V Twin

Originally posted by rogue Yep, although not sure how he'd launch it off the beach!

The gap under the hull seems made to measure for retracting a lifting bulb keel, however having a keel would be a major departure from the design concept of the boat.  I've got my vareo mast sealed at the top and filled with ping pong balls and it does help slow an inversion, but not prevent it, especially in a blow with the windage and waves pushing on the hull. 

Good point! I never considered inspecting them since they are still packed in the mast.  I'll have to take the mast down and inspect their condition.   The Vareo mast has a holein the bottom which fits into the mast pot.  The main problem encountered by Vareo sailers is that the water in the mast pot rushes to the top of the mast in a capsise thus accelerating inversion.  Some owners use the base of a bottle to cup the mast base and prevent this from occuring. I had tried this but found that removing the mast through the bridge could cuase damage due to the increased diameter of the mast (when the bottle base gets stuck fast to the base of the mast and has to be removed as a whole)

Edited by bferry - 25 Apr 12 at 8:35am

How about using a wind surfing/kayak type lasoo tied to your foot or would this restrict moving about the boat/water? It seems to me that you want to ensure that the helm and boat don't part company in the event of a capsize.

the other problem with a mast with water in it, is not so much that it is difficult to get past level with the water but once it starts to come up it tends to keep going in a pendulum action capsizing the boat on top if you. I have seen this lots with phantoms.

I'm sure that a certain amount of water gets inside my sealed mast but it ain't much.

I can certainly see the benefits of getting a boat like the v twin to invert so it doesn't blow away, but lashing yourself to it might be almost as dangerous as not. if it takes off in a blow you would be dragged along with no way of getting free easily, and I don't think a knife would help as you are dragged through the water struggling to get a breath unless you are very calm. I would concentrate on trying to hold on to the mainsheet at the very least so you can pull yourself back to the boat.

Originally posted by bferry How about using a wind surfing/kayak type lasoo tied to your foot or would this restrict moving about the boat/water?

Yikes..... sounds lethal.
It's a tricky situation, on it's side the boat is going to drift fast, but turtled it's difficult/impossible to right singlehanded.
Surely a lifting keel is the solution in this instance..... in fact you could make it canting, that would be cool :)