On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:40:38 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:09:20 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...AaOGTlo0Zt2LlI


Nice. I noted chairs and TV that didn't appear to be secured.
How do you handle that in the rough?

Funny you should mention that. The boat has active stabilizer fins
that are driven by a gyroscope and hydraulic actuators. They do a
really good job of keeping the boat on an even keel in most
conditions. The down side is that they depend on forward motion to do
their job.

The first year we owned the boat we were waiting for a drawbridge
opening at Sanibel Island Causeway when a large express cruiser went
flying by leaving a 3 foot wake. That particular TV bit the dust in a
big way. Fortunately we had the carpeting down in the main cabin so
that nice teak parquet floor survived unscathed.

No surprise. I think I once wrote about entering a liquor store
directly after a couple weeks in fairly rough seas. At the counter
I looked up to see floor to ceiling bottles, and for a second had a
real scare *knowing* they would crash down on me.
Hasn't happened since, but I think the "flying object" syndrome always
kicks in when I'm viewing a boat.
The "big wake" issue is the one that concerns me the most as I prepare
to boat. Of course my boat will be smaller than yours. It just seems
from reading about it - I've read examples of sailboaters out of
cockpit and topside getting pitched in the drink - that's it's the
biggest PITA for small-boaters, and unavoidable.

--Vic

On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:09:05 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

I've read examples of sailboaters out of
cockpit and topside getting pitched in the drink - that's it's the
biggest PITA for small-boaters, and unavoidable.

I actually saw that happen once. Fortunately they got him back
onboard OK. Single handed could have been an entirely different
outcome. In the end it comes to situational awareness, having the
right equipment such as jack lines/harnesses/lifelines, and taking
reasonable precautions.

Small sailboats are a lot of fun but they have a number of risky
aspects other than power boat wakes that you need to be prepared for.