Loose flotation blocks in Minifish
I have a 1977 Minifish, and I think the foam floatation blocks have come loose in the forward part of the hull.? I can hear something thumping around when I tilt the boat back and forth, and the deck seems to flex more when I press it.
This raises a few questions:
(1)? Is it feasible to re-attach the blocks through an inspection port, without peeling apart the hull?? If so, are there instructions available, or at least a recommended type of adhesive?
(2)? Does anyone know whether the blocks are in the same positions in the Minifish as the Sunfish, as shown in the two links below?
(3)? Where would be a good location to put an inspection port for this job?
|
Re: Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
Should have known you'd be causing problems Keith :)
--
Cheers
Clark and Skipper
Our blog
Our book?
|
Re: Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
I envy those of you who discovered sailing early.? I spent me youth working on fishing boats and never had any time for hobbies.? Nevertheless at 73 I sailed for the first time and I am making up for missing out in my youth.? While I will never be what
I consider?a “good” sailor I can now get out, get back and keep it upright ….most of the time.? I get out there two to three days a week and love it!
Mr Mike
I too grew up sailing on Lake Michigan in the 1950's. I built a Sailfish kit and launched it from Wilmette (north of Chicago). I was 16 years old at the time and learned to sail by trial and error (mostly error). One time a friend and I were sailing about
a mile from shore when the Sailfish capsized. We quickly righted the boat. However, someone on shore spotted the capsize and called the Coast Guard. About 20 minutes later the Coast Guard appeared and royally chewed us out for being so far from shore and without
PFD's. They escorted us back to shore. Those were the good old days.
Keith Judson
On 5/31/2020 12:16 PM, Mark Kastel wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thank you for posting and I found the additional comments interesting.
?
Growing up sailing Sunfish in a junior program, on Lake Michigan north of Chicago, in the mid-late 1960s and into the 1970s, was a hell of a lot different
than kids getting involved in the Optimist programs today. Although we were very competitive I think there was less emphasis on winning. I was competitive and did well as a junior but we didn't have coaches, the parents were
never around and we gained a lot of independence. Our instructors were, generally, college students. Just like in Boy Scouts those young folks gained invaluable skill by teaching us (and herding cats).
?
We rode our bicycles down to the beach (we had little lockers that were long enough for the Sunfish spars and you could just jam in your rudder, daggerboard
and mainsheet. We wore our PFTs while we rode our bikes :-). There were hundreds of Sunfish, literally, on the racks. We had wheels that jammed into the daggerboard slot to get them down to the water's edge.
?
Our "junior fleet," Winnetka Yacht Club, was three days a week. But we often went out and had "unofficial races" on the other two and we raced with
the seniors on the weekends (both Saturday and Sunday and three days during holidays). The club turned out a number of champions, including Scott Kyle and two towns down the road, Wilmette, came up with Bob Finley. At Winnetka my first instructor was Major
Hall (won the North Americans in 1972) and the top dog in the senior fleet was Don Bergman (according to the Sunfish Bible he finished in every position at the North Americans, in the top 10, with the exception of first). They were both not only fine sailors
but sweet and gentle men and excellent role models for independent kid learning to sail.
?
In my humble opinion, the Sunfish is still an ideal boat for a kid to learn to sail on because of its self-rescue nature and how well it performs and
heavy wind.
?
Happy days,
?
Mark
?
?
Mark A. Kastel
Kastel@...
608-625-2042
?
?
There’s something about sailing that makes it quite unlike other sports. More than just skill and strategy, it teaches certain values that shape sailors into the unique athletes that they are.
Yet, we’re often so focused on the physical aspects of sailing that we forget how much we stand to gain from the sport – both socially and emotionally. So here’s a list of the top 10 socio-emotional benefits of sailing
|
Re: Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
I too grew up sailing on Lake Michigan in the 1950's. I built a
Sailfish kit and launched it from Wilmette (north of Chicago). I
was 16 years old at the time and learned to sail by trial and
error (mostly error). One time a friend and I were sailing about a
mile from shore when the Sailfish capsized. We quickly righted the
boat. However, someone on shore spotted the capsize and called the
Coast Guard. About 20 minutes later the Coast Guard appeared and
royally chewed us out for being so far from shore and without
PFD's. They escorted us back to shore. Those were the good old
days.
