Knockdowns

Posted By: Joe McCary Aeolus II, West River, MD
Date: 10/13/07 12:41p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Safety is my major concern (James Newsome)

I am sure my Seafarer 22 has survived a knockdown. To my understanding a knockdown is a momentary time when the boat is pushed over on her side, maybe the mast in the water, maybe not. One time I got the bright idea to heel over the boat to install a masthead fly. I figured easy enough, just pull down on the halyard and let the boat scoot out from the dock. I am a big guy and couldn't even come close...so I got smart! I got a big block and attached that to the dock piling and ran the halyard through the block and attached the other end to a car's trailer hitch. Slowly drove the car away with 2 people with lines (one to the bow and one to the stern, so the boat didn't shoot in some strange direction). The b oat got heeled over but with a tremendous strain on the halyard. So much so I decided to replace it. The boat floated on the combing! Water was no where near entering the main hatch. OK, this was a calm day, no waves and in controlled conditions. But the boat is designed to float on her side, not to sink. In severe weather I placed the hatch boards in to prevent swamping as a wave breaks over the stern, which has never happened. My 22 I did not consider it off shore ready by any stretch of imagination. I sail on The Chesapeake Bay (just south of Annapolis) so this is sheltered, but somewhat open water. In my home cruising area the Bay is about 6nm wide, wide enough to get rough, sheltered enough to be mostly safe. A roller over is another matter all together. I suspect the righting moment of Seafarers is high enough to prevent disaster, but if a roll over occurs I bet the rig goes too. And the crew better be securely harnessed in or you will be spending your efforts in locating them and not on sailing. This brings another very important point: PDFs. How secure are you and your crew in less than ideal conditions? On my boat (not a Seafarer anymore, a Catalina 27) I often sail alone. When I do (and when conditions warrant) I wear an auto inflating PDF/Harness. I strap myself in on a 6' tether to keep me in the cockpit. Unlike Charlie I have roller furling and all lines lead to the cockpit. I can raise and lower sails from the cockpit. In the rare occasion I need to go forward I wear a PDF. I think this adds a safety measure. I have spent my share of time on the pitching deck (racing) and no matter how many time you go there it can be dangerous. One time I was at the helm of a 33' race boat. A crew member went forward and while making his way to the bow we hit an unusual wave and the bow dipped down abruptly. I recall still seeing that crew member horizontal to the water with his arm outstretched holding fast to the lifeline, tugging up! In an instant he was still horizontal but now slamming on the fore deck. I felt lucky he didn't go in the Bay. I wear a PDF more often than I think necessary thinking it is better to be safe than sorry. I have a "spare" auto inflatable for any crew that might need to go on deck, and of course I have plenty of the orange bo\x type for everyone on board.