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NeilHargreaves
8 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Feb 2003 : 23:52:00
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Hi all,
I'm contemplating buying a Laser Stratos, keel version, shortly, but wondered if anyone had any experience of dry sailing or trailor sailing with this boat - how easy is it to launch and recover from a typical slip, with say two adults to do the work?
I'd appreciate any comments on experience that anyone might have. The main reason for asking is that I'm having difficulty finding a suitable berth or mooring in the Chichester harbour area, with reasonably easy access from where I live - so I'm considering the options. But if any one has any info on berthing etc in that area, that would also be very welcome.
Thanks,
Neil Hargreaves
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JimWhite
22 Posts |
Posted - 10 Feb 2003 : 15:29:31
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2 people is enough to handle a Keel version up and down a slipway. I have no problems.
Jim
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BrianPearson
22 Posts |
Posted - 10 Feb 2003 : 21:01:50
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| No problems with two people. I have a mooring but could not face leaving her on the exposed drying mooring, so I dry sailed from the dinghy park with no problem. |
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NeilHargreaves
8 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2003 : 02:15:40
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Hi,
Thanks for the replies - very encouraging.
I talked to the manufacturers a few days ago in fact and they said that they now include a winch as standard, on the road trailer I believe. I was wondering what the technique is - do you back the road trailer half-way down the slip, then use the winch to either lower or raise the boat and trolley?
When I said "two adults" - OK, I did mean human adults, as you seem to have assumed - but I actually meant myself and my wife, who are not particularly strong humans. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that I won't be heading to Boots to buy a new truss after every sail!
Any comments anyone?
Cheers,
Neil Hargreaves |
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BrianPearson
22 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2003 : 21:38:55
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Stop worrying about getting up and down the slip. Honest, I remember I was concerned but it is not a problem.
In practice you roll the boat on its trolley off the trailer base. I guess it is important to have a third wheel, ie a jockey wheel at the front which fits the trailer or the trolley.
Roll the boat off with the trailer still attached to the car on level ground.
Then simply roll the boat on its trolley into the water. She will float of no trouble.
For recovering I always ensured the trolley was positioned over the concrete area of the slip, and not on the shingle beach.
Just needs a good push with two, three is really easy.
regards
Brian
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TimLeaman
2 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2003 : 18:50:31
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Hi Neil
Launching and recovery is very easy (as the other resonses say). To launch (on a fairly flat area) we simply take the boat and launching trolly off the road trailer and wheel it to the water. To load again, we usually use the winch to wind the launching trolly on.
If the area is steep (i.e. a slipway) we do the same as above but we lower the launching trolly off the road trailer with the winch, other wise the weight of the boat could run away with you!
Tim
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MarkKeith
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2003 : 14:58:10
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Hi,
I keep my Stratos Keel on the trolley at my sailing club and therefore do not have use of the roadbase and winch for launching/recovery. It is a bit of a handful on much of a gradient with just my wife and I, particularly if we have our two small children to oversee at the same time. To overcome this I have fitted a galvanised assembly and removable drawbar to the trolley. This allows the trolley to be attached to the car for easy manoeuvrability and launching/recovery up the steepest slipways. On a steepish slipway it can be launched without having to wade in to more than wellie depth! Furthermore, with the drawbar quickly removed the trolley can still be rolled onto the roadbase with the assembly still in place. I can now launch and recover the boat single handed in any conditions whilst my wife looks after the kids.
The system would be equally effective with a centreboard version but is particularly suited to the heavier keel boat. If you would like to know how it is done just send me an e-mail.
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How easy is the Laser Stratos Keel to launch/recover?
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