Deep and seaworthy cockpits

Re: MAB?

Well Parahandy doesn't have any of those.

MAB was (I think) a Jimiism for Manky Auld Boat in some other posting. As a devout Englishman who learned to speak proper, I would have used the more correct MOB version.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Fastest cockpit drain on a sinking boat

Is a frightened man with a bucket!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>
1.gif
</A>
 
Re: MAB?

Surely thats MLB, The well known manufacturers and suppliers of cut price rudders to the mass's /forums/images/icons/smile.gif Mike.

<hr width=100% size=1>My Mum say's I'm not a fat b@st@rd, just heavy boned.
 
With modern braod sterned yachts to chances of getting pooped i.e a breaking wave over the stern isn't great as the boat usually picks up her skirts and surfs in front of the wave. Older boats with a narrow stern and less likely to surf, are more prone and for both as far as I'm concerned the bigger the cockpit drains the better. I've yet to be pooped, but having written this down now fully expect the worse.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
First 38 is relatively wide, and it was surfing when I got wet. Top of a big wave fell off onto us. This was in Hurst Narrows, having taken the North Channel to try to avoid such unpleasantness.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.
 
Us too, took one over the stern on Poole Bar, E F7 and wind against tide, we hit 19kts on the surf momentarily, stayed at over 16kts for a bit longer but it all came to an abrupt end in the back of the wave in front and the wave we were riding broke into the cockpit. The water was ankle deep in the cockpit but cleared quickly through the big drains, no other waves caused the same and the one culprit was in the (relatively) shallow water by Bar Buoy, we had just seen the depth drop to just 12ft (it was LWS). I think I should have headed more at an angle, that way we might have continued with the WOW factor and we might have kept dry feet! We only had 1/3rd of the genoa out and no main and just 10 minutes earlier we were finishing lunch sat on the coamings, and we weren't wearing oilies or boots....

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
We have two 4 inch drains through transom, as they are marked USA, I think prevoius owner's took a wave mid Atlantic and fitted them over there. From talking to them when we bought the boat, they filled the cockpit, with the drain plugged, removed plug and timed to empty, nearly 30 miniutes !!!

Brian

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
It just goes to show how big they need to be and how inadequate many cockpits are! Ours now are close to 4'' dia and go straight down, and the bottoms are usually above the water whilst stationary. On past boats we had some that were just 1'' dia, with grills fitted to stop things dropping through and the floor not too high above the waterline.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
One thing which doesn't seem to have been mentioned here is the importance of the bridgedeck and companionway protection.

I have been pooped once - in the Sadler Barracuda prototype - when running before a F9 gale in the Irish Sea. The large cockpit was completely filled but drained through two medium sized drains in about a minute. It was amazing how fast the water was sucked out once the boat got moving again. By the time we were back up to 15 knots, the stuff was flying out of the drains.

But the important thing was that nothing went below because the bridgedeck was reasonably high and the washboards were in. In heavy weather the companionway should be blocked to at least the height of the side decks either by a permanent bridgedeck or a secure washboard(s).

Both deep and shallow, open cockpits have their advantages and suit differnet types of boats and sailing. But keeping water out of the boat interior is the key.

<hr width=100% size=1>JJ<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by jamesjermain on 01/07/2004 10:12 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Isn\'t surfing when you are most at risk?

The time I was most comprehensively pooped was surfing, just as we came over an underwater 'cliff' off the Canaries. Rather overcanvassed for an F6-7, as we crossed the cliff the waves suddenly increased. The yacht slid down one, buried its bows and stopped, the next wave behind broke and completely washed over the yacht. The centre cockpit was filled. Most of the water was just thrown back out over the scuppers as the yacht wriggled free, rather than going down the drains. SWMBO who was steering took the full force of the wave and stopped too much from going down the hatch. She was not amused!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: Isn\'t surfing when you are most at risk?

That ties in with our cockpit full, fine whilst surfing but being stopped by the wave in front was what got us wet. Having had a centre cockpit W33 for 14 years I thought centre cockpits might be immune, we had one 12hr downwinder with huge seas/45kt gusts in her but stayed dry, but it was in deep water unlike off Poole Bar where we had one (just the one) break over as we crossed the shallow bit in our latest boat with an aft cockpit.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Re: Isn\'t surfing when you are most at risk?

My most nightmarish time was when I arrived at the Needles too early, running in front of a W F7. The tide was still flowing west. It was more years ago than I care to remember but my children still talk about it and I'm trying to blot it out. I was in my then fairly new Jeanneau Sunlight which has an easily driven hull. We had about 10 ft waves practically vertical and the best way to cope was to carry as little sail as possible and there was little danger of hitting the wave in front. There might have been if I was sailing much faster. We never got pooped and the waves passed harmlessly under us. It lasted fo only about 10 minutes but it seemed like a day.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
In my current baot we have a deep cockpit with small drains, but even in F10 we have never taken more than a small bucket full into the cockpit.

The drains are used mostly in harbour to remove any rainwater than has indavertently got into the cockpit.

In another boat we were pooped enterinr harbour witha wind over tide situation. The water level was armpit deep (when sitting) and filled the cockpit completely which drained rapidly through the 1 1/4" drains, a small amount of water got below over the lower two washboards but again was quickly pumpde overboard.

I would go for a deep and seawirthy cockpit every time, no AWB for me ever.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top