Keith Judson
On 5/31/2020 12:16 PM, Mark Kastel
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thank
you for posting and I found the additional comments
interesting.
?
Growing
up sailing Sunfish in a junior program, on Lake Michigan
north of Chicago, in the mid-late 1960s and into the 1970s,
was a hell of a lot different than kids getting involved in
the Optimist programs today. Although we were very
competitive I think there was less emphasis on winning. I
was competitive and did well as a junior but we didn't have
coaches, the parents were never around and we gained
a lot of independence. Our instructors were, generally,
college students. Just like in Boy Scouts those young folks
gained invaluable skill by teaching us (and herding cats).
?
We
rode our bicycles down to the beach (we had little lockers
that were long enough for the Sunfish spars and you could
just jam in your rudder, daggerboard and mainsheet. We wore
our PFTs while we rode our bikes :-). There were hundreds of
Sunfish, literally, on the racks. We had wheels that jammed
into the daggerboard slot to get them down to the water's
edge.
?
Our
"junior fleet," Winnetka Yacht Club, was three days a week.
But we often went out and had "unofficial races" on the
other two and we raced with the seniors on the weekends
(both Saturday and Sunday and three days during holidays).
The club turned out a number of champions, including Scott
Kyle and two towns down the road, Wilmette, came up with Bob
Finley. At Winnetka my first instructor was Major Hall (won
the North Americans in 1972) and the top dog in the senior
fleet was Don Bergman (according to the Sunfish Bible he
finished in every position at the North Americans, in the
top 10, with the exception of first). They were both not
only fine sailors but sweet and gentle men and excellent
role models for independent kid learning to sail.
?
In
my humble opinion, the Sunfish is still an ideal boat for a
kid to learn to sail on because of its self-rescue nature
and how well it performs and heavy wind.
?
Happy
days,
?
Mark
?
?
Mark A.
Kastel
Kastel@...
608-625-2042
?
?
There’s something about sailing that
makes it quite unlike other sports. More than just skill and
strategy, it teaches certain values that shape sailors into
the unique athletes that they are.
Yet, we’re often so focused on the
physical aspects of sailing that we forget how much we stand
to gain from the sport – both socially and emotionally. So
here’s a list of the top 10 socio-emotional benefits of
sailing
|
Re: Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
Thank you for posting and I found the additional comments interesting. ? Growing up sailing Sunfish in a junior program, on Lake Michigan north of Chicago, in the mid-late 1960s and into the 1970s, was a hell of a lot different than kids getting involved in the Optimist programs today. Although we were very competitive I think there was less emphasis on winning. I was competitive and did well as a junior but we didn't have coaches, the parents were never around and we gained a lot of independence. Our instructors were, generally, college students. Just like in Boy Scouts those young folks gained invaluable skill by teaching us (and herding cats). ? We rode our bicycles down to the beach (we had little lockers that were long enough for the Sunfish spars and you could just jam in your rudder, daggerboard and mainsheet. We wore our PFTs while we rode our bikes :-). There were hundreds of Sunfish, literally, on the racks. We had wheels that jammed into the daggerboard slot to get them down to the water's edge. ? Our "junior fleet," Winnetka Yacht Club, was three days a week. But we often went out and had "unofficial races" on the other two and we raced with the seniors on the weekends (both Saturday and Sunday and three days during holidays). The club turned out a number of champions, including Scott Kyle and two towns down the road, Wilmette, came up with Bob Finley. At Winnetka my first instructor was Major Hall (won the North Americans in 1972) and the top dog in the senior fleet was Don Bergman (according to the Sunfish Bible he finished in every position at the North Americans, in the top 10, with the exception of first). They were both not only fine sailors but sweet and gentle men and excellent role models for independent kid learning to sail. ? In my humble opinion, the Sunfish is still an ideal boat for a kid to learn to sail on because of its self-rescue nature and how well it performs and heavy wind. ? Happy days, ? Mark ? 
? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Emefa Banini Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 5:31 AM To: [email protected]Subject: [SunfishSailor] Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing ? There’s something about sailing that makes it quite unlike other sports. More than just skill and strategy, it teaches certain values that shape sailors into the unique athletes that they are. Yet, we’re often so focused on the physical aspects of sailing that we forget how much we stand to gain from the sport – both socially and emotionally. So here’s a list of the top 10 socio-emotional benefits of sailing
|
Re: Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
Not every sailboat is designed to make one athletic. The larger the boat, the heavier its keel, the deeper the cockpit, the easier it is to sail without needing a lot of strength - especially in light winds.The other nine points would still apply however.? But all ten points certainly apply to dinghy sailing, and some larger one design classes designed for racing that is for sure.
|
Re: Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
I can’t speak for many of the socio-emotional benefits of sailing because I am self taught and only sail alone.? I enjoy the solitary environment it provides.? I have spent a good part of my life on the water but sailing is just recent.?
Prior to sailing I have seen the ?spectacular event ?of an osprey catching a fish only one time.? In the short time I have been sailing (about 5 years) I have seen this spectacular event a dozen times.? The osprey descends from high altitude, folds it wings
and hits the water feet first at incredible speeds often decending below the surface to capture its prey.? I have seen them catch a fish so large that it takes a tremendous effort just to get airborne again.
?
Add that to the list of ten.
?
Mr Mike
?
?
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Emefa Banini
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 6:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [SunfishSailor] Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
?
There’s something about sailing that makes it quite unlike other sports. More than just skill and strategy, it teaches certain values that shape sailors into the unique athletes that they are.
Yet, we’re often so focused on the physical aspects of sailing that we forget how much we stand to gain from the sport – both socially and emotionally. So here’s a list of the top 10 socio-emotional benefits of sailing
|
Ten Socio-Emotional Benefits Of Sailing
There’s something about sailing that makes it quite unlike other sports. More than just skill and strategy, it teaches certain values that shape sailors into the unique athletes that they are.
?
Yet, we’re often so focused on the physical aspects of sailing that we forget how much we stand to gain from the sport – both socially and emotionally. So here’s a list of the top 10 socio-emotional benefits of sailing
?
|
Virtual Regatta does not have Sunfish.??
It's fun to play with.?
Anyone doing even moderate racing buys all the upgrades,? making it pricey.??
Sincerely,
Gail
~~~/)~~(~~/)~~~~/)~~~~/)~~(~~~/)~~~~
Gail M. Turluck
Chair College Sailing Hall of Fame Chair Afterguard Committee Chair MCSA Afterguard 1245 West Gull Lake Drive
Richland, MI 49083
Phone:? 269.998.6353 | FAX:?786.358.3605
~~~/)~~(~~/)~~~~/)~~~~/)~~(~~~/)~~~~
Visit:? to learn about sail racing on Lake Michigan Visit:? to learn about Sunfish sailing and racing Visit:? to learn about sail racing on Gull Lake Visit:? to learn about iceboat sailing and racing P?Think before you print! Sent from my smartphone
|
Hello, Has anyone tried Virtual Regatta Inshore or Virtual Regatta Offshore for entertainment?
Virtual Regatta Inshore by Virtual Regatta
Virtual Regatta Offshore by Virtual Regatta
? I downloaded them a couple weeks back and have not tried much. It appears you could potentially set up a virtual regatta comprised of Sunfish sailors from anyplace competing on a virtual lake.
?I have not looked enough to see if there is a virtual workshop where you could bring in a virtual sunfish for a virtual foam block replacement yet........
Be safe, Scott?
|
I use Weather Underground.? They have stations very close to where I sail.? The are very accurate and reliable.? No local tide info, but I have a tide clock that I check before departure.
