Not if the boat is designed with good reserve bouyancy in the aft
sections.


Capt.Mooron wrote:
Well that's the ringer isn't it? A sugar scoop would lend to waterline ...
but not nessecarily to boyancy


Not necessarily waterline either. But a major feature of a boat, like an
open transom (not the same thing as a sugar scoop), *must* be in
accordance with the rest of the design. Most racier boats with open
transoms happen to have pretty wide, bouyant stern sections. Not
necessarily a coincidence.


I disagree strongly. In fact, having sailed many open transom boats in
pretty good seas, I can remember very few times having water come in
astern. And those times were in waves steep enough (or breaking) that they
would have washed over top of any transom (or pointy stern) too.


Now there rears the head of the Dragon of Reserve Buoyancy.
I would take issue with that statement having experienced both types of
vessels in comparitive situations.


It may be that you're not looking back enough
I know that of the few times I've had water come into an open transom
boat from following seas, it's been when the seas were rather steep
and/or breaking, and stand by the assertion that most of them would have
rolled right in over a transom, too. Especially one without much reserve
bouyancy aft.



In fact, the one boat I've sailed a lot and is mentionable as having a
tendency to stick her stern into following seas is an old classic
counter-stern sloop. Elegant, and from the looks of that long overhang
you'd think she'd lift readily to waves from astern. But that turned out
not to eb the case. A great boat in many other respects though, and
beautiful enough to be forgiven this flaw... besides, she also had the
classic small cockpit...


More Reserve bouyancy than a sugar scoop??


Well, this was also a rather narrow & heavy boat. Reserve bouyancy is
relative to the overall displacement, and also to the moment of inertia.
A heavy boat, especially one with a lot of weight in the ends, will need
more reserve bouyancy to gain the same lift to following seas.


Although I agree with the base contention... mitigating factors are always a
reality.
Sea states can be vary with seasonal conditions. I sail in unprotected
waters... for the most part.
Steep short seas with breaking tops are common. So are 40ft+ waves entering
my harbour. Doug... those are a steep climb.


Sure. But OTOH a lighter boat with a more powerful rig ought to be able
to get up & over those waves easier. One disadvantage is that they tend
to get thrown to leeward by breaking crests, which means the boat must
be cleverly sailed to avoid that; but IMHO that's not the most
overriding factor. It suggests unless the skipper in the picture is not
using the right sailing techniques to minimize his disadvantage(s) and
maximize his advantages. Of course, I could be wrong... nah, I couldn't


Hell, I've raced some lightweight flyers that broached under spinnaker
every 5 minutes, and still hit 18 knots and passed boats on the run.


I'm certain you have Doug.......

It's fun, especially on somebody else's boat... You'd love it!


I like my boat Doug....... :-)

I like it too, and I've never even seen it in person.
BTW did I ever send you any pictures of the Vancouver 36 in our marina?
Very similar boat, at first I thought it was a bigger Nordica.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King