Gilligan wrote:
I had a Capri 13.2.

Was it the 14.2 sloop or the 13 cat (like a Laser)?

It was impossible for one man to get back over if you
turtled it.

Hmmm... I wonder how you were trying it. I have never seen a
crew-ballasted centerboarder, including a Flying Scot or
Lightning, that couldn't be pulled back up *IF* the right
technique were used. The Johnson 18 with it's wide beam &
side tanks was like a catamaran when turtled, it took a
righting line (similar to one used by a catamaran) and crew
weight on the bow.

We have rescued people from Hobie 1-14s, along with other
small boats, that seemed extremely reluctant to come back
up. Once you get the boat oriented right, uncleat the sheets
& sometimes the vang, and get the right leverage (such as a
righting line across the bottom from one of the chainplates)
then they come right back.

The worst scenario is when a double-hulled boat, such as is
intended to be self-rescuing, has taken on water between the
hull & cockpit floor/sides. This makes it difficult to right
because the free surface effect inside the hull keeps
yanking the boat back, then once the boat is upright, it
negates the boat's form stability. Big PITA. This is why
some old-timers insist that modern self-bailing dinghy are
unsafe (kind of the way some salty types insist that roller
furling is no darn good).


This was a concern for me because I sail in very cold water.

Hypothermia is a big problem, certainly not one to be taken
lightly.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King