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Hoist-Launching Aero

Hi Shark, fully agree with the other posts, go for the beach. Think of the Aero like a toddler near the water, constant hands on supervision required. Rigging, sail & controls need to be sorted on terra firma, everything else ends in a capsize and still not rigged, just dripping wet. Matt

07/11/2025 08:11:00
[email protected]
Posts: 25

I think beach is the only option. If it is smooth sand I'd put the mast up and have the sail on the boom ready to hoist in the dinghy park, then wheel to the beach, take off the dolly leaving boat on the sand close to the water. Put the dolly somewhere safe (either leave higher up the beach if that's an option or wheel back to club. Return to boat and hoist, then if anyone there to help carry boat to water or gently slide along the sand. Only issue is if it is really blowing I'm not sure its safe to leave hull on the sand and Aeros are so light it could blow over. I've done this in most wind conditions though.

Best option - get another Aero sailor (or laser sailer) to help so one can look after boats while the other wheels the dollys away.

06/11/2025 10:57:00
gk.griffiths
Posts: 186

Hi Shark. You will never successfully stand in the boat and assemble all the boom end and top of the mast uphaul securely. I would launch from the beach where you can leave your trolley at the water edge ready for when you return.

05/11/2025 16:01:00
Mark1654
Posts: 24

Thanks, Matt!

Do you think it would work to step the mast after lowering the boat to the water? i.e. lash the three bars securely inside the boat while lowering it, leave the boat tied to the dock while I clear the dolly, and assemble/step/rig while the boat is in the water? Or is the boat in the water likely to capsize while I'm stepping/rigging?

05/11/2025 15:00:00
sharkjmurphy
Posts: 2

Hi Shark, welcome to the Aeros, you made a great choice! The Aero won't stay upright if you tie it up, once launched. As soon as you turn your back, it'll fall over. Depending on conditions, e.g. wind, waves, water depth, mast in, sail up, etc it might go turtle. I would try to launch from the beach, ask someone to pull up the launch trolley so it doesn't float away on the flood and doesn't block other beach users. Reverse on return, most beach users are happy to do that. The trolley is super light, so moving it is not much of a ask. All other options seem quite complicated. Good luck for your first 'splash' & enjoy the Aero!

05/11/2025 06:12:00
[email protected]
Posts: 25

Hello!

I live in Berkeley, CA and just bought an RS Aero. The marina closest to me (i.e. Berkeley Marina) has a "Small Boat" basin where many dinghies sail under the shelter of a substantial breakwater (artificial peninsula?). However, it does not have a proper boat ramp -- instead, dinghies use a parking-lot adjacent hydraulic hoist (see attached photo) to lower / lift the 5-10 feet (tide-dependent) drop to the water.

Has anyone ever used such a hoist with an Aero? Are there any good attachment points for a hoist?

This "small boat" basin does have a beach (attached annotated satellite view) where kayaks often launch, but it has nowhere to tie up a boat while walking the dolly back to the parking lot.

The marina does of course have a boat ramp in its main harbor. However, the main harbor is somewhat notorious -- narrow entrance/exits with rocky lee shore, directly exposed to the strong winds and waves of "the slot". I'd prefer the sheltered south basin at least until I'm more confident I can stay upright.

03/11/2025 06:23:00
sharkjmurphy
Posts: 2

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