Tips for quick set up :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

Tips for quick set up

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ctcataman

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Posted: Apr 20, 2019 - 08:28 PM

I am setting up the Nacra on a trailer. I am looking to make set up as fast as possible, About half time with crew, half solo.. Any tips on this? Will likely us quick pins here and there, the trailer has a winch and gin pole.

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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cholley12

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Posted: Apr 21, 2019 - 04:18 AM

This is how I do my prindle 19 solo. Takes 18 minutes from the time I untie the boat to mast up

https://youtu.be/lz3hbRmy-7w

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Captain Chris Holley
Fulshear, TX
'87 Prindle 19 "¡Hijole!"
'74 sunfish "1fish"
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Andinista

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Posted: Apr 21, 2019 - 11:52 AM

cholley12This is how I do my prindle 19 solo. Takes 18 minutes from the time I untie the boat to mast up

https://youtu.be/lz3hbRmy-7w

I see all great except that tensioning the rig takes you a while. Assumimg that you know in advance in which holes to adjust each stay, i just leave one shroud loose and use the mainsheet to tension the trap wire on that side. For that i attach the mainsheet lower block to a loop of rope around the transom. Not ideal because you don’t have the feeling of the tension applied as when tensioning with your weight. But as said, that has been done before and adjustment holes are already known. Using your weight to tension the rig is something i wouldn’t do solo. The end result is checked with mast rotation anyway.
Andinista

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Posted: Apr 21, 2019 - 12:26 PM

Fast shackles and pins help a lot. I use the following:
- mainsheet lower block: U with fast pin
- mainsheet upper block: hook
- jib blocks: fast shaclkes
- jib halyard: fast shackle
- jib clew(edit: fixed): sister clips
- mast clearance shock cord: plastic hooks each side. (It lasts longer if stored along the mast. (Under the boat cover actually). I also like to store the trap wires along the mast (mast up storage) and use each side of the shock cord to attach each side pair of traps.

Edited by Andinista on Apr 22, 2019 - 07:33 AM.
ctcataman

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 03:31 AM

I looked up what sister clips are. I assume once engaged then loaded they never can disengage, is this correct?

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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Andinista

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 07:21 AM

Yes, even unloaded they are unlikely to disengage. I said jib tack above but meant clew. For the tack I use another fast shackle (U with fast pin). For the clew i use a loop of line with sister clips which stays at the jib when stored. If the loop is not too long it won’t come loose. For the jib head another fast shackle could work too but they are a bit expensive so i just have a stopper knot at that end of the halyard. Other thing that helps is to have a small cord, say 10” or less, to attach the zipper car to the stay adjuster and hold it down when hoisting the jib.

Edited by Andinista on Apr 22, 2019 - 07:23 AM.
badfish

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 07:51 AM

Its all pretty straight forward to speed up the process. Quick pins, sister clips, etc.
Just make sure you're not speeding up at the cost of safety. So often I see people speeding through the process and then having to put the boat on its side because they forgot simple things like making sure the rigging isn't twisted. It takes what it takes. Go too fast and you'll find out what you forgot on the water.

Edited by badfish on Apr 22, 2019 - 07:52 AM.

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Joshua

Texas Gulf Coast
'82 Prindle 16 (Badfish)
'02 Hobie Wave (Unnamed Project)
‘87 Hobie 18 (Sold)
‘89 Hobie 17 (ill-advised project boat, Sold)
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MN3

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 09:30 AM

Quote- jib blocks: fast shaclkes

Andinista : do you take your jib blocks off the boat when not in use?
I would say most if not all sailors around here leave the jib sheets and blocks on the boat all the time

Word about quick pins: i have seen many seize up when left attached - i find it is best to remove when not in use (esp in tiller extensions)

I am NOT a fan of quick pins in critical locations - as a matter of fact - i stopped using them altogether. the only place i would use one now is my goose-neck and i really can handle 1 more ring-ding

The biggest time saver i find is to trailer backwards - makes stepping and dropping the mast much faster and easier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEHWujFuDsQ

the second speed factor is to avoid distraction: people will always want to talk and distract me while i rig - it will double my rigging time and present a better chance of forgetting something

another way to speed things up is to go to a Polynesian turnbuckle; you adjust your entire rig tension via securing the turnbuckle.

alos - soft shackles on sail clews makes for fast attachment and removal

hooks are great for top main blocks but f18's and up may find they bend with heavy use - if you use these- get the bigger ones - last thing you want is your upper blocks in your lap when it's blowing 20+

Edited by MN3 on Apr 22, 2019 - 09:33 AM.
Andinista

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 10:00 AM

MN3
Quote- jib blocks: fast shaclkes

Andinista : do you take your jib blocks off the boat when not in use?
I would say most if not all sailors around here leave the jib sheets and blocks on the boat all the time

The boat is normally on a lake, stored mast up. There I leave the jib sheets always on and keep the mainsheet on only while I'm there and take it out when I go back home.

When I go to the beach I take both sheets out even to go for lunch, that's where the fast shackles pay off.

MN3
Word about quick pins: i have seen many seize up when left attached - i find it is best to remove when not in use (esp in tiller extensions)

I am NOT a fan of quick pins in critical locations - as a matter of fact - i stopped using them altogether. the only place i would use one now is my goose-neck and i really can handle 1 more ring-ding

I take all of them off. Sometimes at the beginning of the season they need some lubrication and work fine until next season.

I wouldn't use a quick pin on the standing rigging.
Other than that, I removed all rings that are used frequently. They got under my nails too often.

