DaySailer.org Forum

In preparation for the TX 200 next week we intentionally capsized Reservoir Dog near shore yesterday. Within about one minute the tip of the mast was already a few feet under water--which leads me to believe it would have gone turtle had we given it enough time--but that was plenty of time to make a visual inspection of several things: the boat rode high on its side (perhaps the pool noodles in the bilge helped that?), there were no gel coat cracks or structural damage where the hull rests on the trailer runners (we've never been able to inspect that until yesterday), and the cooler lid in the port cockpit bench flew open when the boat was horizontal and we would have lost most of the contents had it been full.

When I began to pull down on the centerboard to right the boat, it popped up effortlessly within 10-15 seconds. I thought I would have to climb up and stand on the centerboard and perhaps have crew help out, but it was righted before crew could even get around to me. That is encouraging, but I don't how easy it will be when we have the cuddy loaded up with gear. As it was, we had approximately 40# of gear in the cuddy. For the race we will have significantly more, including 14 gallons of water, which we will do our best to secure to tie-down points in order to reduce massive weight shift to the lower side.

Just thought you would like to know.

Any quality ideas for a cooler lid latch - something that will last and not impede sitting on it - Stainless steel latch? Thanks for the capsize update, I was also curious about whether to leave the hatch doors on and whether they'd go floating off But if I had gear in there (plastic totes or kayak bags) I'd want them to stay inside the cuddy

For longevity, a stainless latch is probably the way to go. We'll use velcro in the interim and be sure not to keep any pricey items in there, especially because that cooler took on a good amount of water as the boat started to turtle.
As for the cuddy door, ours is secured at the top and the bottom and braced at the sides, and while it did shift it managed to stay on. It certainly isn't bulletproof, but if the shit hit the fan it would give you a little time before water started rushing in the cuddy.

The Hobies have a float at the top of the mast to prevent turtleing. Localls I have seen foam sleeves that zip over the headboard for the same purpose.

A float at the top of your mast is the equivalent of having the word "virgin" tattooed on your forehead in high school.

And a masthead covered in mud is a badge of honor?

Were I still in high school, that might concern me. Having shaken off teen insecurities, I am now concerned with safety and comfort.

Here's a pic of what I have seen.
http://www.wayfarer-international.org/W ... yancy.html

I will be seeing you down there this weekend. Although I am not sailing my DSII this year on the Tx200, I have sailed it the previous four years, although unsuccessfully in 2010. When initially preparing for the Tx200 in 2010 I had a capsize (there are a few discussions on the site concerning the capsize). My mast too started to sink. I later found that there where holes in the mast from where hardware was once attached. I plugged all those holes and added about 2 feet of foam to the inside of the mast head. When I capsized the DSII on the 2012 Tx200 after a sidestay came off (read my 2012 account on the Tx200 website) the masthead hit bottom, but came back to the surface.

Also after the 2010 capsize I filled the bilge with as many "pool noodles" as I could get in the for flotation. There are pictures in the 2012 Tx200 photos showing my very swamped but floating DSII being towed to shore. The boat was very heavily loaded with gear and provisions as well. All my flotation kept the boat afloat.

For the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 you can find copies of my articles and things I did to get my DSII ready. The DSII is a very capable boat for the Tx200 and can handle the conditions on the Texas coast very well.

John

Thanks, John. I'll be moving Reservoir Dog into the slip Sunday morning after the capt's meeting. Talk to you then.

TopHat, Are you not moving your vehicle and trailer to the north end? If not, no problem. If you are moving your vehicle and trailer and plan on taking the bus back to Port Mansfield, you should have your boat in the water before the 7am skippers meeting. The bus leaves Magnolia Beach at 2pm, it will not wait. Figure on at least a 4.5 to 5 hour drive from Port Mansfield to Magnolia Beach. My boat will be in the water by Saturday morning.

I will be sailing an O'Day Mariner this year. Look forward to seeing you. There are 2 DSII's registered and a DSIII with a lug sail rig registered.

John

One of the WoodenBoat Forum members capsized near Seattle not long ago. http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?176464-Small-boat-rescue-off-Port-Townsend
This discussion led to several threads on capsize testing and self-rescuing open boats. Well worth reading.
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?176587-Self-Rescue-capable-open-boats
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?178228-Oughtred-Arctic-Tern-Capsize-Testing

Back to the cooler lid for a moment: I don't use my cooler as such, but rather as a lazarette to hold things I might need but that I want to keep dry. I cut away the shock cord that held the top in place and glassed over the holes. Then I reinstalled the lid with stainless hinges. A stainless hasp holds the lid closed. I used neoprene hatch gasket around the edge to seal the compartment. The lid has to compress the seal in order to latch. I think the compartment would be waterproof in a capsize. The one thing I would have done differently is leave a little more slack in the hinges. The lid is too hard to fasten over the gasket. Better to leave it loose and then adjust the fit with a thicker gasket if necessary.

Good ideas, Talbot.