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Safe A-cat landing

Posted By: AzCat

Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 07:06 AM

I am thinking about getting an a-cat but have a couple concerns.
the lake that I sail on most, and , that has the best winds in the area, has a shoreline that consists mostly of rock, some jagged rock, boulders, shards of jagged rock, lava, and what we call Arizona sand, which is anything smaller than 1" in dia.
The reason I want an acat, is so that I can single hand when I don't have crew for the I20. Or when I don't want crew for the I20. Also easy setup, and it's an A-CAT!
I am having a hard time wrapping my head around how I am going to land the boat without taking some real chances of destroying the boat. Winds can also be switchy and puffy. Also in the summer, dust devils.
I thought about mooring beach wheels off shore etc.
Coming ashore is scaring the hell out of me!

Anyone have a similar situation and some tips?
Posted By: JeffS

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 11:09 AM

How do you get your Nacra's on shore? In theory the A Class being lighter should be a piece of cake to drag up the beach once your on the beach wheels
Posted By: Timbo

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 01:53 PM

With crew obviously, one guy holds the boat while the other gets the beach wheels, but solo it's not so easy to do both at the same time.

Is it a shallow run up to the rocks, or does it get deep quickly?

If it's shallow, you could moor the wheels (and hope someone doesn't take them while you're out sailing) or perhaps bring a 8'x 8' scrap of rug to lie on the 'beach' at the water's edge where you can park the boat on the rug while you get the wheels.

OR...place an anchor (a cinder block) with a small float and a line on it just off the beach, where you can tie the boat when you come back, then go get your wheels.
Posted By: Jake

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 02:12 PM

Cary a small mushroom anchor and a fender. Before launching, wade out and set the anchor with the fender tied to it some safe distance from shore. Wheel your a-cat into the water and wrap the fender around one of the forestays at the hull. Take your wheels up the beach while the boat just swings on the anchor. Do the reverse when coming in. I've done this quite a bit when launching the a-cat by myself.
Posted By: RickWhite

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 03:12 PM

Also what we have found in solo sailing a Wave is to get a handle for the wheels. That way you can stay in front of the boat and with the handle slide the wheels under. No need to go from side to side tying them on. '
The tube that goes on the axle comes with bearings so the cradles always go upside down, which is a hassle. So, what we all did was set the cradles right side up and drill all the way through and put in a bolt. That way the cradles are always right side up.


Here is the link for the handle:
http://www.onlinemarinestore.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=14184&idcategory=
Rick
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 04:15 PM

Ok, some additional info here. In the mornings, the wind always comes from the north. I always set on the lee side of whatever area I choose for obvious reasons. Problem is. The wind generally switches 180*mid day. That's approximate. Sometimes the wind changes closer to 90*. So what was the lee shore, is now windward shore ore parallel shore.
Depending on water level, sometimes I can find an area that has a gradual slope, sometimes not. Due to the lake being a reservoir, water levels fluctuate fifty feet over the course of a year. So, different times of the year, we launch from different areas. Sometimes I can find a gradual slope. Other times the water will be chest deep 8' off shore.
With the old cats this wasn't a huge issue. I could bring the cat in find a softish spot and plan on a bottom job once in a while. The I20 , I usually have crew to hold the boat while I get the beach wheels. Depending on wind direction and water depth this can be a bit hairy at times, but the inter can handle bumping a rock. I also have thick foam pads that I beach the boat on. Also, the boat weighs enough that if there is a weird puff, it will stay put till I can roll up the main.
A carbon fiber a cat on the on the other hand , am I over thinking this?
What my mind wants is to have a simple single handed sailing solution. And what my mind is ending up with is a boat survivability nightmare.
Posted By: sasha

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 04:29 PM

When landing on a lee shore: make a transit of the beach and select a spot to land, sail to a point directly up wind of that spot and bring the boat head to wind, stop, bring up all the foils, uncleat the sail, position yourself as far forward as possible bringing the transoms out of the water. The boat will drift slowly to the selected landing point. Step off and tie the boat to your mooring.
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 06:01 PM

I think you may have missed my point . Big sharp rocks. Lee?
Posted By: sasha

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 06:22 PM

When the wind is blowing toward land. In that case it can be hard to stop the boat, so if you drift down slowly you'll have more control. Same procedure leaving shore with a strong wind behind you.

