A false floor in a dinghy...best in ply or something else?

[Greenheart]

Thanks for the favourable comparison Pete. She was in a sad state at the end of a long hard racing life when I bought her. I reckon she's in her prime now, as a relaxed fast cruiser.

Regarding the oars, I was smart (or lucky) in running a short length of shock-cord through two sets of existing holes, fore and aft in each gunwale edge, as a place to secure the oars...

...and, while thinking of other things, I accidentally ran the cord over the outside of the gunwale, then back up through the other hole. Quite fortuitously, I found the result was that the oars can be hung equally securely above or below the gunwale, and it only takes a moment to flick the leeward oar up, so it can't cause any drag...

...although to my surprise, after several trips in winds often up to ten knots, I found the oars to be bone dry despite them having spent the whole sailing time below the gunwales.

It's true that even when the wind was barely force 1, I haven't needed to row. But, I haven't yet explored windless tree-lined creeks or shallows where the board must come up.

Like other things I've fitted which set club-members (and forumites) shaking their heads in disbelief/disapproval, there's a good reason for it. I don't make changes without reasons.

 

[Greenheart]

...have you done a capsize drill yet?

Sorry Iain, I missed your question, we posted almost simultaneously. I haven't done a capsize drill because I can't be bothered to spend an hour squeezing myself into my wetsuit.

Now that I have a trapeze harness, the day must inevitably come when I resign myself to many dunkings, and a capsize will be on the schedule of entertainments that day.

Meanwhile, I reckon the fact that I haven't capsized, nor even heeled much despite singlehanding an Osprey without a trapeze (or very much skill) is testament to success in taming the sailplan. When once she did repeatedly heel further than my hiking could prevent, I steered head to wind and dropped half the main, strapping the flakes with sail-ties...

...and I found with the deep reef (sewn into the main last year) the sail actually seems to set better than when unreefed. Less baggy, and the boat stays beautifully balanced.

Given my non-hectic way of sailing a design that was meant for the performance-minded, I've discovered there's space to sit in the boat rather than on it...

...hence thoughts about leveling portions of the sole. That's all this thread was meant to be about.

 

[Lakesailor]

Agreed...that is a massive improvement. Nice colour choice too.

But Dan...have you done a capsize drill yet?

I haven't done a capsize drill because I can't be bothered to spend an hour squeezing myself into my wetsuit.

Yes Dan it is looking very much better than when you started.

Better to squeeze yourself into a wet suit than someone else squeeze you into a body bag. I did a couple of hours capsize practice in my Solo and learned such a lot. Specifically how bloody easy it is to capsize.
The question of exciting sailing is a bit like comparing an Morris 1000 to an Aston Martin. You can have great fun, more safely, in the slower car.
Given an F3/4 the clinker dinghy could keep up with a Laser 16 that used to sail the same water. In light airs it was a bit sluggish though.

 

[rwoofer]

Sell the Osprey and get an Albacore. Sidebenches and thwart inside. Easy to singlehand. Good dry storage in the bow. Oars store underneath sidedecks.

I know this sounds completely unhelpful (especially as it has been suggested before), but there comes a time when you need to cut your loses and start with a boat that is suited to the task. My fear is with all the investments that you still need to make to get it to suit your needs, you could get immediately from an Albacore off-the-shelf.

 

[Iain C]

Dan

I really cannot believe you sail on the sea and you've never done a capsize drill. You've had all summer for goodness sake when you don't even need a wetsuit. So what's the plan when she goes turtle and you don't know what to do, and don't even know if you have sufficient weight to right her? And what happens when she comes up full of water, and your self bailers are taped up, and you can't get her to sail and can't shift the water? You have no idea what happens because you've never tried it. Can you get on the gunwales with those oars in the way? Will the board drop back into the case if she turtles? Does she float low enough to get on the board? Can you swim in to free the main jib with all that string in the way? Do you have to blow the kicker too or will she come up with it on? Which way to the wind will she lie? Do you have sufficient lard for a standard recovery or is the only way an Eskimo roll as per a Contender? Do you even know what that is and the where you can come a cropper doing it? You do realise that with a deep reefed main she will turtle super quick don't you...far faster than a standard boat?

Sorry to get on my soapbox but that seems that you are expecting someone else to risk their skin to come out and help. Assuming you can raise the alarm in the first place, that is. Fine, persevere with arguably the "wrong" boat, I kinda get what you are doing and I think you've done well, but the one thing you can do to give you the best chance if it goes wrong, a capsize drill, costs nothing at all yet you've not done it. And the wetsuit excuse is just that, an excuse. Sorry mate, but I wouldn't go out on the sea in a kayak or a windsurfer as I'd have no idea how to get myself back if it went wrong, why is a big powerful racing dinghy any different? 20 minutes to put on a wetsuit is quicker than god knows how long starting threads about hoistable mast floats and ballasted centreboards and sailing in fog for goodness sake.

 

[Greenheart]

I really must stop posting idle questions relating to my own sailing, and stick to discussions on the wider subject. I manage quite well, despite apparently only doing things which the forum doesn't recommend! Thanks anyway, I'll sign out. Ça suffit.


Oh, I ought to put in a good word for Pinnell & Bax, of whom I expressed discontent this year when they took a month to tell me they'd need another month to supply grey Progrip...

...I phoned this week to ask if the grey strips I want are in stock; I was told they were, I ordered immediately, and less than 18hrs later the postman left a card saying a parcel is waiting for me at the depot. Pretty good service.

 

[onesea]

Dan

The boat looks fab I have watched your boating with interest and the odd comment, not always positive. Your are achieving your goal, keep posting your idle questions I like the debate they cause...

