My Checklist
I created this list two years ago when I was selling a boat (for the new owner). I am am wondering if others have check lists for their dinghy
Before leaving
Life jacket PFD
Sails
Rigging
Rudder
plug the boat
sun screen
check tire pressure (trailer)
Hitching the boat up.
Latch the coupler to the trailer
Wrap chain around car
Plug in the trailer lights
Check the straps to see that the boat is secure to the trailer.
If you haven't driven a trailer before... remember you need to make a bigger arch in making turns.
At the launch
I find it best to find a spot, if possible where you can park the car/boat where you have a straight back up
[Turn right to make boat go left]
Keep the strap on while you rig the boat (this creates some security)
Same with the connection at the bow (front) of the boat.
Probably good to put the plugs in now, just to make sure.
The reason why the ends of the stays (fasteners) are in a baggy is because when you tow the boat they have a tendency to come un screwed... I never had them come apart in the boat... but if they did you would need to do some searching...
Make sure the Fasteners (screws with wing nuts) are off, and in your pocket or the hands of your helper.
{The mast has some flex, that you can use to connect the stays - by leaning against the mast}
Connect the boom and make sure it isn't tangled up.
At this point you will want to pull up the keel, or snug it up as much as possible, so you won't get hung up on the trailer
Mast up, seat it.
Then fasten either the left or right, then do the other side.
Using the Halyard (rope that raises the sail) --- holding both ends ---- you can go to the bow of the boat. By pulling the halyard you can flex the mast to the front, give you some room to connect to the bow.
Check all the connections and screws. You want it tight, but not too tight.
Now disconnect the strap and make sure the bow line is out of the way, but easy to grab when you are in the water.
Mast up, plugs plugged, time to back up
You have to make some compromises with your ramp/boat/car. If the ramp is steep, you don't have to get the back of the car too far, before the boat will float off the trailer.
I found it better to not put the sails up until I was in the water.. I had the ability to pull over to a sandy area out of the way... you might have a dock of some sort.
This is as good a time as any to make sure you are ready to sail. if you are bring a phone.. is it in a dry bag? bailing bucket attached; Pdf on or in the boat;
Without the sails connected, you have one less thing to worry about when backing up.
The more you can float the boat -- the more you can get the keel off the frame.
In the water: disconnect the winch. Float the boat out of the way.
Move your trailer out of the way.
Rigging
There isn't a set order, but at the end I am going to list things that needed to be done
Take the jib line and make sure it is outside the side stays and through the blocks.
Until you are sailing, you want the sails to be loose
Run the MainSail up the mast. Until I was ready to go, I didn't cleat it to the end of the boom.
Run up the Jib sail, you can connect it to the Jib line at this time as well.
Attach the rudder to the stern and cotter pin it secure. If you are in shallow water the and keel
When you are ready to move, push out and panic... serious, don't panic, but you kind of have to get three things going at once. You can use the Jib to power the boat, but if you can keep the boat pointed into the wind. You can drop the keel and rudder so you can steer. And cleat the main in the back... if you get that done, then add the jib, it is easier..
Every thing is secure
Plugs in,
Rudder/tiller connected to the stern (and secured with the pin)
Rudderer dropped in the water
Keel dropped in the water
Sails up and the halyards out of the way.
Sailing
There are many things, but the main thing is to be ready to un-cleat the lines at any time.
Second is to make sure the lines are free to move, so when you un-cleat them
Coming in
You want to end facing the wind.
Un-cleat the sails.
Lift the keel, then the rudder
Once at the dock/beach, drop the sails... (Often when I am alone, I drop the sails when I am about 20 feet out and paddle in - less worries about stopping)
(You can worry about folding them neatly later when you lay them out on a lawn)
On to the trailer
This is a little easier.
Without the boat on the trailer I would get it close and lift it up and move it straight. (I found it harder to back up the trailer empty, just because it was harder to see which way it was going.)
You don't really need to have it that far into the water/ramp because with the winch you can crank it onto the boat. I find patience at this point the best... Getting the boat straight on the trailer keeps it secure.
Also, even if you didn't lift the keel it will drag over the trailer.
Once out in the launch area, put the strap on it so it will be secure when yo climb on it
Empty the boat, so when you hop in you aren't stumbling over anything.
Un-attach the fasteners. I found putting a bundgee along the bottom to keep the stays from flopping to be helpful. Seat the mast on the trailer and back up the end of the stays and wrap the stays to the mast. Secure it to the boat and trailer.
Unplug the plugs so any water that is in the boat will drain as you drive.
-----------------
In storing the... Doesn't hurt to store it with the bow higher than the stern to drain... even covered sometimes water gets in.
If you are leaving the trailer and worry about someone stealing it, you can lock it, but make sure the clamp is closed so they can't put it on a hitch
Probably better to un-cleat the keel, it would reduce the stress on the line that holds it up.
I found when the wind was a steady 12-15 mph to be the best sailing conditions. However for your son's sake, maybe your first time out 5-10 so you can easy into it... at 15+ and above it is pretty exciting.
