Swamping help

[1Bandit]

Hi, I just bought a 1966 16' O'day Widgeon to relearn sailing. I went out with a new friend, and he laid it over. That thing was a bugger to get up, and there doesn't seem to be any way to get the water out of it. We had to swim it 200' into the beach in order to dump it out. It's a great boat if you don't get water in it; but at 160lbs, I'm screwed if I'm alone and it swamps.
Does anyone have any better ideas on how to empty this thing or how to change tack without it rolling too much?
Thanks!

P.S. Go ahead and laugh all you seasoned sailors...I admit I'm knew and inexperienced.

 

[Cest La Vie]

Congratulations on the new boat-I had a Widgeon for my first sailboat and leaned a great deal about wind and balance (something your friend obviously has not yet learned). My Widgon, however was 12', not 16.' You sure this is not an O'Day daysailor?

Either way, the only way I could empty my boat, if filled with water, was to get out of the boat, then put all my weight on the stern. The bow would then rise and force much of the water out of the cockpit. With some of the water out of the cockpit, you can then move to the beam of the boat and rock the hull-splashing out enough water to let you climb into the boat and bail the rest-at least that worked for me.

Regarding rolling the boat while tacking-it is all a matter of timing and balance-just takes a bit of practice.

 

[CalebD]

Is this your boat? http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5384
Or more likely this: http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=4146

It is going to be tough to bail that sucker out unless it has some positive buoyancy of its own to help. Make buoyancy compartments in the gunwales of your boat (gunnels) and fill with empty plastic bottles with screw on caps.
I had a 14' dinghy I kept at anchor that got swamped but the styrofoam under the coamings kept it afloat so I could bail it out in low wind and waves.
You will need a bailing device like a bucket or an empty bleach bottle that you can use from the water. Once you get enough water out you can get on board and bail for your life. Then you can sail back to shore instead of swimming back in.
I think that everybody here has learned something from their mistakes and that is just part of the process of learning to be on the water and be safe.
Life jackets are not a bad idea if you think you may be tipping over a few times even if the water is warm.
I think you should practice swamping your boat (eg., filling it with water) near the beach so you can attempt to bail it and right it. It is really handy to know how to do this when you need to do it.

 

[Don12364]

In my dinghy sailing days we had buoyancy bags.
Wedge shaped in the bow, square in the stern and sausage shape under each side bench.
All held in place with webbing straps.
See:- http://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/Buoyancy-Bags.html.

 

[Sandy Stone]

I have also seen large blocks of styrofoam held in place with straps, under the bow, seats, or wherever they could be secured. My old Windmill, which wasn't self-rescuing either, had them. And yes, you do learn a lot about sail trim and balance.

 

[doehunter]

Glad to here you were that close to shore. My luck would have been, I would have been miles out! Last year I bought a Capri 13 and a Force 5, so I could race with my kids.
I took the Force 5 out alone on the bay one day. It might have been blowing 20mph ??
I went anyway.
I was OK as long as I went up wind. Eventually I had to work my way back, and I couldn't keep it up. After the 3rd capsize I was too tired to right the boat and climb back in. Fortunately I was maybe a 1/8 mile from shore and drifting that direction.
That was my last outing on that boat. I sold it and the Capri to start my Macgregor funding.
I had to save a while, and then took out a loan as well, BUT, now I have a boat I can ride in instead of on, and I feel safe.
I know I put myself in that situation, but as you learned, it happens.
I think I would try to find a way to add some flotation, carry something to bail with, and always wear PFD's if there is any chance of a dunking.
Good luck with your new boat.
Jim

 

[Ray Bowles]

I have a Cyclone 13 and a Omega 14 that I use for the kids that are learning to sail.
To make it easier to turn for beginners (and me) I defeated (removed the function of) the traveliers and installed boom vangs. Now the vang controls the height of the boom and the mainsheet controls how far out the boom can go. This allows the craft to be de-powered enough to turn. One must be very aware of the boom at all times.
I also remove the jib until they can handle the boat and mainsail.
Additionally I have added floation aids everywhere possible and have mounted two 1 gallon jugs to the mast head to help prevent the boat turtling.
Both these boats have cockpit drains that allow about 95% of the water to drain out on its own. Is it possible to glass in drains on your boat? It's a sweet improvement.
And lastly, we always wear wetsuits and life vests are MANDATORY.
Good luck.
Ray

 

[kendall]

I'm 145lbs soaking wet, and always had a rough time getting my boat back upright when she swamped. I could get it up almost enough, but then my weight balanced out and she hung there no matter what I tried. What I did was to buy some 'pool noodles' and put them under the gunnels, That little extra floatation out at the edges made it so I could bring her up all the way, still wasn't easy but I could do it.

I just baled the water out,

 

[RichH]

I sail high performance 'sport boats' whose 'natural state' is upside down with the mast sticking down as a sea anchor.

Several things will help (some mentioned already)
1. Closed cell foam pads glued under the decking, especially at the stern of the boat. You want to arrange such floatation under the coaming, decking etc. so that the boat 'floats' level with the water when completely swamped .... not with the bow or stern pointing at the sky .... ;-) You want the boat 'riding high' in the water when held over at 90° laying over on its SIDE in the water. (see #3 below for what to do about the mast/sails)
2. Elvstrøm Bailers --- 'doors' in the bottom of the hull that 'suck out' water when the boat is 'moving'. Example" http://www.rigrite.com/Hardware/Bailers/Elvstrom_Bailers.html ... see 'large' Elvstrøm bailers. With such 'bailers' you dont have to manually 'bail' ALL the water out of a swamped boat ... just enough to 'get moving' and when the bailers are open they will **suck** most of the water from the hull when the boat is moving at a 'good clip' of speed.
3. Foam floatation panels added to the tops of the sails. Prevents the boat from completely turning over and 'turtle-ing' with the mast pointing straight down instead of straight up .... a sailmaker can add these panels to the upper sections of the mainsail. This isnt 'sissy stuff' as several classes of unstable ultra high performance boats/dinghies now 'mandate' such floatation panels.

 

[1Bandit]

Thanks for all the replies! The other guy was tacking with the sail in tight, so I let the sail out more when tacking last time and didn't get any water in the boat at all. I will probably practice some of the techniques suggested when the water warms up. (I was told the boat was 16' long when I bought it; but after measuring it, discovered that it is actually 12'4".) Another friend is bringing his larger bought out from Arizona, and he wants me to run in the San Diego light parade with him. He has an outboard motor, and he says he will act as a tender vessel for me. He says he'll run right in front of me in case I have any trouble. Has anyone participated in the sd light parade before? Any advice?

 

[wflowe2]

I to had a fast but unforgiving 14' boat (Demon). It had self bailers in the bottom and as was noted earlier, these suck out water as long as you are making forward progress. It is also good to tie floatation (life jacket etc.) to the top of the mast to keep the boat from turtleing.

 

[AtlanticAl]

I had a forteen footer, that had air bags to keep it afloat when it went over. It also had two perspex windows on the transom, that were opened out the way, and were held shut by bungee cords, so when you got the boat back up, if the water inside, was higher than the water outside, the doors would open, and dump out the water, then when you got the boat going, it had the self bailers in the hull to get rid of the rest of the water.