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Entpb
Starting Member
1 Posts |
 Posted - 04/24/2007 : 13:39:55
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I have owned an all glass FRP Enterprise for the last 8 years. Although I do not capsize very often I seem to find it increasingly difficult to upright if I end up in the water and have to pull myself up onto the centreboard. This is because the boat floats so high when on its side. If I end up righting the boat and going straight over again I get tired very quickly, particularly in cold water!
I am considering going back to a wooden boat as I am sure they don't tend to ride quite so high when capsized. I have also heard that some people slightly deflate the front bouyancy bags to assist in this problem. I realise the down side is when righted the boat comes up with more water feel this may be an acceptable trade off for me.
I would welcome other peoples views on this subject.
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enterprisenw
Steve 21350
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 08:32:33
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| The trick is, to realise the boat is going to capsize. Try an get your body over the side of the boat and on to the centerboard. in other words don't fall in to the water a swim round to the centreboard. i ask my crew do same and not to swim in the water this stops your crew getting cold and wet. I call it double boarding. ok you can't do it all the the time. Sometimes its just to windy and the boat turns turtle in seconds. Should you be sailing in that weather though. That is your choice. Once the boat is righting let your crew jump in first. tell them to lift the centreboard to 1/2 this will stop you from capsizing again. Once your back in the boat. free you ropes, sort yourself out and go planing to empty the water. Also with the centreboard at half, you can turn the boat away from the wind alot easier. Oh yes if the boat is away from the wind. Lets say you capsized on a run. You will have to let the boat turn into the wind. this stops the boat capsizing again. The way to do this is let the mast ride a foot above the water and watch the boat turn round into the wind. Happy sailing |
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snettbish
Starting Member
13 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2007 : 07:09:46
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I understand the problem, last time I capsized I ended up with rescue boat assistance to right the thing! Again the reason was the high floating of the boat making it hard to reach the plate and I sail a wooden boat with a bow tank and side bouyancy bags.
Like you I thought that letting some air out of the bags would help sink the stern and help make bring the plate within reach. I have subsequently heard of some tricks that can help although I have not had the misfortune to try them.
Let the kicking strap tension right off, this helps the mainsail move through the water easier.
Climb onto the plate from the windward side by stepping on the deck coming, then onto the mast step and then swinging a leg over the hull and sliding down onto the centreplate.
This last manover has to be done smartly otherwise there is a risk of going turtle.
Meanwhile the crew needs to be positioned so that as the boat comes up they are scooped into it and can help the help get in.
As I said I have not had the misfortune to try these yet but I'm sure that I shall in due course.
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snettbish
Starting Member
13 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2008 : 16:29:18
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To follow up on my posting some time ago now. Subsequent to the posting I have indeed capsized and this time my crew and I were able to right the boat quickly and get sailing again within a few minutes.
This was our proceedure.
1. Checked that we awere each ok.
2. Crew retrived jib stick! (it fell out of its clip!)as...
3. I swam around to the centre plate, my crew made sure it was fully down and uncleated the kicking strap control.
4. I could not climb onto the centerboard but could pull down on it anmd this stopped the boat going turtle and started to bring the mast level with the water.
5. My crew threw the jib sheet over the side and I was able to pull on this and with my feet on the hull was able to lift more of my weight up out of the water and the boat started to come up slowly.
6. My crew then climed up the inside of the hull and over onto the centreplate, this speeded up the righting.
At this point my crew should have slipped over the side and back into the boat as it righted and then helped me get aboard. This didn't happen and we both struggled to get aboard the righted boat.
I was able to reach in grab the toe straps and pull myself into the boat and then helped my crew get aboard.
We then quickly got the boat moving and within a few minutes the boat was empty of water. |
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Wirralsaint
Starting Member
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 11:22:00
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If the boat capsizes as soon as you get it upright, try the following. When you are on the centreboard with the mast in the water the boat will be lying across the wind. If, as you right the boat you keep the mast just above the surface of the water. The boat will then turn head to wind, and there will be much less chance of a capsize when you completely right the boat.
Tim |
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Cestrian
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 13:56:45
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"6. My crew then climed up the inside of the hull and over onto the centreplate, this speeded up the righting."
I have found that it is more efficient for the crew to try and let them selves get scoop up by the boat as it rights. If they just lie/float flattish just inside the gunwhale then the boat will scoop them up without offering much resistance. Means that your crew is inside the boat straight away and can act as a break for the helm and stops the boat going right over.
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Topic |
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Enterprise capsize recovery