I created this list two years ago when I was selling a boat (for the new owner). I am am wondering if others have check lists for their dinghy
Checklists
Before leaving
Life jacket PFD
Sails
Rigging
Rudder
plug the boat
sun screen
check tire pressure (trailer)
Hitching the boat up.
Latch the coupler to the trailer
Wrap chain around car
Plug in the trailer lights
Check the straps to see that the boat is secure to the trailer.
If you haven't driven a trailer before... remember you need to make a bigger arch in making turns.
At the launch
I find it best to find a spot, if possible where you can park the car/boat where you have a straight back up
[Turn right to make boat go left]
Keep the strap on while you rig the boat (this creates some security)
Same with the connection at the bow (front) of the boat.
Probably good to put the plugs in now, just to make sure.
The reason why the ends of the stays (fasteners) are in a baggy is because when you tow the boat they have a tendency to come un screwed... I never had them come apart in the boat... but if they did you would need to do some searching...
Make sure the Fasteners (screws with wing nuts) are off, and in your pocket or the hands of your helper.
{The mast has some flex, that you can use to connect the stays - by leaning against the mast}
Connect the boom and make sure it isn't tangled up.
At this point you will want to pull up the keel, or snug it up as much as possible, so you won't get hung up on the trailer
Mast up, seat it.
Then fasten either the left or right, then do the other side.
Using the Halyard (rope that raises the sail) --- holding both ends ---- you can go to the bow of the boat. By pulling the halyard you can flex the mast to the front, give you some room to connect to the bow.
Check all the connections and screws. You want it tight, but not too tight.
Now disconnect the strap and make sure the bow line is out of the way, but easy to grab when you are in the water.
Mast up, plugs plugged, time to back up
You have to make some compromises with your ramp/boat/car. If the ramp is steep, you don't have to get the back of the car too far, before the boat will float off the trailer.
I found it better to not put the sails up until I was in the water.. I had the ability to pull over to a sandy area out of the way... you might have a dock of some sort.
This is as good a time as any to make sure you are ready to sail. if you are bring a phone.. is it in a dry bag? bailing bucket attached; Pdf on or in the boat;
Without the sails connected, you have one less thing to worry about when backing up.
The more you can float the boat -- the more you can get the keel off the frame.
In the water: disconnect the winch. Float the boat out of the way.
Move your trailer out of the way.
Rigging
There isn't a set order, but at the end I am going to list things that needed to be done
Take the jib line and make sure it is outside the side stays and through the blocks.
Until you are sailing, you want the sails to be loose
Run the MainSail up the mast. Until I was ready to go, I didn't cleat it to the end of the boom.
Run up the Jib sail, you can connect it to the Jib line at this time as well.
Attach the rudder to the stern and cotter pin it secure. If you are in shallow water the and keel
When you are ready to move, push out and panic... serious, don't panic, but you kind of have to get three things going at once. You can use the Jib to power the boat, but if you can keep the boat pointed into the wind. You can drop the keel and rudder so you can steer. And cleat the main in the back... if you get that done, then add the jib, it is easier..
Every thing is secure
Plugs in,
Rudder/tiller connected to the stern (and secured with the pin)
Rudderer dropped in the water
Keel dropped in the water
Sails up and the halyards out of the way.
Sailing
There are many things, but the main thing is to be ready to un-cleat the lines at any time.
Second is to make sure the lines are free to move, so when you un-cleat them
Coming in
You want to end facing the wind.
Un-cleat the sails.
Lift the keel, then the rudder
Once at the dock/beach, drop the sails... (Often when I am alone, I drop the sails when I am about 20 feet out and paddle in - less worries about stopping)
(You can worry about folding them neatly later when you lay them out on a lawn)
On to the trailer
This is a little easier.
Without the boat on the trailer I would get it close and lift it up and move it straight. (I found it harder to back up the trailer empty, just because it was harder to see which way it was going.)
You don't really need to have it that far into the water/ramp because with the winch you can crank it onto the boat. I find patience at this point the best... Getting the boat straight on the trailer keeps it secure.
Also, even if you didn't lift the keel it will drag over the trailer.
Once out in the launch area, put the strap on it so it will be secure when yo climb on it
Empty the boat, so when you hop in you aren't stumbling over anything.
Un-attach the fasteners. I found putting a bundgee along the bottom to keep the stays from flopping to be helpful. Seat the mast on the trailer and back up the end of the stays and wrap the stays to the mast. Secure it to the boat and trailer.
Unplug the plugs so any water that is in the boat will drain as you drive.
-----------------
In storing the... Doesn't hurt to store it with the bow higher than the stern to drain... even covered sometimes water gets in.
If you are leaving the trailer and worry about someone stealing it, you can lock it, but make sure the clamp is closed so they can't put it on a hitch
Probably better to un-cleat the keel, it would reduce the stress on the line that holds it up.
I found when the wind was a steady 12-15 mph to be the best sailing conditions. However for your son's sake, maybe your first time out 5-10 so you can easy into it... at 15+ and above it is pretty exciting.