Uffa Fox sake! (Another query from the armchair dinghy-sailor...)

[Greenheart]

Thank you gentlemen, you mostly tell what I suspected anyway.

Regarding the "gunwale buoyancy", I'm hoping it would be possible to find a happy medium between this:

View attachment 21785

...and this:

.

Not sure how easily frightened this question makes me appear? I haven't seen any external buoyancy attached to dinghies...is it an intolerable dent to sailors' pride, or simply not very effective?

 

[TSB240]

I am not absolutely sure of my facts but I think the albacore class rules allow the mast to be considerably raked back whilst sailing to windward in stronger winds, This combined with flattening cringle in the leech(in effect a reefing point), kicker, cunningham allows the main to be reduced in area and flattened to a point where its power can be matched to the lumps on the gunwhale.

 

[lw395]

I have probably capsized about a dozen times this year in a few different dinghies.
Ranging from a Merlin Rocket to an RS800.
The Merlin only capsizes in conditions where I would not be that keen to be out there without some sort of safety cover. When it does capsize, it comes up totally swamped, but it's easy to get up and will only be turtled by waves. Having the centreboard fairly low to the water means I can right the boat more easily than an RS200 which floats much higher.
Given F4, you can sail most dinghies from swamped if they have an open transom or transom flaps.
I think you should have a clear plan as to what your dinghy is for and how much wind you will sail in, what the consequences of capsizing or breaking something are etc.
In my club safety boat duties, the boats I've towed in are not always the faster racing dinghies, the older dinghies tend to break fittings or their crews become over-tired through multiple capsizes in conditions the serious racers are enjoying.
I've done a bit of un-supported dinghy cruising, but it was in a boat that was well proven by a season of club racing, and in the Solent where you are never really alone. Also we were young mad bikers then.

 

[lw395]

...I haven't seen any external buoyancy attached to dinghies...is it an intolerable dent to sailors' pride, or simply not very effective?

1) it is going to add a lot of drag when you heel a bit and it hits the waves. That will cause you to bear off, heel more and capsize.
2) You can have all the buoyancy you want in side tanks
3) What is the problem you are trying to solve? If you don't want to capsize, build up your skills progressively, don't go out in stupid weather and make sure your boat is truly seaworthy with no bits that are likely to break.

 

[Greenheart]

What is the problem you are trying to solve? If you don't want to capsize, build up your skills progressively, don't go out in stupid weather and make sure your boat is truly seaworthy with no bits that are likely to break.

Sound advice, I realise.

Actually I've sailed dinghies many times in open sea conditions, some miles offshore...and I took very great pains never to capsize out there. My question relates to the Albacore in particular, because many who have sailed them, tell of how low they float when flattened.

I'm unlikely to capsize because I never push past the safe/sensible point if I can help it...but I'm under the conflicting pressures of being rather light (c.70kg, and I'll often be alone), whilst on the other hand I'll often be carrying a considerable burden of inert cruising kit...

...and, that shorthanded heavy-laden cruising style of sailing doesn't cope with capsize so readily as drip-dry racers can.

So I was thinking that minor modifications for my singular purpose, should include more flotation than a muscular young drysuited racing crew of two would need. But I can see that all buoyancy is better kept within the lines of the hull.

I'm not nearly as cavalierly barmy as my posts may suggest. Eccentric, sure. But unlikely ever to cause much danger, even to myself!

 

[Cantata]

Being one of those with many many hours on Albs (albeit quite a while ago when I was more agile than I am now, bus pass an' all) I don't recall the Alb floating particularly low when full of briny. If she does, then at least she's easy to get back into. In the kind of conditions when you might capsize, they would sail themselves dry in a couple of minutes through the self-bailers and transom doors.
The suggestion of extra external buoyancy sounds unwise to me, I would have thought such a thing would encourage the boat to either float very high on her side, making righting potentially very difficult and helping the boat to blow away very quickly from detached crew in the water, or turn turtle if the water is deep enough and stay that way.
The Alb was and is a cracking boat the way it is. I'd suggest if you are worrying about facets of the boat's character, maybe you are looking at the wrong boat for your purposes.

 

[Greenheart]

The Alb was and is a cracking boat the way it is. I'd suggest if you are worrying about facets of the boat's character, maybe you are looking at the wrong boat for your purposes.

No sir, if I may contradict you; I believe the Albacore is indeed nearly perfect - it's only my worrying that was mistaken.

I'd like to say "that will be all you'll hear from me on the subject, until I actually have an Albacore to practice on"...

...but winter is almost upon us, so in all honesty, I'll probably continue droning on, occasionally flaring with intelligent ideas, mostly nonsensical speculation and wistful comment about chandlery prices and the lousy weather and sea temperatures around the UK.

Thanks to all who've commented. Very helpful.

 

[Cantata]

Good luck with it - if you buy one, do post some pics!
If you buy 1658 (I think), 1743 or 6850, they were mine. Can't remember the number of the other one. Lost in a senior moment.

 

[fireball]

If you're just looking for a higher floating boat during capsize then you can add internal buoyancy ...
It won't add to the sailing stability - but then if you wanted sailing stability you should get an underpowered cat ...

 

[Greenheart]

Good luck with it - if you buy one, do post some pics!
If you buy 1658 (I think), 1743 or 6850, they were mine. Can't remember the number of the other one. Lost in a senior moment.

I'd feel honoured to sail one of your old boats! Count on photos hereabouts, whatever I end up sailing.