Thanks everyone for the information on the set up time for the M15 It's actually quite faster than I thought it'd be. I'd imagine that sailing even for an afternoon is reasonable. Don you've got it down to a science thanks for providing me your thoughts and detail, I've printed it out and put it in my "M15" File for next year. Wishing you all a great Thanksgiving! Christian F. Ranger20 Quoting LUDLOWD2@aol.com:
Chris: I've sent out a revised M15 launch/retrieve checklist to some of the folks on the list. I typically launch and retrieve in about 20 minutes but I do the following: I load the motor on the motor bracket when I hook up to the trailer. At that time I put my sail bag in the cabin and drop the bow/stern lines and bumpers in the cockpit. I hook up a small line with a loop to the bow cleat. I take the rudder out of the cabin and load in the back of the truck. I drive to the ramp (about 5 minutes typically) I get out and disconnect the strap and unhook the trailer lights as I walk around the boat. I also untie the safety lines to the quickpins on the forestay and rudder pins. I hop up into the boat, untie the bungies from the mast and hook the jib halyard to the small line on the bow cleat. I lift the mast with one hand while keeping the shrouds from hanging up on the motor. I walk forward until the mast is upright and pull the jib halyard until its tight and cleat it off. Then I go forward and connect the forestay to the fitting on the bow with a pushpin, tying the pin in place with a shoelace (safety line). I then flip the bimini top forward to ints running position over the companionway I drag the boom out of the cabiin with the main on it and install the boom, holding it up with the topping lift. I thread the main sheet, snap my burgie to the topping lift, and reach into cabin for the jib bag. I go forward again and install the jib, hook up the downhaul, and lower the jib. I toss the jib sheets back into the cockpit and go back and run the jib sheets through their eyes and clam cleats. I hook up the fenders and bow and stern lines and hop down. I remove the mast holder and install the rudder with a fast pin, tying it in place with a shoelace. I run back to the truck, tossing the boat hook in the back. I pull forward to the ramp, back down, stopping as the wheels hit the water to get out and disconnect the winch hook from the bow eye and connect the bow line to the pier. I then slowly back down until the fenders go under the water (about an inch) . As the boat floats free, I jump out of the truck, race down pier and grab the bow and stern lines, tying the boat to the pier. I drop the boat hook on the pier, run back to the truck and pull forward to the parking lot. I run back to the boat, waving at the folks who are pulling into place for the next launch. I hop into the boat, fire up the Honda, and drop the rudder. I flip the bow and stern lines loose and the boat backs away, shoving the dock with the boat hook until I'm pointing in the right direction. I rev up the Honda, and slowly motor out into the river. Total time about 20 minutes. Coming back is pretty much a reverse but add 10 minutes to wash the boat and motor down and put the cover on the boat when I get to the parking spot at the yacht club. With practice, I can do it faster by myself than with "help". It is nice to have someone hold the boat lines while I launch the boat and keep it from bumping the dock. I've got a trick, I use the extended boat hook and holding both bow and stern lones, I can guide the boat onto the trailer so the keel goes straight into the channel guideon the Pacific trailer. Don in Mobile M15 # 620 Sweet DreAM _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats