'Safe' Boats

[Fire99]

The words 'safe' and 'boat' are most likely to be seen in the advertising sections, esp if the targets are inexperienced buyers.
A

Quite possibly but it is a phrase that's often banded around.

That said, there is the RCD category on new boats, and to a degree that does give an indicator of presumed 'safety' in different conditions.

 

[Tranona]

Rounding up is not difficult in a Bavaria.

Even with a couple of reefs in the main, a crew needed to be constantly dedicated to dump the mainsheet, before T-boning anything within spitting distance.

Sailed lots of them on corporate charters, varying sizes, but all seemed to be prone to it.

Think that says more about the people who are sailing them, particularly the skipper, than the boats.

If a numpty like me can manage to sail his for 10 years without considering it a problem, should not be difficult for a decent skipper to learn how to adjust his sailing style to suit the boat.

 

[Fire99]

Think that says more about the people who are sailing them, particularly the skipper, than the boats.

If a numpty like me can manage to sail his for 10 years without considering it a problem, should not be difficult for a decent skipper to learn how to adjust his sailing style to suit the boat.

To be fair, you're exactly right. Different boats do like/need a very different sailing style.

Our Bavaria (and please not turn this into a Bavaria thread) was totally fine until we deliberately kept full sails as the wind picked up.. Just to watch the results.

 

[rob2]

A racing boat can be safe if it is adequately crewed - number and proficiency. When we're out cruising, though, most of us are either a little short-handed or are carrying passengers in place of crew and the nature of the boat under adverse conditions becomes more important.

As the average boat gets bigger and waterline lengths generally increase, safety at sea improves, but for any given length of boat, those designed for their sailing performance rather than accomodation in port are inherently safer as already said as their motion is less incapacitating for the crew. A lot of small boats suffer in this respect as in rough conditions their progress is severely restricted by slamming and pitching. A wider chord keel, whether fin or long, will improve directional stability as will a vee section in the for'ard sections.

Mind you, under inclement conditions the worrying part is trying to make port without hitting anything! An argument for an extra reef and motor sailing?

Rob.

 

[Fire99]

A racing boat can be safe if it is adequately crewed - number and proficiency. When we're out cruising, though, most of us are either a little short-handed or are carrying passengers in place of crew and the nature of the boat under adverse conditions becomes more important.

As the average boat gets bigger and waterline lengths generally increase, safety at sea improves, but for any given length of boat, those designed for their sailing performance rather than accomodation in port are inherently safer as already said as their motion is less incapacitating for the crew. A lot of small boats suffer in this respect as in rough conditions their progress is severely restricted by slamming and pitching. A wider chord keel, whether fin or long, will improve directional stability as will a vee section in the for'ard sections.

Mind you, under inclement conditions the worrying part is trying to make port without hitting anything! An argument for an extra reef and motor sailing?

Rob.

Thanks Rob,

My boat is only small and I don't mind bouncing about a bit. I guess some of it depends on what you determine as significant risk.

A risk for me is having hank-on foresails which means on more than one occasion i've been bouncing up and down on the deck whilst swapping down a size. I'm not gonna fall off whilst clipped on but it hurts your backside a bit after a while.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Nigel Calder wrote a book called Cruising or Cruiser's Handbook. The first half of the book discusses the features of boats that answers your questions. Those features are basically hull & rig and systems.

 

[alant]

Think that says more about the people who are sailing them, particularly the skipper, than the boats.

If a numpty like me can manage to sail his for 10 years without considering it a problem, should not be difficult for a decent skipper to learn how to adjust his sailing style to suit the boat.

No vested interest then!

 

[zarathustra]

Safe boat, something strong and unsinkable...like the Titanic!!!

 

[DownWest]

I wonder what RCD rating Slocum's Spray would get. Doubt if it would be A.

 

[Fire99]

Safe boat, something strong and unsinkable...like the Titanic!!!

Only if you're James Cameron.

 

[Tranona]

No vested interest then!

None at all. Just an observation on a gratuitous post.

 

[Fire99]

None at all. Just an observation on a gratuitous post.

Fey Knights

 

[alant]

None at all. Just an observation on a gratuitous post.

Just reporting experience in numerous Bavaria's.

Take it or leave it, I don't really care!

 

[Fire99]

Just reporting experience in numerous Bavaria's.

Take it or leave it, I don't really care!

now now.. Let's keep to the point in hand..

So does anyone follow the RCD ratings?

 

[Tranona]

Just reporting experience in numerous Bavaria's.

Take it or leave it, I don't really care!

Just not sure why you are reporting your difficulty in sailing the boats properly - particularly when it is not relevant to the subject of the thread!

You obviously care, otherwise why would you volunteer the information.