Jet of Water From the Cockpit Drains

[savageseadog]

Have you ever had one? I did once in the South Stack Race (off Anglesey)

I've been in lots of rough tidal water over the years but only once did I ever get water coming up through the cockpit drains. We have a height of about a foot between the cockpit sole and the waterline. When the water came it was a very solid high pressure jet which would probably have gone about 10ft high if I'd not been in the way. It was very curious and must be a very low probablility event as I've never had it before or since in 20 years.

 

[lw395]

It can happen. The pressure generated by the stern slamming down on a wave, if you have drains that exit through the hull rather than transom, or a wave hitting the stern.
Lucky it was your cockpit drain and not the engine exhaust. These effects have wrecked a few engines by overcoming the waterlock etc. I've known two people lose engines this way.

 

[fireball]

no - only through a centreboard case in a dinghy - normally just bubbles through, but once we had it hit the boom - mind u - we were doing 20+ knots in a laser2000 (blowing F7)

 

[boatmike]

Have you ever had one? I did once in the South Stack Race (off Anglesey)

I've been in lots of rough tidal water over the years but only once did I ever get water coming up through the cockpit drains. We have a height of about a foot between the cockpit sole and the waterline. When the water came it was a very solid high pressure jet which would probably have gone about 10ft high if I'd not been in the way. It was very curious and must be a very low probablility event as I've never had it before or since in 20 years.

Think yourself lucky. It's only normally superyachts that have bidets....

 

[Searush]

We chartered an Atlanta 24 once in Scotland & that used to get water burbling up thro' the cockpit drains once you got it going (that took a bit of effort tho). SWMBO & I still laugh at the look on the kids' faces when they saw it. They were convinced we were sinking. It took a while to reassure them.

 

[sailorman]

wot boat
did she slam down

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

regular occurrence in my old Prout cat