Embarrassing question. Raise headsails on the hard?

[rfkneller]

Originally Posted by Clivevon

"No way am I launching a boat without the sails ready to go" No engine, then? Strapping down? I think many of us here are talking at cross purposes.
You are maybe talking about large dinghys or similar ? I am talking about a heavy 36 foot cruiser sitting on her 7500 lb wide flat bottom long fin keel with timber pit props wedged in under the bulkhead positions to prevent any sideways movement and connected together with timber battens nailed in. Over here, that is the usual way its done. Very few boats have cradles. There is NO WAY you should raise any canvas with that arrangement or anything like it.

You are right. There is no comparison. My boat is only 35 ft.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by boatsisboats

Have never had to raise head sails after being on the hard before.

Wondering if we should wait until after the splash?



Total newbie to this, have previously only bareboated.



Both head sails are down and we splash soon. Would you wait or hoist on the hard. Of course not attaching any sheets and of course with no wind in early morning.



Seems like it could end in tears.



Be kind...

As other have noted, in the water.

But even in the pen has its risks, as discovered by one of the boats in my marina.

I missed the actual event at the marina, but I was caught by the same gusts as I was sailing home. The owner had the sails up in a very light head wind to give them a rinse, the wind suddenly ramped up and reversed direction. (It caught me by surprise, but thankfully it was originally downwind for me.). The change pinned the mainsail against the spreaders on the boat in the pen. It did a lot of damage getting them down, big expensive boat, big expensive sail repairs.

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by Clivevon

"No way am I launching a boat without the sails ready to go" No engine, then? Strapping down? I think many of us here are talking at cross purposes.
You are maybe talking about large dinghys or similar ? I am talking about a heavy 36 foot cruiser sitting on her 7500 lb wide flat bottom long fin keel with timber pit props wedged in under the bulkhead positions to prevent any sideways movement and connected together with timber battens nailed in. Over here, that is the usual way its done. Very few boats have cradles. There is NO WAY you should raise any canvas with that arrangement or anything like it.

Not a big deal if caution is taken....

[argonauta1]

Been done but in zero wind and ready for a quick drop. Only if really necessary but best to wait post splash

[Kerryf]

DEFINITLY NOT!!!!!

[JBsurfin]

Originally Posted by boatsisboats

Have never had to raise head sails after being on the hard before.
Wondering if we should wait until after the splash?

Total newbie to this, have previously only bareboated.

Both head sails are down and we splash soon. Would you wait or hoist on the hard. Of course not attaching any sheets and of course with no wind in early morning.

Seems like it could end in tears.

Be kind...

No way, in fact my marina bars such a maneuver.

[Flagfish]

Wait until you're in the water.

It is very difficult to sail on land.

[APKetcher]

As many have said most yards don't want you to. I was on the hard in Indiantown and half way up the mast steps on my mizzen mast to maintain my wind turbine when the yard guys yelled at me that i was violating yard policy. They don't even want you to climb.

[Don C L]

Oh I dunno, this is how I launch my long keel engineless boat....

[Spring-Fever]

Definitely wait until IN THE WATER. (I actually started to raise my headsail whilst on the hard once - and the yard captain came running and screaming. He'd seen one too many bad accidents. I still get flashbacks of how stupid it would have been for me to attach the jib while I was on the hard. It clearly could have knocked the boat - and me - over on its side!)

[meirriba]

And why take the risk?
Any compelling reason to raise the sails on the hard?
Normal and safe procedure is to install sails in the water, on a calm day, and open sails for review during sea trial.
If you MUST raise the sails on the hard, do it on a calm day, and ensure extra props for the boat.
Be ready to free the sheets for any gust, and preferably do not open both sails at the same time.