Small Sailboat Cruising's video: Boat trailer setup for a trailer sailer Peace of mind on the road

You know that feeling when the time arrives and you are heading out for a session on the water. For peace of mind while on the road, I have been thinking about my boat trailer setup for a trailer sailer. For me, it is a bit of a rush sometimes, so I have been working on some routines and a checklist so I don’t forget anything that could result in roadside recovery. 00:00 Setting out 00:57 Fitting the rear tiedown strap 02:04 Fitting the front tiedown strap 02:32 Securing the outboard 03:47 Attaching the safety chain You might be looking forward to retirement, expecting more time enjoying your passions such as your family and even sailing. Still, when you get to the “final quarter”, things like heart health, joint pain and cognitive issues tend to restrict or even derail your plans. By purchasing here it won't cost you any more, and I get a small commission to help me keep on pumping out the videos. If you are searching for answers, try this. https://seaweed.ph/ref/1/ I am going to walk you through as I prepare for my next trip. I am heading out with a young couple who are keen to learn how to sail. We are going to sail from Mooloolooba to Mudjimba Island. The weather is looking perfect for the first time and novice sailors tomorrow morning. I am getting prepared the day before so I can take my time and get everything ready. Securing the boat to the trailer properly eliminates one of the main causes of many unscheduled stops by the side of the road. Once the load has shifted it is sometimes a challenge to get it back in good shape. The rear strap needs to be a heavy-duty one. The beautiful lines of our trailer sailers create difficult shapes to secure in a way that tie-downs remain tight for the entire journey. Keep the strap tail short, because flapping tapes are a sure-fire way to strip off layers of paint. My bow tiedown is not as heavy as the one on the stern. I did have an occasion where the bow of the boat jumped out of the VEE block, as I was coming through Maryborough. I have used a forward tie-down strap ever since. I trailer with the outboard on the boat, so it is most important to tie the motor up so no load is placed on the outboard bracket which protects the transom. The wobble rollers are not designed to carry the load, rather they are there to guide the boat onto the trailer. The majority of the weight of the boat is carried on the keel. I have lifted the wobble rollers so that any load transfer to the rear of the trailer will be supported. This prevents the bow from lifting, which is further assisted by the front tiedown strap. Keep the safety chain as short as possible, so that if the front of the boat does move, it can’t go far, and it cant jump of the stop vee-block or roller. The winch cable is attached and tightened firmly, but cables and straps often relax in transit so this form of attachment is secondary to the tie-downs, and shouldn’t be relied on to keep things in place. As part of my final walk around, I make sure there is nothing loose in the cockpit (such as the mat shown here) that could potentially fly out and land on the highway. Securing the mast can be a challenge because of the awkward shapes, so I have made up a little cradle that is lashed on at the bow. At the stern, I have made an extension support that is helpful in raising the mast. I will talk about that in future tips and tricks about raising and lowering the mast. Keep an eye open for the next video, about tomorrows sailing adventure where I take a young couple out into the Coral Sea via the Mooloolah River bar. Zac has been with me before and he will be keen to impress his girlfriend Mae who has never stepped foot in a sailboat before. It is sure to be a fun-packed day. I have shared with you my methods and systems, and I put a checklist I created in the description of this video it is not complete but does cover most things that need attention. I never stop learning so I will be interested in your wisdom and experience. Every boat and every trailer is different. Depending on where you live the regulations will vary, so the best advice I can give you is to pay a visit to your local boat dealer who will have a lot of experience with every kind of boat and can advise you on local regulations. Mozart is a 40-year-old fiberglass trailer sailer. The building, restoring, and most of all sailing realistic affordable sailboats www.facebook.com/groups/sailingbeat/ https://sailingmoonlight.com https://www.patreon.com/sailingmoonlight Follow Christophers Adventures in Moonlight on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopherjsly www.linkedin.com/in/christophersly Get Updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dinghymoonlight https://www.facebook.com/groups/sailingbeat