Big sharp rocks? If you were able to launch over them then what's to stop you from landing? If you come in slowly with control where is the danger?
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 06:25 PM

I guess I'll just have to see how it goes. I just dont want to get the boat messed up. Submerging the trailer and tying it down that way is also an option. I don't like submerging the axels for long periods either. I guess re packing the bearings is cheap in comparison to potential damage.
Posted By: sasha

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 06:57 PM

Lots of floating docks on the market. A cats are light, shouldn't take much to knock one (dock) together.

https://www.google.com/search?q=diy...=tblfVMmAFoXmsAT81YCYCg&ved=0CDsQsAQ
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 07:11 PM

Can't put a dock on this lake. I would need to take it home when I leave
Posted By: sasha

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 07:16 PM

Your problem is insoluble.
Posted By: Timbo

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/09/14 11:35 PM

And yes, you are overthinking this...
Posted By: brucat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 12:21 AM

This is one of the better threads we get here. Lots of practical info to address a real cat sailing problem. Keep the ideas coming guys; and azcat, don't be afraid to keep asking questions until you're comfortable with a solution.

Mike
Posted By: David Parker

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 04:47 AM

[Linked Image]
Posted By: Pirate

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by azcat
.... am I over thinking this? ....


yep & in a BIG way !!! grin


Your launching from multiple areas isn't doing you any favours at all either, be better to use one or two main areas and get to know those spots much better, even clearing unwanted debris from them will make your life much easier in the longrun

Its also a bit odd to me that "With the old cats this wasn't a huge issue" .... so why is it a sudden issue with a new cat ???
So I take it that you didn't take much care of the old boat and are treating the new one with kid's gloves ???
Just how bad are the scratches etc on the old boats eek

As for a cure.....

I launch from a couple of ugly beaches too although their issues aren't like your lava lake problems they do have issues that aren't at all 'hull friendly'.....
Might I suggest you head down to the local carpet wholesaler and ask for some old carpet, these companies often do large job-lot replacements, and will 9 times out of 10 simply trash the old stuff, at the lake simply roll the carpet out into the water and forget it, over time the carpet will trap the finer "sands or silts", it will assist with aquatic vegetation growth whilst it makes the sharpness of the volcanic stone much more tolerable to sit a boat on and walk on too, the best bit is it will slowly breakdown over time and wont be an issue to the environment as it does so....

If you cant leave the carpet there for what ever reason, then try for a synthetic carpet,(like they use in outdoor sporting venues) this wont "water-log" as such and once the boat is on the cradle the carpet could be rolled up and stowed on the trailer to do the final draining as you packup

I use a couple of 'strips' of shag-pile carpet, each bit is around 5metres long by a metre wide (~6yards by a yard), it works a treat and is cheap as chips
wink


Posted By: rehmbo

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 01:24 PM

"so why is it a sudden issue with a new cat?"
It's a longshot here, but I'm guessing the previous boats were all double-handed where he had someone to hold the boat.
Posted By: catman

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 04:28 PM

Simple........ Move to a better place to sail.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Pirate
at the lake simply roll the carpet out into the water and forget it, over time the carpet will trap the finer "sands or silts", it will assist with aquatic vegetation growth whilst it makes the sharpness of the volcanic stone much more tolerable to sit a boat on and walk on too, the best bit is it will slowly breakdown over time and wont be an issue to the environment as it does so....


that may be one solution but unless you own the lake, that's called criminal dumping and in Maricopa County AZ. is a crime with up to 6 months imprisonment & $2,500 fine or to one year if charged as a Class 6 Felony –

Also carpet is typically made of plastics and nylons... not exactly free of "issue to the environment" - i would be pissed if someone threw that in my local waterways
Posted By: tback

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/10/14 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jake
Cary a small mushroom anchor and a fender. Before launching, wade out and set the anchor with the fender tied to it some safe distance from shore. Wheel your a-cat into the water and wrap the fender around one of the forestays at the hull. Take your wheels up the beach while the boat just swings on the anchor. Do the reverse when coming in. I've done this quite a bit when launching the a-cat by myself.


