Leaving dinghy on mooring

[PeterGR]

Hi lads,
I have two RS Ventures on a mooring in a quiet inlet.
Marketed to be suitable to leave on a mooring however they have capsized on me a couple of times.

Short of dropping the masts each time, I am thinking of ways how to try prevent capsizing on mooring while it's afloat for the summer.
In the long-run I may consider replacing the centreboard with a heavier fill.
Also considering adding buoyancy bags/ fuel bags/ water bags or similar, filled with seawater to secure on the deck to add some extra weight to the hull while left unattended on mooring, and dump when going sailing.

Has anyone else thought of a creative or practical way to manage this in their own scenarios?
Thanks.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Temporary water ballast sounds like a good idea. It would need to be centred and contained otherwise it might actually increase the heeling moment.

 

[RJJ]

Hi lads,
I have two RS Ventures on a mooring in a quiet inlet.
Marketed to be suitable to leave on a mooring however they have capsized on me a couple of times.

Short of dropping the masts each time, I am thinking of ways how to try prevent capsizing on mooring while it's afloat for the summer.
In the long-run I may consider replacing the centreboard with a heavier fill.
Also considering adding buoyancy bags/ fuel bags/ water bags or similar, filled with seawater to secure on the deck to add some extra weight to the hull while left unattended on mooring, and dump when going sailing.

Has anyone else thought of a creative or practical way to manage this in their own scenarios?
Thanks.

Only guessing, but how about a couple of fenders along each gunwale?

 

[Dan Tribe]

Do you leave the rudder and/ or centreboard down? This can cause the boat to "trip up".

 

[scruff]

RS ventures are quite new and I think still in production. I'd bounce your issue off RS Sailboats to see how they recommend leaving one on a mooring

 

[Refueler]

Ships lifeboats (traditional open type) are terrible as they are like corks on the water ............ so the recc'd procedure is to fill bilges with water if any weather expected.

Trouble with 'bouyancy aids' above water - is they are nothing till they get sufficiently submerged to create the upward moment.

Is there a way you can suspend weight UNDER the boats by line to each side of gunwhale ? leaving weights with the mooring strop when boats in use ?
Putting weights above waterline can create a worse situation as the centre of gravity now moves up ....
Water filled ballons are no good under as they just become near zero weight in water.

 

[Kelpie]

Just how hard is it to raise/drop the mast? Maybe concentrate on making that easier? I could easily do it on my Wayfarer but I don't know if your boat has a tabernacle.

 

[lw395]

If it's not a drying mooring, the 'old way' used to be a heavy weight hung under the boat from the shrouds or rowlock holes.

One thing to consider is that a heavy mooring pulling the bow down will make some boats much less stable.

 

[PeterGR]

Only guessing, but how about a couple of fenders along each gunwale?

Not sure if that would do the job.
I did consider outriggers but that might look a bit daft!

 

[PeterGR]

Do you leave the rudder and/ or centreboard down? This can cause the boat to "trip up".

Yep foils are up as it's shallow enough tidal water - so potential for carnage if boat capsized during the night with the mast in the mud.

 

[PeterGR]

Ships lifeboats (traditional open type) are terrible as they are like corks on the water ............ so the recc'd procedure is to fill bilges with water if any weather expected.

Trouble with 'bouyancy aids' above water - is they are nothing till they get sufficiently submerged to create the upward moment.

Is there a way you can suspend weight UNDER the boats by line to each side of gunwhale ? leaving weights with the mooring strop when boats in use ?
Putting weights above waterline can create a worse situation as the centre of gravity now moves up ....
Water filled ballons are no good under as they just become near zero weight in water.

Hmmmm, I like where you're going with this!
I might explore this further!

 

[Refueler]

If it's not a drying mooring, the 'old way' used to be a heavy weight hung under the boat from the shrouds or rowlock holes.

One thing to consider is that a heavy mooring pulling the bow down will make some boats much less stable.

As I suggested in post #6 .... old ways are still good ..

 

[PeterGR]

Just how hard is it to raise/drop the mast? Maybe concentrate on making that easier? I could easily do it on my Wayfarer but I don't know if your boat has a tabernacle.

No dropping a mast is not an option.
Well it is, of course it is.
But I'd rather go sailing then spend half my day messing with masts while on a swinging mooring.
And there are others who will be using the boat that would not be able to manage a mast.

 

[PeterGR]

If it's not a drying mooring, the 'old way' used to be a heavy weight hung under the boat from the shrouds or rowlock holes.

One thing to consider is that a heavy mooring pulling the bow down will make some boats much less stable.

It's a shallow enough mooring but this idea has potential.

 

[LadyInBed]

You need a 'Flopper Stopper'
You can make your own - several large funnels distributed down a length of rope (held in place by a knot below each funnel) with a weight on the end of the rope. Make two and drop one over each side.

 

[Refueler]

You need a 'Flopper Stopper'
You can make your own - several large funnels distributed down a length of rope (held in place by a knot below each funnel) with a weight on the end of the rope. Make two and drop one over each side.

The thing is ... is the capsize when plenty of water under her ... or when not so much water ?

'Flopper Stopper' relies on water depth ............. weight hanging close up underneath or one either side just below waterline ... work in any depth.