Mr Mike
I've been reasonably happy with Sailflow.? It brings wind and tide data as well as the National Weather Service forecast all into on sheet
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 1:54 PM, Andrew M via groups.io
<amakinson1@...> wrote:
There are a lot of new iPhone apps out there, anyone like one for sailing?? My main purpose is to decide if there is enough or too much wind for me to go out.
I have tried Windy & WindHub.? I used windy all last summer and it did not match real-life conditions one time, but was close every other time.??
|
I've been reasonably happy with Sailflow.? It brings wind and tide data as well as the National Weather Service forecast all into on sheet
On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 1:54 PM, Andrew M via groups.io <amakinson1@...> wrote: There are a lot of new iPhone apps out there, anyone like one for sailing?? My main purpose is to decide if there is enough or too much wind for me to go out.
I have tried Windy & WindHub.? I used windy all last summer and it did not match real-life conditions one time, but was close every other time.??
|
There are a lot of new iPhone apps out there, anyone like one for sailing?? My main purpose is to decide if there is enough or too much wind for me to go out.
I have tried Windy & WindHub.? I used windy all last summer and it did not match real-life conditions one time, but was close every other time.??
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mon, May 25, 2020, 11:17 AM scootna < scootna@...> wrote: I appreciate the feedback, I'll grab some rafting straps
Scott
On Mon, May 25, 2020 at 9:08 AM Dave Redmon < LDRedmon@...> wrote: I appreciated your showing us how you car top your boat, but? I would urge use of the stronger, easier to use straps used in rafting instead of the type used here. Too tight a tension can lead to cracks and weakening of the hull. Rafting straps come in lengths 4' to 16' and are remarkably tough. A reliable alternative is 1/4' - 3/8" nylon line formed with a bowline in one end. Make 2-4 of these for endless uses. Nylon has the advantage of a little bit of give that avoids problems that accompany rigidity. One more thing: wind can lead to loss of load, so always secure one of those nylon lines to the bow (and even the stern) and then to a tie-down point under the hood, using a U-shaped 1' nylon strap fastened to a bolt joining the fender to the frame. Hide it under the hood when not in use. I've used this method the last few decades to haul everything from ladders and lumber to canoes, kayaks and sailboats weighing less than 150 lbs. That plus Yakima or Thule roof racks take the worry out of roof transport.?
Dave in Kansas
On Mon, May 25, 2020, 1:08 AM scootna < scootna@...> wrote: Mark replied and said I should share pictures so here they are. My setup isn't nearly as streamlined and nice as others here but it gets the job done. And no, I did not make the dent in my side door while loading the boat. That dent is from someone whom I believe kicked my car door while it was parked on a street in Buffalo.
Heading up to a small canyon reservoir in Utah tomorrow for sailing.
Cheers Scott
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 12:40 PM Scott Black < scootna@...> wrote: I've been using the step ladder method. Picked up a ~5 foot gorilla step ladder that folds up really flat. I store it on the car roof under the boat towards the back of the car. Then use a dolly to move from the car to the lake. So nice to be able to go sailing solo instead of relying on finding a friend to help. Though friends are always welcome.
