I am looking forward with great anticipation to my retirement, (20 months to go), and with that the purchase of a new Hunter 216...to experience the joys of sailing I discovered as a teen sailing on Lake Michigan out of Michigan City, Indiana, many years ago. My wife has noticed the many photos of the 216 I took at Strictly Sail in Chicago now displayed at my desk, and has declared an open transom to be dangerous. "You could fall off the back, or a following wave could swamp the boat!?!" I've tried to calm her fears, but could use some help convincing her that we don't have to buy a sail boat "with a back on it" in order to safely sail on lakes in the midwest...thanks.
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Good and bad
The open transom is bad because your beer can could roll right out the back. Also the right kind of boat wake in dead calm conditions could slush in enough water to wet your toes for a few seconds. The open transome is much safer because it drains very quickly. Most offshore boats have a tiny little cockpit to limit the amount of water that can be held in the cockpit. this is because breaking waves can fill the cockpit of any boat. Boats will and open transome drain as fast as the wave breaks and are much safer for extreme condition because of this. At our Marina several boat have sunk because there cockpit drains were plugged and the cockpit filled with water which drained into the cabin. As far as falling out I don't think it can happen by accident. With small children in the Hunter 170 (Also an open transom) I tie a line connecting the stern cleats to make it easier for them to get in and out while swimming. They didn't think they were going to wash out either. If a big enough wave wants you washed out, it will happen. The key is that the 216 is a daysailor for coastal conditions. If the waves are breaking over the bow or if the winds are over 30 your out in the wrong conditions for that boat. On the good side the lead swing keel makes the boat more stable than my 23.5 even though it has more sail area and weighs less than half. Take her for a test ride. Remind her that the open transom will keep you from sinking if you take a wave of two the wrong way. I'll bet she likes it
The open transom is bad because your beer can could roll right out the back. Also the right kind of boat wake in dead calm conditions could slush in enough water to wet your toes for a few seconds. The open transome is much safer because it drains very quickly. Most offshore boats have a tiny little cockpit to limit the amount of water that can be held in the cockpit. this is because breaking waves can fill the cockpit of any boat. Boats will and open transome drain as fast as the wave breaks and are much safer for extreme condition because of this. At our Marina several boat have sunk because there cockpit drains were plugged and the cockpit filled with water which drained into the cabin. As far as falling out I don't think it can happen by accident. With small children in the Hunter 170 (Also an open transom) I tie a line connecting the stern cleats to make it easier for them to get in and out while swimming. They didn't think they were going to wash out either. If a big enough wave wants you washed out, it will happen. The key is that the 216 is a daysailor for coastal conditions. If the waves are breaking over the bow or if the winds are over 30 your out in the wrong conditions for that boat. On the good side the lead swing keel makes the boat more stable than my 23.5 even though it has more sail area and weighs less than half. Take her for a test ride. Remind her that the open transom will keep you from sinking if you take a wave of two the wrong way. I'll bet she likes it
Love open transoms
Open transoms are great. If you get swamped, the water makes a hasty exit. Swimming off the boat is also a lot easier as is washing the boat down. Tell your wife not to worry. Open transoms make the boat look like the smallest of following waves will come aboard, but that doesn't happen very often. Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy (also an open transom boat)
Open transoms are great. If you get swamped, the water makes a hasty exit. Swimming off the boat is also a lot easier as is washing the boat down. Tell your wife not to worry. Open transoms make the boat look like the smallest of following waves will come aboard, but that doesn't happen very often. Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy (also an open transom boat)
Hunter 216
There is a review by Bob Perry on this boat in the November Sailing Magazine. He had good things to say about it. Take your wife out a few times and she will get comfortable with it. Enjoy your retirement sailing! Rob
There is a review by Bob Perry on this boat in the November Sailing Magazine. He had good things to say about it. Take your wife out a few times and she will get comfortable with it. Enjoy your retirement sailing! Rob
rig a lifeline
I have seen seveal open transom boats with lifelines rigged across the transom. If your wife is that worried, put padeyes (with adequate backing) on each side, and have a life line made up to fit - or possibly rig two or more levels of lifeline. Then just explain that its no longer an open transom, it just looks like one. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
I have seen seveal open transom boats with lifelines rigged across the transom. If your wife is that worried, put padeyes (with adequate backing) on each side, and have a life line made up to fit - or possibly rig two or more levels of lifeline. Then just explain that its no longer an open transom, it just looks like one. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
String a piece of heavy netting across,
either between two lifelines or between two heavy-duty bungee cords. If the standard lifeline netting available from most chandleries does not look strong enough to your wife, perhaps you may want to consider a piece of tailgate netting for pick-up trucks.... In a dozen years and nearly 40,000 NM of sailing our open-transom Hunter Legend 43 all over the Pacific and in many kinds of weather I can only remember my ankles being washed by a following wave three or four times, perhaps. Because of the wide, buoyant stern sections of all modern Hunters, Catalinas, Beneteaus, Jeanneaus, far more green water tends to come in over the cockpit coaming (or even all the way down from the bow) than via the transom. Open transoms only add safety to pleasure boating. There appear to be few if any downsides. Best of luck with your sailing plans! Flying Dutchman
either between two lifelines or between two heavy-duty bungee cords. If the standard lifeline netting available from most chandleries does not look strong enough to your wife, perhaps you may want to consider a piece of tailgate netting for pick-up trucks.... In a dozen years and nearly 40,000 NM of sailing our open-transom Hunter Legend 43 all over the Pacific and in many kinds of weather I can only remember my ankles being washed by a following wave three or four times, perhaps. Because of the wide, buoyant stern sections of all modern Hunters, Catalinas, Beneteaus, Jeanneaus, far more green water tends to come in over the cockpit coaming (or even all the way down from the bow) than via the transom. Open transoms only add safety to pleasure boating. There appear to be few if any downsides. Best of luck with your sailing plans! Flying Dutchman
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