MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : lots of water

can anyone tell me why we can;t get rid of the water when we capsize.the boat was built in 70s plywood ribbed.i think the problem may be that me and crew weigh approx34 stone any ideas.


Posted: 17/07/2006 18:08:04
By: pete burton
With the weight on board you will need quite a bit of wind to drag the hull out of the water, what design are you sailing ?

Once boat uo, need to bear away, flaps open ans as boat moves start to sit back to let water run out, even over the transom.


Posted: 18/07/2006 09:06:53
By: Old Merlin Man
Go to the Library section of this site, select "Boat Handling and Tuning" then select "Race Training Fact Sheets" - There is a sheet on capsize recovery drill


Posted: 18/07/2006 09:15:03
By: RichardS
Boats like Merlins and 12's won't sail off if you have the plate right down. If you have come from another class you may not appreciate this. Of course you might not have enough bouyancy in the aft end.


Posted: 18/07/2006 09:19:16
By: Dave Croft
Here is a link to the training sheet (its in MS Word format).

http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/training/Fact%20Sheet%202%20-%20Capsize.doc

Posted: 18/07/2006 11:59:08
By: Mags
Face facts, you're too heavy to empty the boat in anything under a good 4.

You'll need to accept it as a limitation and practice not capsizing.


Posted: 18/07/2006 12:52:31
By: Jon
We had this problem until we fitted new slot gasket and prevented more water coming in through the centreboard slot when we had capsized. Then we could empty out if we got the weight forward.


Posted: 18/07/2006 13:01:09
By: PJ
At the time that your boat was built, it would have come with something called a bay-ler, a sort of small square or sometimes round plastic bucket which was intended to be used to expel the water.  Sadly, it is very hard nowadays to find someone who can still demonstrate this old folk skill, but contemporary manuscripts seem to suggest that it involved hard work.  Perhaps the Ancient Geek may remember?


Posted: 18/07/2006 15:51:12
By: bill
The noble art is demonstrated in the North East of Scotland on an almost weekly basis generally as a consequence of the noble Merlin death roll tradition which I can achieve without even trying.  The stern hangs low in the water (Proctor IX) and the boat will hardly move once she is upright so bailing is the only option.  A mop bucket seems to give the best chance of gaining on the incoming deluge!!


Posted: 18/07/2006 16:06:53
By: Garry R
Indeed I do remember I rember all those experiements trying to find the best way, which was and probably still is not to be too ambitous and to start off with the flaps open of course on a fine reach and not to try to bear away untill the boat is responsive the stern being low made no difference indeed it helped. So did ensuring you'd put the hatch cover on the bow tank!


Posted: 18/07/2006 17:25:37
By: Ancient Geek
thanks everyone just sounds like we need to lose alot of weight.


Posted: 18/07/2006 17:32:54
By: pete burton
Dont stand up in the boat, kneel or lie down inside it. Archimedes will do the rest.


Posted: 19/07/2006 11:25:47
By: The Judge
Don't forget your snorkel if you lie down ;-)


Posted: 20/07/2006 13:42:09
By: PJ
How much buoyancy does it take to keep a Merlin afloat?   The "new" 1951 built Rocket I have just acquired has obviously caused the previous owner a lot of calculation regarding displacement etc and much puzzling over Archimedes principle.  His solution seems to have come up with 30 four-pint plastic milk cartons in a polythene woven sack for the bow, four 5-bottle bags (sewn into a nylon tube) under the side decks and (this may be critical to bailing problems) 15 one litre cartons under the stern deck also sewn into a nylon bag.  To be fair the nylon bags were bright orange so that the rescue fleet could pinpoint the debris!!!  I was totally amazed that anyone could drink so much milk and stay afloat!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Posted: 26/07/2006 09:06:52
By: Garry R
Garry,


You got to post a picture or at least send one in to the Mag Editor for the next publication.


Posted: 26/07/2006 10:15:44
By: Richard Battey
The decks are now off and the offending bags removed but I could do a simulation by placing them back in.  Sadly it's impossible to actually see the selection of bottles (I'm not sure whether the dairy is important or whether the milk should be full fat or semi-skimmed).  Will get a photo to Mags


Posted: 26/07/2006 11:10:30
By: Garry R
Please see photo of yours truley combining the topics of this thread, showing the modern art of bailing using a recycled 2 litre milk bottle (which has made its way from the dustbins at bourne end to Salcmbe week, and is expected to travel to Tenby soon).

http://fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?pictureid=2990522&offset=17

Posted: 26/07/2006 11:58:43
By: Alan F
Here's Garry's pic.

http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/humour&file=buoyancy_via_milk_cartons.jpg

Posted: 27/07/2006 12:01:37
By: Mags

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