Small Cruiser safety?

[aitchw]

Having got the desired response of family from their first exposure to sailing on a small (16') cruiser as opposed to dinghies during the summer I have to address safety and other issues this winter.

There is so little room in the cockpit for life rings, danbouys and the rest to be positioned to hand and we do not have pushpit rails either. Obviously the smaller items, flares etc., are not the issue.

In addition, it is not practical to carry or tow a tender which makes landing difficult in many places.

How do other small boat owners handle these problems?

Thanks in advance.

Howard

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[Gunfleet]

I think the bilge keels and a pair of wellies will solve your dinghy problem. Perhaps you need to read 'Sailing Just for Fun' by AC Stock, which is about year round cruising of his engineless 16 ft pocket cruiser. The book will answer these questions and many more. It's a great read. At one time we used to see the intrepid Mr Stock sailing off the Crouch and Blackwater but haven't seen him for some years. Has anyone else spotted him recently?

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[Evadne]

Our boat is rather bigger than yours, but I think a lot of the issues are relevant.

1. An inflatable tender can be stowed more easily than a rigid tender. Towing a tender is not something I'd want to do, having treied it a few times. It slows you down and puts the tender at risk in all but the most sheltered of waters. If you get a proper "push-pull" cylinder inflator then you'll be able to pump it up in less than 5 minutes, though it may be a bit longer before you can row it!

2. If people were honest, the answer to the man overboard problem is "don't fall overboard". We have minimal equipment and almost never wear lifejackets or harnesses. Very non-PC, but in the conditions we normally sail in the danger is less than, say, the car journey to the boatyard, and is entered into open-eyed.

3. A life ring should be outboard so it can be deployed instantly. A throwing line takes up almost no room at all. A dahn buoy is often stowed against the backstay, taking up room where you would not normally try and stand.

4. A pushpit provides a lot of useful stowage space for all of these, if you can find the room to fit one. Consider a custom one from a local s/s welder, it would cost about £100. Rails and dodgers increase the feeling and the reality of safety, so if you can fit them, consider it.

Hope this helps.

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[bruce]

if absolute safety for family is most important, something in the 18/20 ft range would be better. dinghies and 16' boats are much the same type of animal. you did not mention whether a cuddy cabin was wanted, but would allow more space. just a thought...

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[aitchw]

Just for info, the first pic is how Sam felt about the boat in contrast to wouldn't go out in the dinghy, my 15' Albacore.

Scruffy in profile to give an idea of what type of boat she is.

Thanks for the comments so far.

Bruce, the safety issue isn't the be all and end all. I just want to make sensible provision. I bought Scruffy because she was very cheap but had enough about her to stand a chance of family sailing in her. I couldn't justify spending more but will sometime in the future if we can get to sail more often. In the meantime, I get to sail with the family on holiday on Loch Torridon which I can't do with the dinghy.

Dave, the pushpit may be the only sensible thing to fit and a throwing line makes sense. I have to confess we are the same in relation to PFDs though we obviously have them to hand.

John, I'll have a look for the book you mention.

Thanks again.




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[bruce]

that is a neat boat, would add couple stantions and stern rail and connect them, and a trans mounted boarding ladder. would add the ladder first.

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[geoffatstanpit]

Is that a "Seasafe Dandy" ? I remember them well from '80ish. You'll have a lot of fun with her and she won't tip you in the water - but they're not very fast as I recall. We had a Skipper 17 then and felt very superior.

Geoff

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[aitchw]

Yep, that's what she is. You're right about the speed and stability. She's a heavy little boat and feels very steady in the water. Those are all attributes I needed to build family confidence, I sail the dinghies for thrills. The Skipper would be a lot more lively but not necessarily the way I needed to go.

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[richardabeattie]

One of your risks is going forward on those narrow side decks. If you don't have it already I would fit roller reefing and do all the anchoring and lassooing of buoys from the cockpit. And cockpit cushions floa as well as horseshoe buoys

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[bruce]

would agree on putting a furler on the jib. a basic furler with a wire luff jib and spinner at top. with a wire luff same size as forstay, you could mount a harken435 furler set in place of the forstay. makes life much easier, even with a small jib, just not having to go forward to drop it or raise it is so much easier.

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[m1taylor]

I'm a small boat owner with a family - 17ft Silhouette bought very cheaply. Just enjoy it and adapt to compromises and limitations - and remember that for the couple of hundred you may spend a year, others are spending thousands.



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[William_H]

Nice photos and cute boat. I think you need good grab rails (hand holds ) on the cabin roof. Far better than stanchions and life lines which get in the way when you want to lean out a bit to balance the boat. I suggest for going ashore you try fitting a step to the transom near the water line and try pulling the boat into the shallows stern first so that it is easy to climb from standing in the shallows onto the stern of the boat. The bow is a devil to try to climb onto. The rudder may be too vulnerable and of course you may have to watch the tides going out. If it is a transom mounted rudder on pintles you might consider a rudder blade swinging aft and up in cheeks so that it can be lifted. This could also give you a deeper rudder higher aspect ratio for better control. You can shape the blade so that part of the front of the blade swings forward of the pintle line to give more balance. I am guessing from the photos that the rudder is not so effective. Just copy some of the larger racing dinghies. As for safety we have a set of buoyancy vests with soft foam floatation ( water ski vest, PFD type 2 the kind dinghy sailors wear not inflatable) which keep you warm protect from bumps and are very little trouble to wear. They come in childrens sizes too. I havn't seen them advertised in UK magazines although I wasn't looking. For ultimate safety a harness and lifeline for going forward would be good. Remember if you fall off that is the worst scenario as the family may not be able to control the boat to turn around to pick you up. I suspect as on my boat you may find that full stern rail and lifelines and stanchions resterict your movement and area in the cockpit just too much. The raised structure almost like a windscreen over the stern of the cabin is interesting like a dodger. I think if it was mine I would consider removing it especially if it was detatchable however you may value it in your sailing conditions. just enjoy good luck will


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[Vascojc]

Charles Stock is still very active sailing 'Shoal Waters' from the Blackwater Sailing Club, covering hundreds of miles a year without engine.

Having extensively cruised a Hunter 19 I would agree with a lot of the previous comments, however I thoroughly recommend all crew wearing auto lifejackets - then you don't need a lifebouy!
A small throw-line is essential and a danbouy fixed to back stay helps. I would count a VHF as imperative - if you do loose a crew member over-board a Mayday call in the first instance should be a primary action. If you get them back quickly it can always be cancelled. If you loose sight of the MOB you are quickly going to have problems, and with water temperatures around the UK time is of the essence.

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[aitchw]

Thanks to all of you for your advice, comments and other kind words and encouragement.

I have just come back from the yard where she is on hardstanding for the winter having taken a quick look at the areas affected by your posts. I have some thinking to do now but it will be better focussed as a result.

Thanks forumites, I knew I could rely on you for sound sense.

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[sailorman]

Yes saw "Shoal Waters" Nr the Orwell Bridge perhaps 2 / 3 months ago assume on passage to Ipswich.


<hr width=100% size=1>Mines a Crocodile sandwich & make it Snappy