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I've been able to get the rigging on and away from the dock in just under an hour, which by the way, is way too long for my ADD self.

There're a lot of things left to do to make the transition from trailor to water faster, but probably will only carve off about another fifteen minutes.

What timeframes are you seeing?

Anyone get their boat in the water sooner? If so, any tricks?

My clock starts from the time I step out of the Jeep to throwing off the last dock line. Just under an hour.

Michael

With 2 people working on it, I go from trailer to pulling away from the dock in about 25-30 minutes. I have a 26S, but I don't think there is much difference in rigging between the S and X. However, my boat ramp is only about a mile from my house down a back road, so my boat usually doesn't have everything secured like it would be for a longer drive.

On edit:

I forgot to add that my boat is totally stock at the moment, no lines led aft, no single line reefing, and no lazy jacks. I plan to add those this summer, cash flow permitting. I'm sure that will increase my rigging time as well.

Jared

This poll has already been done. Seehere.

Sorry, posted to wrong thread...

How long it takes to rig for sailing, I guess, is a badge of honor with some of us. My concern would be that trying to cut down the time might lead to oversights, and/or mistakes. I try to think of rigging as part of the sailing experience. By taking my time, I enjoy it, and it helps keep me in the moment. Not to sound too hoaky, but that moment is all we have. Why not enjoy it? Having said all that, I understand that some of us sail with kids, and they get impatient. Maybe making them part of the rigging experience (safely, of course) would let them enjoy it too. Fair winds.

I usually rig it on the water. 5 to 10 minutes its in the water and we're away. For me and my family, the boating experience starts from the time we get on the water. So, we get it in and get going. We find a nice quiet spot to anchor, and up goes the mast - 20 or 30 minutes at most. I did some extra things down the back to support the mast and make it easier to roll back the mast single handed. Pulling out, I would drop the mast about 70% of the time while still on the water.

Craig

My boat ramp is pretty close (10-15 minutes driving, 5 miles as the crow flies). I just tell my wife to leave 1 hour after I do with the kids. I stop by the gas station on the way, fill up the tanks, then I rig the boat without external pressures. She usually arrives as I am ready to launch and she can help with that. If I forget something (ice for the cooler maybe) I call her on the cell phone and she picks it up on the way.

If we go to another boat ramp they come along. I have gotten down to 30 minutes rigging time + time to launch. Adding the Garhauer rigid boom vang has added a few minutes to my rigging time, but it is worth it. I don't like to mess with things on the water too much so I do a lot prelaunch. I have gradually gotten faster from over 1 hour to 30 minutes in one season- I suspect the first time I go out this year my time will increase a bit, but will hopefully rapidly decrease again as I regain my familiarity with the process.

Jeff S

I like the idea of having the crew arrive afterwards, so they're not around whining about taking so long. Well, not actually whining, just whimpering, 'wha, wha, wha. . .' Can't blame then, though; I can't stand around too long.

Our daughter's 13 (yes, and is simply too cool, if you ask her) and when she and her friend come, she really can't seem too into the parent thing; she has to keep her cool reputation. No piercing, yet, so I'm counting my blessings.

My lovely bride is helping me with the rigging, though she has a tendency to get ethereal and start staring off into space. Considered these possibly petite mal seizures, but she just tells me I'm being mean.

She's a real fast learner and is picking-up the processes very well making the rig time slower.

As for the, 'just enjoy the rigging process and don't worry about how long it takes' I'm ok with that and do love touching the boat, no matter what Im doing with her. It's just that I have this annoying competitive nature.

I always want to improve what Im doing. Faster, neater, cleaner, more elegant, bla, bla, bla.

Annoying, isn't it? Sure there's no one else here with the same demon, right?

Michael


Michael

takes us a bit longer. We leave our X in a slip all summer, so we're not as handy as we once were when we trailor sailed. But only having to do it once a year is certainly a pleasure

Mine is dry-stored at marina w/ mast down for the winter. First time for a season? ... easily a whole day. Once the mast is up in dry storage, I actually COULD be on the water in 15 mins. but that NEVER happens. After the boat sits for a week it's too dirty to possibly enjoy sailing it. I hook up and tow to the wash area, get things shipshape, then tow to the ramp.

Takes an hour to launch even if the mast is already rigged. Question for those who can "launch in 15" ... didn't you spend that half hour in cleanup too, before leaving home