Trailering a sailboat

[Faster]

If I remember correctly the SJ24 keel is slightly angled at the bottom.. It may need wedging to be properly supported with the boat level, though a slight bow down attitude likely won't be a real problem (except for cockpit drainage if it rains) You're in for a fairly long drive, on some potentially bumpy roads so you'll need to secure the boat properly, and try to make for minimum windage.

Here's a link to someone's site that did this.. with pics - maybe will be helpful. (They used a lift to put it on the trailer)

Brushfire Comes Home

[FSJDan]

ahhhhhh...
Thanks very much for the pics on brushfire. I wish I had seen them a few weeks ago. The trailer we got made, from pics on the internet and the owner's manual has two support post's on each side holding up the 'bunk'. I wish we had pads, and may well modify the trailer once it's home.
the gin pole idea is great. I made some phone calls tonight to enlist some muscle, so with the gin poles, we might get it tomorrow, then drive home on thursday.
Two more questions before I hit the sack, a gentleman who stopped by while we were struggling said (when asked), that he just unhooked the roller furler from the deck, and once the mast was down bungee corded it to the mast. Any comments?
I plan to (once the mast is down) build 'A' frames for the front and back and a little upright for over the cabin to support the mast.
As well, I have a bunch of 2" ratchet straps that I will tie down the boat with, one over the cockpit, one over the front of the cabin, and maybe one angled frontwards from the back of the keel.
The straps should be snug (and padded), but not too tight, right?
Thanks all

[Faster]

The furler extrusion/forestay will be slightly longer than the mast, so you may need to support the extra length.

The supports you describe for transport should work fine... keep your bridge clearance down as low as possible.

Straps should be fairly snug, and put a twist or two in them between the deck and the trailer.. this will prevent the straps from violently snapping and vibrating at highway speeds.

[zz4gta]

I used the main halyard and the boom to help raise and lower mine. We can do it with 2 people using a 4:1 purchase lashed to the traveler track and the bridle on the boom. Keep the masthead shrouds attached at the deck, leave the forestay on.

Tighten the purchase to ease load on backstay, loosen turn buckles for back stay, disconnect backstay. Start easing your 4:1 purchase and the mast tilts forward. Have your buddy make sure the boom doesn't fall off to one side or the other. The shrouds being attached to mast keep it from going sideways, and check to make sure the wind is fore or aft, and not on your beam. Goes up just as easy.

[FSJDan]

Hi Everyone;
Well, we got the boat on the trailer, and the mast down.
I'm pretty bushed. The mast started well, but turned into a semi-controlled fall, luckily into the water, and not bouncing off of anything hard. For future reference, if some hydraulics aren't available, I think the idea of using the boom will work just right (if the boom vang hadn't been taken off, I would have used it, and luckily, I'm not kicking myself right now for not taking the time to hook it back up...).
Anyway, I'm posting some picture links. The boat is on the trailer, I'll put some more 2" straps on it (somehow forgot the other straps when going to the boat launch), will make some supports for the mast, with a little support for the roller furler at the aft end, take off the outboard, check the wheel studs, and pin it for FSJ @ noon. Well, I think I'll stop in Prince George for the night.
Towing that boat is pretty unnerving, it seems not too stable. Have to keep reminding myself that half the weight is in the keel. But still, I'll be driving fairly slow.
Any comments appreciated, and thanks everyone for the input.
Cheers

http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...30162Large.jpg

[Hartley18]

Well done, FSJ!

..oh, and nice trailer too. It looks to me like everything is where it should be.

Don't be too hard on yourself towing it - in a month or three you'll get used to the feeling of being closely followed by a whale.

Cameron

[Faster]

Looks good, Dan

From the pics its hard to tell if you put those twists into the main over-the-boat strap... They'll be better behaved if you do (at highway speeds).

It will be a long drive! We towed a Martin 242 from the Kootenays to just past Vancouver a few years back.. at least you shouldn't have too many "switchback" turns.

[FSJDan]

Well, Thanks, everyone. I made it home alright, the boat is still on the trailer, and doesn't have any obvious damage. Thanks a lot for all the help over the last few days.