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From: GSTahoe@aol.com
Return-path: <GSTahoe@aol.com>
To: wrixe@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Foam Flotation
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 19:46:30 EST
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In a message dated 1/5/99 3:55:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,
wrixe@earthlink.net writes:
> I guess I see them as "heavy weather" flotation-blowing them up and stuffing
> them in under the cockpit as needed, and deflating them when things are
> calm
Will,
Perhaps the heavy weather in Arizona is not quite as heavy as weather in, say,
Florida, Tahoe, the Northwest and other places. The idea of having a blow
start, reefing your sails, closing the hatch and securing what needs to be
secure and then going below to blow up some long plastic tubes in order to
keep you afloat sounds rather impractical. As a matter-of-fact, the entire
notion makes me a little queasy. I know that if I where confined in rough
water to blowing up tubes in the cabin, I'd fill the cabin with chunks of
partially digested lunch, otherwise known as chum, before I'd get any tubes
inflated. Perhaps this would be the job of the crew?
Just as a side comment, and entirely in my humble opinion, or in computerese,
IMHO, I don't even think it would help. This thread is getting a little over
dramatic. The P-14/15 will stay afloat a lot longer than you will. If the
hatch is closed and the centerboard is tied down, I don't think you could sink
it if you wanted to. The blocks of floatation added by the manufacturer is
just extra safety precaution, but certainly not necessary. One suggestion that
I have heard in the past is to keep some empty gallon jugs under the seats.
You can use them for water jugs and other stuff and when they are empty they
make great floatation.
If you really want to add a margin of safety, again, IMHO, I would add two
items (and have on Lollipop): I added a nice manual bilge pump, which I have
never used except to help others get water out of their boats, and a storm
anchor or drogue. I have yet to use the storm anchor either, it is still in
it's original bag that it came in three or four years ago. As long as
everything is buttoned up, the boats going to float. As long as you stay off
the rocks, it will remain floating in one piece. As long as the centerboard
is down it will float upright. With or without noodles. IMHO. :-)
Of course, I just thought of one other advantage of your inflatable tubes. It
would make an amusing contest at a group sail to have a tube blowing up
contest. Then people walking by could say, "My what a cute little boat, and
you've got a mighty cute noodle there as well."
I'll bet you can't tell I'm getting anxious for spring sailing weather
already.
Geoff
P-15 (noodleless) Lollipop
No. Lake Tahoe, NV
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