Air Bag
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Multihulls
Forum Name: Dinghy multihulls
Forum Discription: For those who prefer two (or more) hulls to one!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3498
Printed Date: 27 Jun 25 at 12:11pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Air Bag
Posted By: surf6ne
Subject: Air Bag
Date Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 8:56pm
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I've just bought my first cat, a Dart 16 and I want to take my little children (age 4&6) out on it when the weather gets warmer again. The Dart 16 is pretty tame and I'm pretty confident that I can keep it upright whatever. The last thing I want to do is scare the little people off the water at such a young age and so I'm thinking about how to deal with a capsize if they're on board. I already have a righting bag and the boat came with a righting pole (haven't fitted it yet) Do they slow down/stop you turning turtle? should I go for the self inflating version, the crewsaver manual inflate and hoist, or the hobie bob (air ship shape) type. Views? Simon |
Replies:
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 18 Oct 07 at 9:28pm
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I wouldn't bother with an inflating one, Crewsaver make a 40L float you can hoist with the main and doesn't cost you £20 every time you capsize. Probably considerably cheaper too. Another alternative is some old 5L bottles tied to a bit of rope and again hoisted with the main. In my experience 40L of buoyancy at the masthead will prevent inversion even with someone stood on the mast. One question though: is that a good thing? In any breeze the boat will go downwind far faster than you can swim. The speed they move on their side is suprising. If you decide to go down the route of adding masthead buoyancy I hope there's good rescue cover wherever you're sailing cos if you're no longer with the boat you won't reach it without the aid of a rib.
------------- RS800 GBR848 Weston SC |
Posted By: ASok
Date Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 12:42pm
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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.
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Posted By: olly_love
Date Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 4:27pm
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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 |
Posted By: surf6ne
Date Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 5:00pm
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Thanks. I think I'll get the crewsaver one. The £109 for the self inflating one was upsetting me a bit 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 |
. 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! Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 6:05pm
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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 |
Posted By: surf6ne
Date Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 8:05pm
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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. |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 19 Oct 07 at 10:09pm
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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 |
Posted By: stewart smith
Date Posted: 17 May 12 at 9:49am
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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 |
Posted By: shadeux
Date Posted: 17 May 12 at 9:55am
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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 |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 17 May 12 at 10:18am
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How old is this thread?
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Posted By: stewart smith
Date Posted: 17 May 12 at 12:06pm
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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 |