Rigging a Getaway single-handed? Can it be done?

I love my ramp.

It sounds like the trick would be to put beach wheels on or under the trailer. Then you have a tilting carrier with rollers for the hulls and a bow winch to load with, then pull the entire rig up the beach.

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Frank, sailing '02 Getaway in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney
(Hobie 17 RIP, storm of '05)

I have a bad back, so lifting the mast can be an issue. To solve this, and to allow one person to rig the boat I attached a 2"reciever mount to the base of the vertical strut that holds the mast using large U bolts. I slide a winch mounted to a reciever hitch into it, pin it, then run the cable through a snatch block hooked to the top of the shaft and then hooked to a 1/4 shackle in the top hole on the forestay adjuster. We have a trolling motor, so I use the same battery to run the winch. I have a 5:1 downhaul on the mast that I hook to the right bungee stay on the middle cross beam of the cat. This keeps the mast oriented to one side so that it rotates correctly. Using the remote winch control I stand on the tramp and guide the mast up using the winch to do the heavy lifting, mostly making sure it remains turned until it is high enough to rotate. I also use the Cheata motor mount in the up position to get the mast above 90 degrees, making it much easier to lift (though the winch will certainly provide enough force, I'd rather not subject the rigging to unnecessary abuse.) This may seem complex, but all that is really involved is finding a way to mount a winch to the mast strut and adding a downhaul to the mast (a worthwhile addition in its own right.) I can rig the boat alone nearly as quickly as I can rig it with my wife. I also use the winch to drop the mast as it allows much more control than doing so manually. I mounted a lockable plastic trunk ahead of the toy box, so all the parts can be stored on the trailer, but out of the weather.

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Winging It
2007 Getaway