"The real ME" wrote
"Water falling from the sky, either rain, snow, or sleet, accounted for
a
whopping 32% of the sinking claims. Everybody has seen a rowboat or two
awash, so this shouldn't be a surprise. What may be startling is that all
of
the claims involved boats with self-bailing cockpits that should have shed
the water overboard."

No surprise there. The self-bailing design is only intended to clear the
partially enclosed cockpit from wash over the gunnels or transom. Many or
most of the engine compartment and/or bilge-access hatches are either not
waterproof, or develop leaks over time. Sitting unattended for two or three
months of winter rains is more than enough for any slow leak to claim it's
victim.

Jack