can't believe some of the shade tree repairs though!!! But we are talking about small lake sailing in Ohio.