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

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.

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

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.

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.

No problem is insoluble, except maybe string theory.

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