by GreenLake » Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:45 pm
The secret to loading my DS on a trailer with both bunks and rollers was to
a) have roller that is wide with a notch in the middle
b) lower it so that the bunks take over once the front part of the keel is past
c) immerse the trailer until the rear roller just breaks the surface
Retrieval consists of
1) getting the bow to engage the notch in the roller.
2) pulling the bow past the roller, which will guide the keel, for a few feet
3) using the roller as a pivot to straighten the boat
4) pulling the boat up onto the next roller
5) connecting the winch and winching her home
Roller #2 from the rear is set to just touch the hull (keeps the CB up).
The rear roller is 2-3" below the hull when the boat rests on the bunks.
This configuration and process works well for me, and doesn't require any one to go into the water, so great for winter sailing. The trick of lowering the rear roller didn't occur to me right away, but it seems to make a crucial difference. If it's too high, the boat will (un-)happily roll off the rollers in any sideways direction, whereas now it slides along the bunks in a straight line.
Having a roller mainly has the function of tracking the bow (where the keel has a sharp V section) and the use of the rear roller as a pivot is great in lining up the boat. Works in the presence of moderate side wind/current as well, although I often lead a line from a stern cleat to someone on the beach as backup.
Waves and wakes can interfere, by lifting and shifting the boat.
For an
~ green ~ lake ~ ~