Edited by Andinista on Apr 22, 2019 - 10:08 AM.
MN3

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 10:50 AM

QuoteThe boat is normally on a lake, stored mast up. There I leave the jib sheets always on and keep the mainsheet on only while I'm there and take it out when I go back home.

When I go to the beach I take both sheets out even to go for lunch, that's where the fast shackles pay off.

Gotcha

Edited by MN3 on Apr 22, 2019 - 10:56 AM.
samc99us

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 04:04 PM

Soft shackles. 3mm dyneema. Easy to make; you don't need to tie a proper diamond knot, a really good granny knot will hold fine-my trap lines are attached to my rig in this manner, hold up great. Faster than a ring and MUCH cheaper than quick release shackles.
nohuhu

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Posted: Apr 22, 2019 - 06:32 PM

badfish...Just make sure you're not speeding up at the cost of safety. So often I see people speeding through the process and then having to put the boat on its side because they forgot simple things like making sure the rigging isn't twisted. It takes what it takes. Go too fast and you'll find out what you forgot on the water.Edited by badfish on Apr 22, 2019 - 07:52 AM.

The ONLY thing I hate more than being rushed to get on the water is launching in the shallows only to find out the main blocks are twisted, or the traveler line is reversed, or the jib blocks aren't shackled, or the bungs aren't tightened or I have to pee,..

OK, that's several things. And the list goes on.

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Prindle 18
96734
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Andinista

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Posted: Apr 23, 2019 - 07:12 AM

Yes, but what about wife complaining that you take too long..
MN3

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Posted: Apr 23, 2019 - 08:13 AM

QuoteYes, but what about wife complaining that you take too long..

Rigging a 30' mast over cars and people can be stressful - very stressful if someone is "riding you"

I have told many couples to let the wife (or girlfriend) to go get some coffee and come back in an hour
it will eliminate a lot of stress for both the man and woman and give the day a much better chance of starting off fun (or at least not angry)

Edited by MN3 on Apr 23, 2019 - 08:17 AM.
Andinista

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Posted: Apr 23, 2019 - 10:13 AM

I like your optimism

Edited by Andinista on Apr 23, 2019 - 10:14 AM.
MN3

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Posted: Apr 23, 2019 - 10:25 AM

haha
My x used to say Spinnaker was a 4 letter word

and any time i tried to pull it out she would start to use 4 letter words

i.e. take (me) home
nofearofflying

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Posted: May 03, 2019 - 08:13 PM

the 18 minute man Cholley 1 2 has an open invite to sail with us. Usually we only have to put up our masts once a summer because we moor our boats. same true for me on Lake Emerald in Ft Lauderdale Fla up in nov down in late March, unless storms wreak havoc. Dont underdo tie downs to trailer, 2 trips from NY to Ft Lauderdale without a mishap proved safety first is a must. I also believe in masts with safety bolts at bottom to definitely engage them when raising masts. Jib blocks kept on if riveted into tracks but i always removed them from my cats that werent riveted in( prindle 16s, nacra 5.7, Dart 18s) Sister clips used on jib line prindle 16s, and the guy from the mid west who sold me my N5.2 used a quick pin on forestay -the first big gust over 25 knots that hit me sailing the cat in March from Bay Shore over to fire Island brought the mast down! thank goodness for cell phones(now have water proof device on board) & coast guard
car_guy

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Posted: May 03, 2019 - 11:39 PM

I took MN3’s advice years ago and put cat on trailer backwards, it really does help getting the mast up so much quicker. Just slide it into place, pin it and it’s at a great angle sitting on trailer support to get under and lift it up. Even better if you can find a nice downward slope where it will stand up freely while you jump down and connect the forstay.
cholley12

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Registered: Feb 28, 2018

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Posted: May 04, 2019 - 07:45 PM

nofearofflyingthe 18 minute man Cholley 1 2 has an open invite to sail with us. Usually we only have to put up our masts once a summer because we moor our boats. same true for me on Lake Emerald in Ft Lauderdale Fla up in nov down in late March, unless storms wreak havoc. Dont underdo tie downs to trailer, 2 trips from NY to Ft Lauderdale without a mishap proved safety first is a must. I also believe in masts with safety bolts at bottom to definitely engage them when raising masts. Jib blocks kept on if riveted into tracks but i always removed them from my cats that werent riveted in( prindle 16s, nacra 5.7, Dart 18s) Sister clips used on jib line prindle 16s, and the guy from the mid west who sold me my N5.2 used a quick pin on forestay -the first big gust over 25 knots that hit me sailing the cat in March from Bay Shore over to fire Island brought the mast down! thank goodness for cell phones(now have water proof device on board) & coast guard

Any time bro we had the boats out Wednesday in 25-30 gusting to 35 on clearlake near NASA in Texas. The boat was scooting. We reached into the mid 20's

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Captain Chris Holley
Fulshear, TX
'87 Prindle 19 "¡Hijole!"
'74 sunfish "1fish"
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martyr

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Posted: May 05, 2019 - 02:20 AM

car_guyI took MN3’s advice years ago and put cat on trailer backwards, it really does help getting the mast up so much quicker. Just slide it into place, pin it and it’s at a great angle sitting on trailer support to get under and lift it up. Even better if you can find a nice downward slope where it will stand up freely while you jump down and connect the forstay.

I'm gonna have to try this method. So, I usually trailer with rudders on. If I trailer backwards, should I take my rudders off, or leave them on?

Edited by martyr on May 05, 2019 - 02:22 AM.

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Marty
1984 Hobie 16 Redline Yellow Nationals, "Yellow Fever"
Opelika, Al / Lake Martin
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