Trailer Sailor Discussion Forum
Home Forums Search Trailer Sailor Roster Chandlery Events Classifieds Resources About TSBB SBO Sites	Instructions/FAQ | Rules & Etiquette | Edit Profile | Forum Login View Thread | Post Response | Return to Index | Read Prev Msg | Read Next Msg | Natural Tendency? Posted By: Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 Date: 11/20/06 4:53p.m. Report: outside forum guidelines In Response To: Turtle Effect (Bob Skewis) I don't believe that the Harpoon has a natural tendency to turtle. It is, however, easy to turtle it from a capsized position - just as it's easy to turtle any other dinghy from this position. The boat won't turtle if you stay away from the spars and keep off the mainsail while you're in the water. It is a natural tendency to reach up and grab either the boom or the mast while bobbing in the water. This will guarantee a turtle! The basic physical concept of torque applies: if it only takes 50 lbs. of force to pull the boat over 1 ft from the bottom of the mast (a good approximation) it will only take 2 lbs. of force to do the same thing from 25 ft away, i.e., near the top of the mast! Consequently, I always tell my crew - before we leave the dock - that in the event of a capsize to 1) stay with the boat (i.e., don't try to swim anywhere else) and 2) don't grab either spar, the vang, or mainsheet tackle and don't stand on the main! If possible, I ask someone to swim out to the masthead and hold it UP, or place a PFD under it as Jenny suggests. That takes almost no effort at all. BTW, it goes without saying that in any wind where capsizes are possible, I require PFD's for everyone. I hope nobody resorts to a Clorox bottle at the top of the mast. Except on training boats in consistenly high wind areas, it strikes me that that is the equivalent of using a coat hanger as a replacement for a broken antenna on a Mercedes.

Messages In This Thread

Question On Spinnaker -- Durango Dave -- 11/12/06 8:01p.m.

Spinnaker -- WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL -- 11/13/06 5:08p.m.

Block Details -- Durango Dave -- 11/13/06 8:41p.m.

Block Info - Type and position -- Gene Bragalone - #485/5.2 -- 11/14/06 9:15a.m.

Pic of Swivel Base Cam Cleat ... -- Gene Bragalone - #485/5.2 -- 11/15/06 9:15a.m.

Mounting positions -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/15/06 7:10p.m.

Even better -- Gene Bragalone - #485/5.2 -- 11/17/06 6:39a.m.

Sailor dogs -- WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL -- 11/18/06 6:54p.m.

There's a block and a cleat -- Jenny, Harpoon 5.2 -- 11/15/06 5:54a.m.

Picture of stock hardware -- Tedd #392 -- 11/16/06 11:16a.m.

Crew -- Mark Worden -- 11/16/06 3:21p.m.

Trim, Maddy, trim... -- Tedd #392 -- 11/17/06 8:16a.m.

Goldens on boats... -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/17/06 11:07a.m.

Mixed feelings about it... -- Tedd #392 -- 11/17/06 2:27p.m.

I've capsized my Harpoon way out on a big lake in a squall... -- Sean McGrew--Catalina 22/Harpoon 5.2--Montana -- 11/17/06 6:11p.m.

Turtle Effect -- Bob Skewis -- 11/20/06 6:19a.m.

anti-Turtle -- WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL -- 11/20/06 7:49a.m.

I have used a PFD -- Jenny, Harpoon 5.2 -- 11/20/06 10:05a.m.

 Natural Tendency?  -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/20/06 4:53p.m.

Does too -- Jenny, Harpoon 5.2 -- 11/20/06 7:25p.m.

To turtle or not! -- Kinney 4.6 #592 -- 11/22/06 6:30a.m.

capsizing tips -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/22/06 1:23p.m.

nuked -- WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL -- 11/22/06 7:36p.m.

Indiana math: Lap = Leg -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/23/06 7:47a.m.

Thanks for the cap tips -- Kinney 4.6 #592 -- 11/24/06 6:02p.m.

I don't think the drogue would work the way you want. -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/24/06 6:39p.m.

Hmmm...Ok, no drogue. -- Kinney 4.6 #592 -- 11/27/06 7:16p.m.

drogue or sea anchor for a small boat... -- Martin P '78 5.2 nr. 505 -- 11/28/06 10:20a.m.

Small drogue... maybe!!! -- Kinney 4.6 #592 -- 11/29/06 4:36p.m.

bucket drogue -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/30/06 6:58a.m.

Let's do it right... -- Tedd #392 -- 11/30/06 7:59a.m.

Then there's the beer ejector -- Jenny, Harpoon 5.2 -- 11/30/06 8:03a.m.

Let's do it right with mans' best friend -- WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL -- 11/30/06 4:22p.m.

OTOH, if you have a bucket on board -- Jenny, Harpoon 5.2 -- 11/30/06 8:11a.m.

bucket -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/30/06 7:02a.m.

Laugh at the bucket if you want ! -- Martin P '78 5.2 nr. 505 -- 12/1/06 11:03a.m.

Not laughing at all! -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 12/1/06 1:12p.m.

drougue -- WAYNE, '79 5.2, OCALA, FL -- 12/2/06 5:13p.m.

slow response to anti-turtle ideas -- Jeff -- 5/22/07 6:13a.m.

I'd think it would work, just sort of pricey. -- Jenny -- 5/23/07 9:56a.m.

not a good plan IMHO -- Chris Harlan -- 5/23/07 6:34p.m.

no turtles -- Jeff -- 6/5/07 10:43a.m.

anti-turtling -- Doug Woolley -- 12/18/06 4:01p.m.

Haven't seen it done -- Jenny, Harpoon 5.2 -- 12/19/06 9:04a.m.

Harpoon 5.2 -- Bob Wood -- 7/19/08 5:50a.m.

6' 5" -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 7/20/08 12:25a.m.

Asymmetric spinnaker -- Jay Levy - Indianapolis, IN 5.2 #35 -- 11/15/06 4:38p.m.

Asymmetric Spinnaker -- Durango Dave -- 11/15/06 9:02p.m.

Post some pics -- Chris Harlan -- 11/16/06 6:20p.m.