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I use the clutches from Bill. One set on each side of the cabin. The blue handles are the halyards, the black on the right is for the daggerboard, and the furler line on the left side.





G

Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL wrote:I use a Rope Clutch for the Dagger Board line, with a knotted extension aft to the helm.
Pull on the line until the board is all the way up. Release the line and the board stays up.

AND BTW BILL I do thank YOu for that BILL at Boats 4 sail Mod on my boat .

l liked both Paul S's jam cleat idea and Baldbaby's rod sticking up on top on the daggerboard idea. It's not enough to just "mark" the line because they can slip. I think I'll do BOTH of the above.

Rick

Look again if you will at Beene's picture of his rope clutch. The white rope IS the lift rope for the D.B. that black rope is a reminder /saftey signal . It tells you just where you D.B. is. That board only has , less than 6 feet of vert. tavel . If the black rope is near the clutch that board is DOWN if there is 4 or 5 feet of white rope out its up . I for one would hate to fall on a pungee stick and the "tell tail rod" could turn into just that very quickly .

Here's my C/B story... Last weekend, 10 pm, hauling out at my usual ramp, I had a hard time getting the boat to self-center on the trailer. I had to keep backing the boat /trailer into the water, trying to nudge it to center. This should have been clue enough that something wasn't right, as I've never had a problem with solo loading at this ramp, even with a crosswind. Kept backing in - 10 or so times - but the boat kept crabbing over to one side, right up against the wheel / fender. Finally got it away enough - not preferable, but screw-it, enough to finally go home! Did the Mac-bump and was putting the cargo strap on, when I noticed the centerboard was down about 6"! Usually I pull up the centerboard after having motored to the dock, but skipped that step this time!

The centerboard would not pull up, or push up from underneath, so I figured this was why the boat wouldn't center. Backed down the ramp again, jumped on the boat, C/B not only won't come up, it drops even more! Put on swim suit, mask & underwater light and swam under boat/trailer. C/B ws stuck between trailer crossbeam & the ramp. Thought twice about being under boat at ramp alone - not good!

Backed the whole rig down some more, up into boat, still stuck! Back down more so truck bumper was in the water, exhaust bubbling, got the boat to pull ahead of the winch tower & now crosswise on trailer - finally the C/B pulls up. Put the boat back on the dock & repositioned the truck / trailer on the ramp. Walked the boat on trailer, haul out a bit, still not centered!

Another dozen attempts to get the boat to center on trailer - no one around, except drunk bar patrons, fortunately not watching. Tried to run a line underneath hull from opposite side, tied off tight, but the rope stretched, still not centered!
Tied foam noodles to fender and bunk to nudge boat over, but they just compressed. Loosen this, tie that - I'm P'd Off and frustrated. A Marine Patrol boat has just tied up to the end of the dock and offers to help. One of the two officers tugs a stern line while I pull up the ramp. The boat, while not centered, has enough clearance between both fenders to be OK. Now I realize, after having been in & out of the water for an hour, that I'm shivering uncontrollably. The water was great, 76*F, but the air was cool, 56*F!! Got my polypro & wool on, secured the boat, and boogied home.

What should have been another routine 15 minute task turned into a 2 hour ordeal! Still don't know what was keeping the boat from centering, but during the ride home, the boat did settle to center on the trailer, even tho all straps were tight. I'm going to add guide / spacer boards to the fenders & modify the rear / side bunks to better align the boat.

Sounds like you had a rough time.

Sorry to hear that.

I wish all launch and recoveries were routine and peaceful occurrences. Reality has a tenancy to change that a weeeeee bit.

G

Ive always found the boat 'self centres' when if you get the front winch tight....hmmmm.

If I retrieve the boat ballasted and have to bump it onto the trailer, it isnt always centred then - I Mac bump it, tighten the front winch, then dip the boat again to centre it.

My 2004M daggerboard has a safety line.

Above the daggerboard well, in the stainless steel "hinge" with the roller for the regular hoisting line to run, there is another round hole. There is a second line attached to the top of the daggerboard which runs through this hole. Once the DB is all the way up and cleated using the normal hoisting line, you take the safety line, pull all the slack up through the hole, and tie a knot in it just above the stainless fitting. That way, if the normal hoisting line should come uncleated or break, the DB will be hanging on the safety line instead of resting on the trailer or dragging on the road.

- Andy