Cockpit awash

[Moët]

Hello to everyone, I am a new member here having started sailing within the last year or so. I have bought a Hurley Silhouette which I'm currently getting ready for the sea.
I have a quick question: I was reading a post on washboards and was wondering how often you might expect the cockpit to be flooded with water from a wave? I understand this will depend on the sea state and size of boat, but frankly it sounds pretty horrific to me!
Thanks.

 

[Gwylan]

Largely depends on how really carp you are or how bad the conditions are

Silhouette - I'd put them in for any kind of adventurous sailing. Any smaller boat is a bit exposed in this department - a board in is a dry bed.

My experience with a 24 foot boat is that when you are full of water, after a bit of an issue, everything else is tough enough and you do not need several hundreds of kilos slopping about messing up your stability and all...

 

[Daydream believer]

Biggest problem with water in the cockpit is rain not waves
had one for several years never had water get into the cockpit from waves or spray
Do not worry i doubt if you would be going into serious stuff for a while anyway

 

[prv]

There's every possibility that you will never experience it in a lifetime of coastal cruising.

Pete

 

[Gwylan]

There's every possibility that you will never experience it in a lifetime of coastal cruising.

Pete

I thought that until we were knocked flat off the west of Scotland in a squall - dreadful mess to clear up and an hour of bailing and tidying up. Oh, and a change of underwear, nearly!

 

[MM5AHO]

I've had a wave break over the stern in a gale. Waves were about as high as the spreaders, and this one caught up to me and broke. It filled the cockpit which took perhaps 5 mins to drain. Without the washboards in I guess there might have been a few hundred litres inside the cabin. The next lowest "drain" from the coskpit is into the cabin.
It can happen, does happen, but not often.
Horrific? Not really. Testing? yes; Wet? very!

 

[Moët]

Thank you to everyone for the replies. It looks as though I should be able to avoid this problem, but I'll leave the washboard in anyway. I certainly don't plan being anywhere with waves as high as the spreaders!
Many thanks again.

 

[prv]

You don't need to leave the washboards in all the time - it would be ridiculous to keep it sealed up on a calm sunny day with only tiny ripples on the water. But being aware of the possibility hopefully means that if you do find yourself in rough water you'll remember to put the boards in in good time.

Pete

 

[Poignard]

The cockpit will also flood if you have several guests on board!

 

[William_H]

I don't know your boat and much depends on the height of the bridge deck. That is how high the bottom of the washboard is above the cockpit floor. In some boats not a big rise from the floor to the entrance in mine quite a large step. Washboards can be made in 2 parts so just the bottom can be fitted to effectively raise the bridgedeck. Also it depends on how close the sides of the hatch are to the sides of the boat. ie how close to the water the opening is whren the boat is laid down.
For safety the washboards should have a way of locking them down so they won't fall out in a knock down or inversion. It should be possible to unlock the washboards from inside and outside. These are requirements for ocean racing safety gear. In my case I have a saddle mounted under the inside of the entrance and a small plastic cam cleat on the inside of the top washboard. a piece of light rope goes through the cleat to hold it down. I can reach in from the top sliding hatch to unlock the tie down. Incidentally it is also a requirement to be able to lock the sliding top part from outside and inside. I made a short shaft that goes through the frame of the wash boards near the top. This has a lever attached each end. One end on the outside is the handle the other on the inside is a handle but will turn upwards to jamb the sliding hatch closed. You also need something similar on the front hatch.
Now all this is to meet the safety requirements and certainly in my case are very much over specced. I only race at night occasionally in sheltered waters but the requirements are the same. it was not too hard to meet these requirements but I never expect to use the safety features.

As said in a knockdown it is nice to know no water will not enter the cabin. Mine is very clear and dry when laid down with no washboards but you do not know what it would be like with big waves. So if it ever happens that this might happen best be safe.
Other wise in practice washboards may protect your boat in the case of heavy rain and blocked cockpit drains when left on a mooring. But then they would probably not be a good seal. The only protection here really is keeping drains clean and frequent checks on the boat.

DSC_1897.jpg (96.1 KB)

Here is a photo of my little boat laid down for self righting test. Note this is with no crew. In reality with 4 people in the cockpit she sits a lot lower and water pours into the cokpit but not into the cabin. Inadvertently tested many times with the aid of a spinnacker. But not with big waves.
good luck olewill

 

[KellysEye]

We were taking a charter yacht back to base in Oyster Pond, on the windward side of St Martin, a gale was blowing and we were going downwind followed by two 90 degree turns. We had our packed luggage on the floor and took a big wave over the back which soaked the luggage. In any decent sea use the washboard.

