Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:34:25 -0400, HK wrote:

How about if you broach
and take a few tons of water over the side, or if you suffer a
knockdown? Got enough flotation built into that boat to keep it floating
level and safe until help arrives?

It depends. :-)

After watching those Alaskan fishing boats capsize in big seas I think
it's safe to say that no boat is without risk in extreme conditions.

Don't take my comments personally, not intended that way. Accidental
(and abrupt) sinking is a proven issue on boats with low transom
freeboard and no splash boards however. There are lots of ways for a
boat to accidently end up stern-to with a breaking wave, and the wave
doesn't have to be all that big with 12 inches of freeboard.


There are lots of ways for every boat to founder. I've been boating in
small, low transom boats for 50 years. Never had a close call via a wave
breaking over the transom. Did have a close call with a wave breaking
over the bow.

Since I do 90% of my boating in Chesapeake Bay, I have no concerns about
the transom. And even when I wander offshore, it isn't a concern for me.
I've been offshore plenty of times in boats with 15" transoms, including
some of the older Boston Whalers.