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 11:29 AM Mark Kastel < kastel@...> wrote: Cool. Thanks for sharing Tom. ? I should've taken a photo, but the way I do it is pull my car underneath a black walnut tree. I can lift up the bow with a heavy line (in a loop making it 2:1 purchase. I lift the bow up and then can lift the stern off the car pivoting it perpendicular. Then I can pull the car out, flipped the boat over with the stern on the grass and shove a dolly underneath. To load I reverse the process. ? In The Sunfish Bible, available on the class website, there is a photo of someone doing a similar trick by placing the bow on a step ladder, probably 6 feet off the ground(with the boat parallel to the vehicle), lifting the stern and carefully placing it on the rear roof rack. I think if you go slow this would work and it, evidently, was a fairly common procedure. ? I only have to go through this hassle because I have two Sunfish and two Lasers. My regatta Sunfish and regatta Laser are hanging in the rafters in my garage and just get lower down. I built a setup, using padded two by fours for the Laser. But I splurged when I got back into the Sunfish a few years ago and bought a Hoister by Harken. Very slick. ? Be well, ? Mark ? ? ![A car parked on the side of a building
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing plane, airplane, small, sitting
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing grass, outdoor, blue, wooden
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ? ? Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system. ? On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel <kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ? ![A car parked in the grass
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A car parked in a grassy field
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ? ![A reflection of a mirror
Description automatically generated]()
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
--
Scott Black
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
I appreciate the feedback, I'll grab some rafting straps
Scott
On Mon, May 25, 2020 at 9:08 AM Dave Redmon < LDRedmon@...> wrote: I appreciated your showing us how you car top your boat, but? I would urge use of the stronger, easier to use straps used in rafting instead of the type used here. Too tight a tension can lead to cracks and weakening of the hull. Rafting straps come in lengths 4' to 16' and are remarkably tough. A reliable alternative is 1/4' - 3/8" nylon line formed with a bowline in one end. Make 2-4 of these for endless uses. Nylon has the advantage of a little bit of give that avoids problems that accompany rigidity. One more thing: wind can lead to loss of load, so always secure one of those nylon lines to the bow (and even the stern) and then to a tie-down point under the hood, using a U-shaped 1' nylon strap fastened to a bolt joining the fender to the frame. Hide it under the hood when not in use. I've used this method the last few decades to haul everything from ladders and lumber to canoes, kayaks and sailboats weighing less than 150 lbs. That plus Yakima or Thule roof racks take the worry out of roof transport.?
Dave in Kansas
On Mon, May 25, 2020, 1:08 AM scootna < scootna@...> wrote: Mark replied and said I should share pictures so here they are. My setup isn't nearly as streamlined and nice as others here but it gets the job done. And no, I did not make the dent in my side door while loading the boat. That dent is from someone whom I believe kicked my car door while it was parked on a street in Buffalo.
Heading up to a small canyon reservoir in Utah tomorrow for sailing.
Cheers Scott
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 12:40 PM Scott Black < scootna@...> wrote: I've been using the step ladder method. Picked up a ~5 foot gorilla step ladder that folds up really flat. I store it on the car roof under the boat towards the back of the car. Then use a dolly to move from the car to the lake. So nice to be able to go sailing solo instead of relying on finding a friend to help. Though friends are always welcome.
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 11:29 AM Mark Kastel < kastel@...> wrote: Cool. Thanks for sharing Tom. ? I should've taken a photo, but the way I do it is pull my car underneath a black walnut tree. I can lift up the bow with a heavy line (in a loop making it 2:1 purchase. I lift the bow up and then can lift the stern off the car pivoting it perpendicular. Then I can pull the car out, flipped the boat over with the stern on the grass and shove a dolly underneath. To load I reverse the process. ? In The Sunfish Bible, available on the class website, there is a photo of someone doing a similar trick by placing the bow on a step ladder, probably 6 feet off the ground(with the boat parallel to the vehicle), lifting the stern and carefully placing it on the rear roof rack. I think if you go slow this would work and it, evidently, was a fairly common procedure. ? I only have to go through this hassle because I have two Sunfish and two Lasers. My regatta Sunfish and regatta Laser are hanging in the rafters in my garage and just get lower down. I built a setup, using padded two by fours for the Laser. But I splurged when I got back into the Sunfish a few years ago and bought a Hoister by Harken. Very slick. ? Be well, ? Mark ? ? ![A car parked on the side of a building
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing plane, airplane, small, sitting
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing grass, outdoor, blue, wooden
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ? ? Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system. ? On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel <kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ? ![A car parked in the grass
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A car parked in a grassy field
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ? ![A reflection of a mirror
Description automatically generated]()
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
I appreciated your showing us how you car top your boat, but? I would urge use of the stronger, easier to use straps used in rafting instead of the type used here. Too tight a tension can lead to cracks and weakening of the hull. Rafting straps come in lengths 4' to 16' and are remarkably tough. A reliable alternative is 1/4' - 3/8" nylon line formed with a bowline in one end. Make 2-4 of these for endless uses. Nylon has the advantage of a little bit of give that avoids problems that accompany rigidity. One more thing: wind can lead to loss of load, so always secure one of those nylon lines to the bow (and even the stern) and then to a tie-down point under the hood, using a U-shaped 1' nylon strap fastened to a bolt joining the fender to the frame. Hide it under the hood when not in use. I've used this method the last few decades to haul everything from ladders and lumber to canoes, kayaks and sailboats weighing less than 150 lbs. That plus Yakima or Thule roof racks take the worry out of roof transport.?