 

[temptress]

I used to sail a Silhouette. We even went across the Channel from the South coast on occasion. Getting the cockpit flooded is possible but remote and only likely in bad waves.

In 30 years in lots of boats it has happened to me but less than 5 times and usually pushing a boat in heavy seas.

IMO there are other more important things to worry about. Silhouettes have been known to make serious offshore passages.

 

[Seajet]

I have had the cockpit of my 22' boat filled twice - it drains quickly through the outboard well but it's still something I'd prefer to avoid.

Once was in heavy weather when hit by a succession of big waves over the side, and one could say it was fair enough.

The other time though was in a Force 1-2 ! we were approaching Poole Fairway and I waited too long going slowly under sail when it was time to use the engine - we got near the slop and ' popple ' of tidally disturbed waves near Hamstead Ledge and a lazy wave a little ebigger than the rest just casually toppled over into the cockpit; annoying as it was caused by my carelessness and an entertainment radio on a cockpit seat was ruined.

 

[Ianhampshire]

I suffered a knock down a few years ago off Portland Bill and both washboards were out at the time. Common sense now tells me I should have had at least one of them in and secured but I didn't. Result was a lot of water in the cabin with a lot more sprayed all over the switchpanel etc by the wind. The cockpit drained quickly but it was never going to prevent a considerable amount of cold seawater coming into the boat. Now, whenever the wind starts to rise, I always put the lower washboard in place. It doesnt stop me from going into the cabin easily and it certainly gives me more peace of mind. I suppose in very bad weather I would then also drop the top washboard in place as well.

 

[Seajet]

Agreed, I usually have the lower of the two washboards in unless it's very calm; I can still get in & out of the cabin quite easily.

There are also the points which the Inquiry into the 1979 Fastnet Race tragedy highlighted, that washboards should be capable of being secured so they do not fall out if the boat is inverted by a large wave, and main hatches should be able to be secured - and opened - from both the cockpit and from inside the cabin.

 

[Moët]

Thanks again to everyone who has replied it all makes interesting reading.
I'm also encouraged to hear that the Silhouette is so capable.
Has there ever been a roller mechanism for washboards that would allow total adjustment? I'm thinking of something like the cover on a roller top desk with its series of wooden laths backed with fabric.

 

[Sandy]

I have a quick question: I was reading a post on washboards and was wondering how often you might expect the cockpit to be flooded with water from a wave?

Never, if it does you are in deep do do ...

frankly it sounds pretty horrific to me!

It is and you hope that the cycle clips or baler twine is good enough to hold in all that do do...

Don't let it put you off.

 

[prv]

Has there ever been a roller mechanism for washboards that would allow total adjustment? I'm thinking of something like the cover on a roller top desk with its series of wooden laths backed with fabric.

I've not seen exactly that, but a few boats have a clever slot below the hatch that the boards slide down into, instead of lifting up, removing, and then wondering where to put the damn things

Pete

 

[Daydream believer]

We were taking a charter yacht back to base in Oyster Pond, on the windward side of St Martin, a gale was blowing and we were going downwind followed by two 90 degree turns. We had our packed luggage on the floor and took a big wave over the back which soaked the luggage. In any decent sea use the washboard.

We are talking a 17ft 3 ins boat here . Silhouettes have been known to undertake long off shore trips but very few. Most are used for short coastal trips or a day trip up a river etc--- for which they are admirably suited I might add - having nicked my dad's for a couple of weekends on the Blackwater plus 2 weeks on the broads when i was 12

 

[rotrax]

Got a big wave in the cockpit in the Needles Channel in 2005. The wave,from just to one side and astern was higher than the boom.

It hit the lower part of the sail, snapped the mainsheet fitting from the boom, filled the cockpit to the brim, threw the Skipper across the cockpit into a coachroof winch, breaking a couple of his ribs.

I was steering, the tiller kept me from being chucked about.

The good news was that the washboards were in, the sliding hatch was closed and we were clipped on.

My lifejacket went off- reassuring, but cost a refill kit.

Our current boat is very dry, but we have had the boards in a few times.

It is easier to put the boards in and out than to dry wet gear............................