I have found a Cape Dory Typhoon - what a beautiful little boat! But I have some questions:The boat is on a trailer, is it possible and practical to launch and retrieve this boat? Do you need a trailer tongue extension? I'm trying to figure out if I can use this boat without having to pay for moorage.How difficult is it to raise the mast and rig the boat? I suppose at least tow people are needed?I got down inside the cabin and was surprised to see no mast support. The fiberglass under the mast step seems and little worse for the wear. Is that normal?I pushed in on the sides of the hull - there was no oil canning. Is there anything else I should be looking for?Thanks in advance for your answers.
Teakdeck@aol.com
Typhoon on a Trailer
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Serge Zimberoff
Re: Typhoon on a Trailer
No, you don't need a tongue extension (which work best anyway if you use a really steep launch ramp, which isn't guaranteed everywhere). It can be done with stout lines, wheel blocks, and certainly two people by letting the trailer free of the ball hitch and lowering it slowly at the end of a taut line (plus safety line) slowly down the ramp with the towing vehicle safely high and dry. The drawback of course is that it takes a bit of time and if it is a busy ramp you are sure to get some evil stares, or worse.
Yes, you need two people to rig it (generally unless you have rigged a full set of utility jigs to allow you to do it alone).
Yes, you do have to install a compression post under the step if you want to stay out of future trouble. Ours is a post with a horizontal plate at the top bolted directly under the step, and a narrow, rectangular, vertical plate at the bottom. The bottom plate extends through a tee shaped cutout in the fiberglas just forward of the place to put a porta-potty and is bolted to the back of the porta-potty alcove.
Hope this helps.
Serge
serge@srtrop.com
Yes, you need two people to rig it (generally unless you have rigged a full set of utility jigs to allow you to do it alone).
Yes, you do have to install a compression post under the step if you want to stay out of future trouble. Ours is a post with a horizontal plate at the top bolted directly under the step, and a narrow, rectangular, vertical plate at the bottom. The bottom plate extends through a tee shaped cutout in the fiberglas just forward of the place to put a porta-potty and is bolted to the back of the porta-potty alcove.
Hope this helps.
Serge
serge@srtrop.com