I have a widgeon on a mooring in an open bay- turtling ia a potential problem- anyone ever try a mast bob or inflation device? What kind and how did it attach? Sucessfull? I could use any info as the mast/rigging needs to come down each time we moor! Thanks.
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The mast on the WIDGEON is filled with foam, she shouldn't turtle at the mooring. The best defense is to keep the boat bailed out. Is yours one of the Widgeons with a forward deck (1971-81)? If so, a boom tent should keep the cockpit dry enough to avoid problems. The older (1963-70) and newer (1982-present) models may be helped by a boom tent.....but maybe not. My 1969 Widgeon only filled up and rolled over once in the 7 years that I had her on a mooring. That was a rare heavy rainstorm accompnied by strong winds blowing right into our cove and the combo was apparently too much. There are a lot of Widgeons out there on moorings, some in potentially rough locations. I would say it is not a big problem as long as there is someone to notice problems......and hopefully help you out by bailing if the rain comes fast and furious along with wind and waves.
I got lucky the time mine rolled over, one neighbor saw her go over (along with 2 other 12' sailboats in the cove) and called to let me know (I was 40 miles away) and another neighbor went out and righted her and bailed out 90% of the water. She went over around 3:00 that afternoon, and when I got to the cove around 5PM she was upright and bailed!
I would worry that a float at the masthead would be more apt to CAUSE a roll over than prevent it (weight up high). It is interesting to note, O'DAY did offer an inflateable turtle prevention device as an option for all the centerboard models in the early 1970's! My Godfather had a Javelin with one of those.......he did tip over once, and the device inflated (it was basically a CO2 inflated balloon), the only problem was that it was apparently a more or less "one-time-use" device and did not automatically deflate after you righted the boat. So, he had this balloon at the top of his mast until he could unstep it to......well, I guess he ended up just popping it! I supose you might be able to hoist a belt-pack inflateable PFD to the masthead when leaving the boat........not sure how well it would work?
I got lucky the time mine rolled over, one neighbor saw her go over (along with 2 other 12' sailboats in the cove) and called to let me know (I was 40 miles away) and another neighbor went out and righted her and bailed out 90% of the water. She went over around 3:00 that afternoon, and when I got to the cove around 5PM she was upright and bailed!
I would worry that a float at the masthead would be more apt to CAUSE a roll over than prevent it (weight up high). It is interesting to note, O'DAY did offer an inflateable turtle prevention device as an option for all the centerboard models in the early 1970's! My Godfather had a Javelin with one of those.......he did tip over once, and the device inflated (it was basically a CO2 inflated balloon), the only problem was that it was apparently a more or less "one-time-use" device and did not automatically deflate after you righted the boat. So, he had this balloon at the top of his mast until he could unstep it to......well, I guess he ended up just popping it! I supose you might be able to hoist a belt-pack inflateable PFD to the masthead when leaving the boat........not sure how well it would work?
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