Now to ask why the shackle before the bowline on the main sheet can it not just go round the standing part?
One my SWMBO agreed with (after some stern warnings from me stopping her) the day our big boats main block departed in a jybe, she was holding the rope. Never let anyone wrap a rope round there hand..
The final one is the capsize drill, I am in a similar situation to you have a dinghy not capsized it yet although have capsized and righted this type of boat in history... I think your fairly local my Lark has a road trailer so towing it not a problem do you want to do a days tootling followed by a few capsizes (I have no wet suit so no just a change of clothes)...

Edit to add:
Have you thought about some of the bamboo duck board suggested in another thread? Cheap and easily modified no varnish so low maintenance. I am thinking about some for decking in the toilet on my big boat.... Looking at the shape of your bilge you could even get away with making it partially decked so her fee are lower than her bum...

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Re the capsize drill. I cannot understand the repeated emphasis on "because I can't be bothered to spend an hour squeezing myself into my wetsuit".

Do you normally sail while wearing a wetsuit? If not, just do the exercise while wearing the clothes that you would normally have; it would be a more meaningful exercise, IMHO.

 

[Lakesailor]

Too cold now. Which I seem to remember was the reason given last year.
I think it may be that Dan, having invested so much time and brain-power into converting it into a cruising dinghy is reluctant to admit that it may capsize.

 

[prv]

Too cold now. Which I seem to remember was the reason given last year.

And nonsense anyway - this is the time of year that the sea is warmest.

Pete

 

[Lakesailor]

Ah yes, Sea. I wouldn't be jumping into Windermere any time at the moment.

 

[Greenheart]

I wouldn't be jumping into Windermere any time at the moment.

Why not?

For the record, maybe I will go out one day, not for fun, but just to get wet and see how poorly the boat sails, lying on her side...

...but I don't ache for the experience or the knowledge, so whatever it teaches me about righting a dinghy, I'll afterwards continue to sail with avoidance of capsize foremost in mind. I've sailed hundreds of miles over thirty years (including very long breaks) without ever going over, except for a few instances of elementary mishandling, decades ago.

Meanwhile, in the interests of geniality, would the capsizist parties kindly cork it? If I had asked about it here, I'd welcome the response, but it's nothing whatever to do with the question, yet again it pops up unsolicited, like a liver-specialist at a wine club.

The boat looks fab I have watched your boating with interest and the odd comment, not always positive. Your are achieving your goal, keep posting your idle questions I like the debate they cause...

Onesea, I thank you for contributing, particularly for returning to the subject of the thread! I was so bored by the kind concern of the voices of doom, I had asked the system not to inform me of subsequent posts - but I had a glance tonight, in case anyone had since answered the question I began with, and you had... :encouragement:

You are completely right about my mainsheet shackle - no need for it at all. I'll take it off next time.

Regarding decking - bamboo had me thinking of allotments, but I found this under "bamboo duckboards". It looks heavy, but nice if it doesn't need water-repelling treatment:

All further contributions on the subject of decking, are very welcome!

 

[Lakesailor]

Why not?

it pops up unsolicited, like a liver-specialist at a wine club.

a) cos the lake is cold. (no currents, see).

b) just trying to help. Can't understand why you are so reluctant. I have never capsized except for my practice and then a couple of trips later I capsized twice in half an hour. I didn't intend to or push it, but was glad of my drill.

 

[Kelpie]

One point about duckboards, slats etc- try to avoid any overhanging ends that would invite loops of rope to snag on them. The one in your photo doesn't show such an issue, but as you note, looks bloomin heavy, more like a palette...

P.S. SWMBO and I really *enjoy* doing capsize drills once we got over the initial apprehension.

 

[Searush]

One point about duckboards, slats etc- try to avoid any overhanging ends that would invite loops of rope to snag on them. The one in your photo doesn't show such an issue, but as you note, looks bloomin heavy, more like a palette...

P.S. SWMBO and I really *enjoy* doing capsize drills once we got over the initial apprehension.

And that is the crux of the matter, a successful practice drill completely eliminates the fear of capsize & makes the sailing much more free & easy.

It doesn't remove the reluctance to get cold & wet tho, so it doesn't increase the likelihood of capsize, but the ability to see that capsize is only a nuisance rather than a danger makes the whole experience much better.

EDIT: This is one reason why "rescue boats" ought not to be needed except in a real mishap. Simple capsizes should be part of club training so that in most cases the boat is recovered by it's crew without any need for "rescue"

 

[Greenheart]

I don't know anything that looks better than teak gratings on yachts - but even I can see that that much solid woodwork doesn't belong in a dinghy.

Still, when I had another look at my 12mm ply panels, epoxied for another purpose and now not needed, I was surprised by how lightweight they are.

They're not broad enough to cover the space between the centreboard & the bulkhead - but they'll level the forrard end, where the halyard bags tend to hang like briny teabags.

 

[Toutvabien]

And that is the crux of the matter, a successful practice drill completely eliminates the fear of capsize & makes the sailing much more free & easy.

It doesn't remove the reluctance to get cold & wet tho, so it doesn't increase the likelihood of capsize, but the ability to see that capsize is only a nuisance rather than a danger makes the whole experience much better.

EDIT: This is one reason why "rescue boats" ought not to be needed except in a real mishap. Simple capsizes should be part of club training so that in most cases the boat is recovered by it's crew without any need for "rescue"

I agree, and the drill helps sort out how to deal with the unforeseen, I used to race an Osprey and they are great sailing boats but after a capsize ours used to come up with a good deal of water in it that we had to get rid of before we could get racing properly again, our tactic used to be to get the boat sailing fast on a reach and open the self bailers, I would imagine that emptying the baot with a hand bailer might take a little time, so probably best to try it in a controlled and planned manner, just saying....