Solent observations
- Thread starter dylanwinter
- Start date
SteveSarabande
Active member
In the cockpit locker, where nature intended; room for 6 large fenders, all the lines likely & unlikely to be required, kedge anchor, lightning conductor, sea anchor, all reasonably separated & accessible too.
The cockpit locker the other side is home for the engine when shipped, and inbetween under the cockpit sole - accessed from the cabin - is space for a 3-4 man round tail inflatable.
This is because my boat is out of date and old fashioned; a modern boat would have a portlight on each of these spaces and call it an aft cabin !
Mine is hardly modern but doesn't have lockers that would take fenders, mine live out back.
Greenheart
Well-known member
Can't fenders be deflated?
Seajet
...
Yes, easily; just not if you want to use them again.
There are some truly inflatable fenders but I think they proved flimsy; some others have shcrader valves to give a boost after a hard time, but not really deflatable.
There are some truly inflatable fenders but I think they proved flimsy; some others have shcrader valves to give a boost after a hard time, but not really deflatable.
mrming
Well-known member
My 23' Benny has a double aft berth and a gigantic cockpit locker for irretrievably losing fenders in. She does have a big a*se though.
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Seajet
...
Hmmm, suspect it depends on one's idea of ' double aft berth ' and ' huge locker ' !
mrming
Well-known member
Hmmm, suspect it depends on one's idea of ' double aft berth ' and ' huge locker ' !
In this case it's the double aft berth where reality differs slightly from the brochure. If two adults sleep there then the cockpit floor above is very close to one of your faces. You could get 3 kids in there sleeping crossways in the lap of luxury, but SWMBO and I have decided to stick to the forward double. The locker is genuinely massive though.
prv
Well-known member
Not really, with normal ones.
On Kindred Spirit I did carry a boat roller, an inflatable sausage designed for rolling a cruising wayfarer up the beach to camp for the night. I made a tubular cover out of old sailcloth to add a bit of abrasion resistance, and to provide rings to attach lanyards. The idea was to inflate it with the dinghy pump when berthed against rough harbour walls, needing more protection than the four little fenders that were all I had room for.
I never used it, as we sold KS before I went anywhere beyond Poole, Itchenor and Cherbourg. The subsequent owner found it on board and was utterly perplexed. He thought it might be some kind of rainwater-catching device
. I replied to his querying email; he was impressed with the lateral thinking, but reckoned it might get more use in future as a swimming toy for his son Pete
Seajet
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Sounds about right; after learning the hard way with my Carter 30 that berths which look spiffing can in fact suit only midgets, I always lie down on the bunks when checking a boat out.
I tried this on an early Horizon and found the rudder tube an excellent medieval style passion killer between occupants, feet higher than my head and nose inches from cockpit sole !
Apart from marketing BS I simply do not get aft cabins on boats under 30' at all...
My A22 has a true double up front divided off by a curtain, then settee berth of 6'4" and quarter berth of 6'7"; the Carter had 6 berths, but the saloon double was about 5' long and 1.5 people wide...
Greenheart
Well-known member
Pete, we think alike. I bought one of those boat-rollers for the Osprey, and have already earmarked a small, tough section of heavy tarpaulin as a sort of cannelloni-tube to reinforce it in use. But it has occurred to me that when the roller is wearing its body-armour, the whole thing won't easily squash down for stowage under the foredeck...
...plus, it'll only really be much use if I have another like it, or ideally three. By the time they're all wearing their heavy coats, I'll need a Sevylor canoe to keep them all in.
Seajet
...
I have the inflatable seat for the tender earmarked as likely to sacrifice itself under the bilge in the event of accidental grounding on a hard beach; with the inflatable itself closely following, but that would be a toss-up as to whether I might need it for survival myself ( so almost certainly it would be used to try to save Silent Running ).
Greenheart
Well-known member
It is surprising to me, that those inflatable rollers are expected to survive pretty heavy weights upon them. I think the one I bought is rated at 350kg. What kind of beach would that last more than five seconds on? Only soft sand I s'pose. Even the underside of the Osprey would puncture it, especially if she weighed 350kg. So some armouring is vital I think.
When I look at yachts generally, I'm routinely turned off designs which couldn't dry out fairly upright in my favourite harbours...so the idea of an enormous inflatable cushion, tough enough for a 5-tonne yacht to lean on, is interesting...though the thing might be so gigantic, it wouldn't be practical to store on board anyway.
When I look at yachts generally, I'm routinely turned off designs which couldn't dry out fairly upright in my favourite harbours...so the idea of an enormous inflatable cushion, tough enough for a 5-tonne yacht to lean on, is interesting...though the thing might be so gigantic, it wouldn't be practical to store on board anyway.
Seajet
...
Dan,
how do these grab you then ?!
View attachment 42291
in fact for recovery after the boat ( not mine ) was sunk by a mooring block 1' proud of the seabed...
how do these grab you then ?!
View attachment 42291
in fact for recovery after the boat ( not mine ) was sunk by a mooring block 1' proud of the seabed...
PhillM
Well-known member
Only 200 sails?
Come back on a busy weekend.
Half the fleet are still on the hard.
Don't believe me, try to book a lift out / in at one of the marinias. Totally fully booked.
Come back on a busy weekend.
Half the fleet are still on the hard.
Don't believe me, try to book a lift out / in at one of the marinias. Totally fully booked.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
In the cockpit locker, where nature intended; room for 6 large fenders, all the lines likely & unlikely to be required, kedge anchor, lightning conductor, sea anchor, all reasonably separated & accessible too.
The cockpit locker the other side is home for the engine when shipped, and inbetween under the cockpit sole - accessed from the cabin - is space for a 3-4 man round tail inflatable.
This is because my boat is out of date and old fashioned; a modern boat would have a portlight on each of these spaces and call it an aft cabin !
Lightning conductor in a locker. Novel!
Seajet
...
Twister Ken,
it's a wire and chain job, shrinksleeved to protect the topsides, which I clip onto the shrouds to trail in the water; now I'm led to believe I may be making the boat a more attractive target so as with most things to do with lightning, the jury is out...
it's a wire and chain job, shrinksleeved to protect the topsides, which I clip onto the shrouds to trail in the water; now I'm led to believe I may be making the boat a more attractive target so as with most things to do with lightning, the jury is out...
AndrewB
Well-known member
Agree, the Solent is the most desperately over-crowded sailing area in the world. Only one other place I've visited is quite as bad: Sydney harbour.
The only time the Solent can now be enjoyed in a relaxing manner is during the winter. Even then, it is surprisingly busy at weekends.
The only time the Solent can now be enjoyed in a relaxing manner is during the winter. Even then, it is surprisingly busy at weekends.
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Colvic Watson
Well-known member
We went there last sumner for a month. There's no better family destination in the UK, and some cracking sailing as well. We also have no lockers so the stern gets them all.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Try weekdays, or weekend evenings. Magically quiet.
Fantasie 19
Well-known member
...and easily accessible when required.....
