Trailer update and a to do list for winter

 The new trailer is working well on steep ramps. It needs to have the 'rope' treatment on shallower ones i.e. I have to chock the wheels, tie a rope between tow bar ball and snubber arm on trailer and then draw forward and let the trailer fall back on the rope. The trailer has to be almost fully immersed and then Arwen floats off easily. Its just an extra five minute job at a shallow ramp and I've become quite practiced at it.  On steeper ramps, it isn't necessary. 

I always rig up and allow the wheel bearings to cool before immersing the trailer. I also pump in additional grease into the bearing hubs using a grease gun if need be. I always do this after washing down the trailer after a launch and before putting the boat back on the driveway. Such quick tasks will look after the bearings and prolong their life. 

Occasionally on a launch, Arwen gets stuck on her trailer. Not always, but occasionally and I've worked out why. Her centre case bottom slot area is quite wide and it occasionally sticks against one particular roller so stopping it from rolling off. Thus the trailer needs one more quick modification. All I need to do is to move the snubber arm assembly aft by around 10 -15cm. This means that the wider slot base will then sit firmly on the last but one roller. This will also increase the rear overhang of the boat and so the stern will get into the water and float off more quickly. Hopefully, I won't then need to use the 'rope' trick on shallower ramps. I just need to find the time to make the adjustment.

Retrieval has never been a problem. Arwen comes on straight if there is no wind and cross currents. The water level has to be just below the base of the first roller onto the trailer. 

Getting a trailer for Arwen was a difficult task and as you can read in previous posts, I looked at lots, consulted a few companies and only Admiral trailers came back with ideas and thoughts on how to adapt one of their stock trailers to meet her 'unique' bottom and hull configuration. They did a good job! 

As always, at the end of a sailing season, Arwen will need some maintenance over the winter and into spring. The list this winter is as follows: 

• touching up the hull bottom in places where there are odd scrapes and dings from beaching, odd contact with rocks etc. A sand to the undercoat, and then three top coats should do it. 
• sanding down and re-varnishing the inner coaming area. It is looking 'worn'. Doesn't need to be done but cosmetically it would look better
• the trailer modification as outlined above
• a re-varnish 'top up' coat on the mast - done every other year
• rubbing down the rub rails and resealing with burgess sealer - done every other year
• a thorough clean before 'wintering her'
• Not necessary but I might just do it - is to take off the centre board top cap and lift out the centre board so I can check the centre board casings. I did this during COVID lock down but that is now two years ago and little bits of gravel etc will work their way up the sides, so it is always worth checking every couple of years. May need a quick repaint on the inside of the centreboard slot. 

If I had the space, I'd empty her completely, roll her over, sand the entire hull and repaint it, not because it is damaged but because after 14 years, she is looking slightly 'dull'. But then, its only going to get scrapes again next year, so is it worth it? 

I have some white Toplac and I might recoat all the thwart tops etc inside the cockpit. I did the floors with grey Interlux paint and sand additive just over a year and a half ago - so the cockpit soles are all fine. Grubby but fine. 

I don't know about how other boat owners feel about their winter maintenance lists but I always enjoy it. Arwen has done remarkably well - fourteen years sailing and only minimal touch ups.