Air Bag

   Opps! Yes its very old. For some reason it was at the top of the list and I didn't check the date.

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stewart smith Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 10 Jan 11 Location: Buntingford, Hertfordshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Post Options Post Reply Quote stewart smith Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Air Bag Posted: 17 May 12 at 12:06pm
	Opps! Yes its very old. For some reason it was at the top of the list and I didn't check the date.
	Stewart Smith

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 12 at 10:18am
	How old is this thread?

shadeux Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 06 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 77	Post Options Post Reply Quote shadeux Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 12 at 9:55am
	Hi, I sailed a Dart 16 for a few seasons and I don't recall it ever turning turtle - and not from want of trying! The mast is sealed so you shouldn't have a problem. The righting system works well but you have to be patient. It will come back up. I would not clip on for safety reasons. I would also only take the children out in very gentle conditions to start with. Cat sailing is really exhilarating but the speed and the angle once the hull starts to lift can be unnerving if you are just a passenger especially younger ones. Hope you and they enjoy it.
	Bruce Shadow002

stewart smith Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 10 Jan 11 Location: Buntingford, Hertfordshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Post Options Post Reply Quote stewart smith Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 12 at 9:49am
	Don't bother with masthead float. Check that the sealed mast is not leaking. Pratice recovery from a total inversion without the kids on board. Then do a capsize pratice with kids on board. Choose a sunny day!
	Stewart Smith

CurlyBen Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Aug 05 Location: Southampton Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Post Options Post Reply Quote CurlyBen Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 10:09pm
	Yep I understand where you're coming from, and if you feel you can't rely on safety cover I wouldn't recommend putting a mast float on. Your call at the end of the day.
	RS800 GBR848 Weston SC

surf6ne Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote surf6ne Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 8:05pm
	I don't want to rely on rescue cover. Every windy weekend, whichever club you are at on this bit of coast (Weston, Warsash, Hill Head, LOS, Stokes Bay etc), you see a couple of ribs looking after a fleets of 20-30 boats often with beginners aboard. One big gust and its easy to see how inadequate the cover is. I've sailed dinghys, yachts, and windsurfers almost every weekend since the age of 10. I was once towed by a rescue boat after gear failure, racing lasers. I think that was the one and only time I've had help.

CurlyBen Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Aug 05 Location: Southampton Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Post Options Post Reply Quote CurlyBen Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 6:05pm
	If you're sailing without rescue cover (which it sounds like you may be) I wouldn't put a float on it at all. Chances of getting trapped underneath are pretty minimal compared to becoming detached from the boat and there's no way you'll make it back if there's a breeze. I've righted a Dart 16 pretty much single handed in a F4-5 (I'm about 12/13 stone) and it's not much of a drama if you've got the right technique. If you're confident about not needing the bag often then I'd ask why you need one. They're great for learning as it's less of a pain than righting from inverted, and I suppose reduce the risk of being trapped underwater, but the one time I have been trapped it was under a mainsail with the boat on it's side.
	RS800 GBR848 Weston SC

surf6ne Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Oct 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote surf6ne Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 5:00pm
	Thanks. I think I'll get the crewsaver one. The £109 for the self inflating one was upsetting me a bit . The £20 to replace the cylinder less so because I hope never to use it! As Asok says, any more than about 12 knots of wind and the kids will have to go shopping with their mother! This business of the boat drifting away from you worries me a bit. In another thread I read that if I can achieve zero weather helm and drop over the side, I'm going to be left in the water with D16 off to france on its own. In big boats we clip ourselves on (cruising dinghys do it too). I guess there are dangers in being clipped on too. I wonder which is the greater risk being left behind or being dragged under the water without being able to unclip?
	Simon Dart 16 Hampshire

olly_love Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 18 Jan 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1145	Post Options Post Reply Quote olly_love Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 4:27pm
	at work they have the hobie blimp. and it works fine/ the boat dosnt invert just got to remember that the rig isnt designed to have that kinda load on it so be careful
	TWO FRANK-Hunter Impala

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 12:42pm
	I can't see a problem with some masthead bouyancy. The type of weather that you'll be sailing in with the kids you should be fine. Even without them as the D16 is really forgiving and does take a bit of skill to knock them over! The masthead bags are pretty standard in sailing schools. You do need to watch for drifting when the boat is on its side when in windy weather. But if its a good breeze, leave the kids on the shore and take a mate!! I'd go for a pre-inflated bag. The self-inflating version sounds like a bit of a scam. You'll end up having to pay for a new one everytime you capsize.