I do this except I modify my technique:

* Wait to raise sail until on water
* wheel boat out till water depth is waist high
* drop anchor and secure other end to boat
** I like dolphin striker so boat tracks evenly
** I also use a milk jug to this end as a float
* Raise Sail
* Remove catrax and tie them to the end of the anchor line
* Sail Away

On return I repeat this process



Posted By: carlbohannon

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/11/14 03:12 PM

I personally use the anchor and float approach. Wrap the float around the fore stay or dolphin striker and the boat will point into the wind.

There is also the the Marstrom 4 wheeled Aclass cart. This was made for sailing from a solid rock Harbor and ramp. Wheel the boat out. Anchor the cart. Pull or sail the boat off. When you come back, put the boat on the cart, tie the boat to the cart and generally I tie the anchor to the boat. You can wheel it back or let it sit and take a break. The boat is really stable on the cart.
Posted By: brucat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/11/14 03:15 PM

If you sail in an area with a lot of tide, what would you do differently? Foldable anchor that you can take with you?

Mike
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/12/14 07:18 AM

Pirate, sorry about the question. Didn't mean to waste your time. Just so you know though, using carpet under a modern boat around here is a great way to get multiple holes in it. I can tell you this from experience, although not with one of my boats. What I was getting at is that you could get away with being a bit careless and/or make a mistake with older boats. It wouldn't destroy the boat, just scratch it up. Doesn't mean that I didn't take care of my boats. But as with all things cats sailing, there is a learning curve involved especially when there is no soft sand to land on.
Regarding getting familiar with a few places on the lake, I've been sailing on lake pleasant for about 10 years now, and know all of the best spots. But NONE of the "good "spots are even remotely "good " or safe for an acat.
Carpet will not spread out the point loading in the places I have to land the boat. And believe me, I look for the 10 lineal feet of gravel that I am lucky to find to put my foam pool floaties down on. But there are always those boulders just under the surface of the water that are hungry for the taste of a little gel coat.
You say that some of the places you put in are "ugly" . Maybe that's because people keep leaving carpet on the beach. I can't even imagine doing that. ANYWHERE! In fact, when I leave the lake, I go around and pick up all of the trash that others leave . There's more than enough.


Everyone else, thank you for your responses. Sounds like the anchor and fender method is what I will use. As long as I can get the anchor far enough off shore . For shoreline, lots of pool floatys. I'm sure the wife will need a new one from costco next spring. She won't notice it's gone till then.
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/12/14 07:48 AM

Tide is a whole other dilemma. I will be sailing in Rocky Point Mex also. The tide goes out almost 1/4 mile . The tidal area is sand with large areas of coral. I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to coordinate my vacations with the phases of the moon/ optimal wind patterns. Although I think that full and new moons may coordinate well, I think. No sailing when the tide is out. Or at least no coming ashore when the tide is out and the coral is exposed.
And there is no one to hold the boat.
I guess that if the tide is out, I can tie the wheels to the anchor/fender with a 10/15' rope attached, and let the tide come in and float them.
Maybe I can make a thick padded anchor bag for once the anchor is on board. What can happen will happen, that's what I know. Best to minimize the possibilities.
Posted By: AzCat

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/12/14 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by sasha
Your problem is insoluble.


No problem is insoluble, except maybe string theory.
Posted By: Kennethsf

Re: Safe A-cat landing - 11/12/14 09:09 PM

Why not tie it to an anchorline first, then put the beach trolly under, then put 4 car inner tube tire over the 4 corners (2 stern, 2 bow, this way your cat will flaot above the waterand out of rwach of bolders etc. After reaching shore, remove the 2 on the bow , then cattrack will takeover the load, pull up a bit, remove stern tires, done
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