Typhoon in Western NC/SC

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Shinok
Posts: 187
Joined: Jul 31st, '12, 10:51
Location: Typhoon Weekender
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Typhoon in Western NC/SC

Post by Shinok »

We're looking at buying our second Cape Dory after selling our 27 some time ago and moving away from the coast to western NC. We are looking at a Typhoon Weekender.

We're within 1 hour of Lake Jocassee, Keowee, and parts of Hartwell. On the NC side, Lake James isn't far either and Lake Lure is close, although I'm fairly certain Lure is out of the question for the Typhoon. Our expectation is practically that, aside from excursions to the coast once a year or so, the boat will likely live at Keowee or Hartwell.

We had hoped to get in with the Keowee Sailing Club, however it appears there is a substantial wait list and the Keowee marina has a 300+ person wait list, as do most marinas in Hartwell. Apparently they experienced the same activity surge post COVID as everything else did. If we buy the boat, we'll get on the wait list at the club ASAP (probably will either way), but they expect a 12-18 month waiting period. That isn't too concerning given that we'll likely be on the hard for most of the winter, but I also don't want to buy the boat just to sit idle.

What I'm wondering is how practical it is to launch from a Triad trailer with extensions at Hartwell or Keowee while we wait for a slip/storage? I understand the Typhoon needs a long or steep ramp, my understanding being that both are available at both lakes, however having not rigged and launched a Ty in the past, I'm unsure of what to expect.
sloopjohnl
Posts: 206
Joined: Aug 24th, '05, 05:43
Location: Typhoon Weekender "DAERAY"

Re: Typhoon in Western NC/SC

Post by sloopjohnl »

when i sold my ty last july a fellow had been wanting to buy it for two years. when he found out the slips were not transferable he declined. i would get on the list, boat or no boat, then get a boat if you haven't gotten one by the time your name comes up.
with an eight foot extension on a triad trailer you should be good at most decent ramps. figure 45-60 minutes for two people to rig and launch (as well as de-rig)
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wikakaru
Posts: 839
Joined: Jan 13th, '18, 16:19
Location: 1980 Typhoon #1697 "Dory"; 1981 CD22 #41 "Arietta"

Re: Typhoon in Western NC/SC

Post by wikakaru »

It is possible to trailer-sail the Typhoon, but it is a lot of work. As sloopjohnl said, about an hour to setup/launch before the sail and another hour to haul and drop the mast after the sail is about right.

For what it's worth, I found that I needed a ramp with an 11.5 degree slope (as measured by a bubble level app on a smartphone) to be able to launch my Typhoon with the built-in Triad trailer extension. You might want to go measure the launch ramp you plan to use to see if it is steep enough.

After the extension on my Triad trailer rusted into place and couldn't be operated any more, I had an external 11-foot extension built that makes it much easier to launch than the built-in (I think it's 8-foot?) extension. I like the external extension much better though it is a tad more work since you have to lift it into place rather than sliding the extension in and out.

Smooth sailing,

Jim
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