Dave in Kansas
On Mon, May 25, 2020, 1:08 AM scootna < scootna@...> wrote: Mark replied and said I should share pictures so here they are. My setup isn't nearly as streamlined and nice as others here but it gets the job done. And no, I did not make the dent in my side door while loading the boat. That dent is from someone whom I believe kicked my car door while it was parked on a street in Buffalo.
Heading up to a small canyon reservoir in Utah tomorrow for sailing.
Cheers Scott
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 12:40 PM Scott Black < scootna@...> wrote: I've been using the step ladder method. Picked up a ~5 foot gorilla step ladder that folds up really flat. I store it on the car roof under the boat towards the back of the car. Then use a dolly to move from the car to the lake. So nice to be able to go sailing solo instead of relying on finding a friend to help. Though friends are always welcome.
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 11:29 AM Mark Kastel < kastel@...> wrote: Cool. Thanks for sharing Tom. ? I should've taken a photo, but the way I do it is pull my car underneath a black walnut tree. I can lift up the bow with a heavy line (in a loop making it 2:1 purchase. I lift the bow up and then can lift the stern off the car pivoting it perpendicular. Then I can pull the car out, flipped the boat over with the stern on the grass and shove a dolly underneath. To load I reverse the process. ? In The Sunfish Bible, available on the class website, there is a photo of someone doing a similar trick by placing the bow on a step ladder, probably 6 feet off the ground(with the boat parallel to the vehicle), lifting the stern and carefully placing it on the rear roof rack. I think if you go slow this would work and it, evidently, was a fairly common procedure. ? I only have to go through this hassle because I have two Sunfish and two Lasers. My regatta Sunfish and regatta Laser are hanging in the rafters in my garage and just get lower down. I built a setup, using padded two by fours for the Laser. But I splurged when I got back into the Sunfish a few years ago and bought a Hoister by Harken. Very slick. ? Be well, ? Mark ? ? ![A car parked on the side of a building
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing plane, airplane, small, sitting
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing grass, outdoor, blue, wooden
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ? ? Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system. ? On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel <kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ? ![A car parked in the grass
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A car parked in a grassy field
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ? ![A reflection of a mirror
Description automatically generated]()
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
Mark replied and said I should share pictures so here they are. My setup isn't nearly as streamlined and nice as others here but it gets the job done. And no, I did not make the dent in my side door while loading the boat. That dent is from someone whom I believe kicked my car door while it was parked on a street in Buffalo.
Heading up to a small canyon reservoir in Utah tomorrow for sailing.
Cheers Scott
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 12:40 PM Scott Black < scootna@...> wrote: I've been using the step ladder method. Picked up a ~5 foot gorilla step ladder that folds up really flat. I store it on the car roof under the boat towards the back of the car. Then use a dolly to move from the car to the lake. So nice to be able to go sailing solo instead of relying on finding a friend to help. Though friends are always welcome.
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 11:29 AM Mark Kastel < kastel@...> wrote: Cool. Thanks for sharing Tom. ? I should've taken a photo, but the way I do it is pull my car underneath a black walnut tree. I can lift up the bow with a heavy line (in a loop making it 2:1 purchase. I lift the bow up and then can lift the stern off the car pivoting it perpendicular. Then I can pull the car out, flipped the boat over with the stern on the grass and shove a dolly underneath. To load I reverse the process. ? In The Sunfish Bible, available on the class website, there is a photo of someone doing a similar trick by placing the bow on a step ladder, probably 6 feet off the ground(with the boat parallel to the vehicle), lifting the stern and carefully placing it on the rear roof rack. I think if you go slow this would work and it, evidently, was a fairly common procedure. ? I only have to go through this hassle because I have two Sunfish and two Lasers. My regatta Sunfish and regatta Laser are hanging in the rafters in my garage and just get lower down. I built a setup, using padded two by fours for the Laser. But I splurged when I got back into the Sunfish a few years ago and bought a Hoister by Harken. Very slick. ? Be well, ? Mark ? ? ![A car parked on the side of a building
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing plane, airplane, small, sitting
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A picture containing grass, outdoor, blue, wooden
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ? ? Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system. ? On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel <kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ? ![A car parked in the grass
Description automatically generated]()
? ![A car parked in a grassy field
Description automatically generated]()
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ? ![A reflection of a mirror
Description automatically generated]()
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
I've been using the step ladder method. Picked up a ~5 foot gorilla step ladder that folds up really flat. I store it on the car roof under the boat towards the back of the car. Then use a dolly to move from the car to the lake. So nice to be able to go sailing solo instead of relying on finding a friend to help. Though friends are always welcome.
On Sun, May 24, 2020, 11:29 AM Mark Kastel < kastel@...> wrote: Cool. Thanks for sharing Tom. ? I should've taken a photo, but the way I do it is pull my car underneath a black walnut tree. I can lift up the bow with a heavy line (in a loop making it 2:1 purchase. I lift the bow up and then can lift the stern off the car pivoting it perpendicular. Then I can pull the car out, flipped the boat over with the stern on the grass and shove a dolly underneath. To load I reverse the process. ? In The Sunfish Bible, available on the class website, there is a photo of someone doing a similar trick by placing the bow on a step ladder, probably 6 feet off the ground(with the boat parallel to the vehicle), lifting the stern and carefully placing it on the rear roof rack. I think if you go slow this would work and it, evidently, was a fairly common procedure. ? I only have to go through this hassle because I have two Sunfish and two Lasers. My regatta Sunfish and regatta Laser are hanging in the rafters in my garage and just get lower down. I built a setup, using padded two by fours for the Laser. But I splurged when I got back into the Sunfish a few years ago and bought a Hoister by Harken. Very slick. ? Be well, ? Mark ? ?
?
?
? ? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ? ? Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system. ? On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel <kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ?
?
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ?
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
Cool. Thanks for sharing Tom. ? I should've taken a photo, but the way I do it is pull my car underneath a black walnut tree. I can lift up the bow with a heavy line (in a loop making it 2:1 purchase. I lift the bow up and then can lift the stern off the car pivoting it perpendicular. Then I can pull the car out, flipped the boat over with the stern on the grass and shove a dolly underneath. To load I reverse the process. ? In The Sunfish Bible, available on the class website, there is a photo of someone doing a similar trick by placing the bow on a step ladder, probably 6 feet off the ground(with the boat parallel to the vehicle), lifting the stern and carefully placing it on the rear roof rack. I think if you go slow this would work and it, evidently, was a fairly common procedure. ? I only have to go through this hassle because I have two Sunfish and two Lasers. My regatta Sunfish and regatta Laser are hanging in the rafters in my garage and just get lower down. I built a setup, using padded two by fours for the Laser. But I splurged when I got back into the Sunfish a few years ago and bought a Hoister by Harken. Very slick. ? Be well, ? Mark ? ? 
? 
? 
? ? Mark A. Kastel Kastel@... 608-625-2042 ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Tom Leone Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2020 11:57 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit ? Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system. ? On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel <kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ? 
? 
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ? 
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
|
Re: Car topping revisited .... [SunfishSailor] TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY: Hiking Strap Retrofit
Interesting article, thanks!? I have been cartopping my Minifish for a couple of years, and I'm able to load and unload it single-handed.? The Minifish hull only weighs 75 pounds,?which is why I sold my Sunfish and bought a Minifish.? I use a?Yakima?rack with a "BoatLoader" accessory, which is basically a bar that slides sideways out the end of the roof rack crossbar (photo at link below).? You lay the boat out beside the vehicle, pick up one end and put it on the BoatLoader, then pick up the other end and put it on the other roof rack crossbar, then slide the first end over onto the other roof rack crossbar.? You never need to lift more than half of the?boat's weight.? You could probably make something similar yourself, but I am impressed with the thoughtful design and high quality of the?Yakima?system.? It also works great for canoes.? I think a full-size Sunfish is probably too wide and heavy for this system.
On Sun, May 24, 2020 at 12:05 PM Mark Kastel < kastel@...> wrote: Thanks Mike, ? I once hauled a Penguin out to the Chesapeake Bay, from Chicago, for the international championships with a pickup truck. Two carpeted two by fours, held on by C clamps, did the trick. Very easy on the boat. ? Car topping, which was a standard in Sunfish back when I was first racing them in the 60s and 70s, has fallen out of favor. However, it's really easy on the boat, compared to bouncing around on a trailer, even upside down, and if you live anywhere that you have to endure tolls it is quite cost-effective. ? Here's a comprehensive story I wrote, on the subject, for the Sunfish class magazine in 2018: ? Happy days, ? Mark ? 
? 
? ? Great job storing for transport on that little car.? With a dock in my back yard I am so fortunate.? Can be on the water in 15 minures.? I made a rack for the bed of my pickup when I do transport, but that is not very often. ? Mr Mlke ? Sent from for Windows 10 ? ? 
? Hello sports fans, ? After sharing the photos of my mount for the ratchet block (with the matching I strap underneath the deck for the forward mount of the hiking strap) I was contacted and asked how I mounted the aft end of the strap. Please find photos attached. And I appreciate the compliments regarding the photos. Since my boat is hanging upside down I had to stand on my head to take these :-) — a great way to store and transport your boat. ? Although the hardware is fairly generic if you want a turnkey updates, to make your boat race ready (outhauls, hiking strap, racing board, etc.), one shortcut is to find a qualified dealer that has gone through all this before. I've worked with The Dinghy Shop, on Long Island, and they've been happy to ship out here to flyover country (Wisconsin): . The outfit is run by a father and daughter team. Both of them are highly-competent and longtime competitors in the Sunfish class (and have made many other contributions to the organization as volunteers). So you get a lot of knowledge along with the equipment. ? Go sailing if you feel comfortable doing so! Day sailing alone is certainly safe. With a few minor modifications, being outside, the risks in raising are extremely low and the rewards high. ? Best regards, ? Mark ? PS: Racing rules for our Laser Fleet that we tested out last week: LaX Laser Fleet pandemic rules: Here are the ground rules we are starting with (and we will probably be a little more generous on the starting line and at mark groundings---thinking about maintaining social distancing and not being directly upwind of our favorite competitors). If anyone has constructive ideas to add please let me know:
Here are the ground rules going forward. Based on our experience they might very well be modified for future evenings:
1. Please take your temperature before coming down to the club. You can be contagious with the coronavirus before you show any overt symptoms. So please, before participating, error on the side of caution if you have any vague symptoms or doubts about your health (loss of taste/smell, fever, respiratory symptoms, swollen feet, etc.).
2. Masks are mandatory on and off the water. I have a "neck gator" on order and that might be the best option. If the mask is uncomfortable, and you are well away from anyone, you can take responsibility for taking a brief break-but that runs the risk of forgetting to put it back on so, just like a PFD, it's better to just wear one.
3. Unless the wind is light, and it is warm, we will all wear a PFD, shore to shore.
4. Before and after handling the lock and gate, or helping one of your fellow competitors lift the boat off of their vehicle (appropriately distanced at 14 feet-the length of a Laser?:-)?please wash your hands or use a disinfectant wipe.
5. Soap and water is the most effective prevention so please consider bringing down some soap, in a travel dish. You can use your elbow to turn the water on.
6. We will be rigging at least 20 feet apart. So as we pull our boats out of line, rig, and launch please be aware of the location of other competitors and negotiate the transitions. ?
? ?
|
Signal Charlie
turluck
