Thread: Goat Island Skiff

Also, my only serious sailing injury was caused by falling on a venturi - the edge sliced a 200mm gash in my leg which then meant that the water I had to bail out by hand was not only cold and wet and salty but tinged red with my claret! Since then I have formed the view that they not only don't work but they are a menace!

Here's a video from a distance but you can get a little idea.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6YZyY4e-H0&feature=related"]YouTube - Righting a capsized Goat Island Skiff[/ame]

MIK used to have one up showing him bailing Gruff. That one gives you a better idea but I couldn't find it.

Thanks guys. From the video, it seems to still float pretty high when brought upright. On its side, the daggerboard isn't above the water by much so it takes a nice big slurp on the way up.

It appears that climbing back aboard is fine for one person at a time from the same side in it's full state, and the bouyancy is plenty. Maybe not two at a time from the same side? The gunwales are still nice and high enough so that if there was a chop, it won't take on too much more water, if any.

Judging by the comments you've all made regarding leaks, it appears that the quality of these venturi type bailers is woeful these days. I never had any problems with leaks apart from a perished gasket, which was easily fixed. I can't recall the brands available at the time but they had a nice strong lever and clicking action to seal them.

You've given me a bit to think about, so thanks all....

Howdy

The good common ones are the RILEY brand in OZ. I don't think you will see anywhere else in the world. For racing they are rugged, but they do leak just a tiny bit after a while. There seems to be a basic problem with putting holes in a boat!!!



There is a capsize and recovery set of pics here - I was showing off to some young women in a fishing boat ... they brought me my paddle back
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boatmik...7594516743453/

With two aboard it would be dead easy. One climbs aboard and starts bailing and the other just focusses on stopping the boat from capsizing again - staying outside the boat and holding onto the side (warm water) or getting aboard and just moving to keep things upright. One person for one job!

Singlehanded ... The thing I would do differently next time if I was in open water in a strong wind is I would drop the sail. Possibly before righting the boat - make sure there is a knot in the end of the halyard!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!! (just to repeat!!!). Then right the boat and it will be much easier for one person to hold upright.

Get rid of the water and rehoist the sail (probably after reefing down - carry ropes for this.)

MIK

Great pics there Mik!

Yeah, when one is more chronologically advantaged, capsizing, righting and hopping back in can be accomplished without getting ones feet wet! My Dabchick didn't need bailing as it had no cockpit. They could be righted in about 15secs and then you were off again and as fast as the next boat too. The Sprog was a cinch also because its cockpit was very small and the "seat" was a closed in buoyancy tank. But if you did take a swim, getting onto the centreboard was a problem because it floated so high......especially as I wore a water weight jacket too, which added a few kilos. The GIS's board is very low, but a stirrup would still make things easier if needed.

I'll look into the Rileys, thanks for that.

By the way Mik, that sail on Gruff looks really nice . Who is the sailmaker?

Back in the day, I would crew on 420s, which are just a tad larger than Sprogs but very easy to capsize. I became adept at righting the boat and getting back into position without going in the water. My feet would get wet from whatever shipped into the cockpit, but everything above the knees would be dry. I'd already be hooked into the trapeze and smiling calmly by the time skipper hauled his soaking behind over the transom. He'd give me the evil eye and cuss me out, but I figured that was just his penalty for dumping us!

That sail was made by Biting Midge's local Tarpaulin maker. He had some sailcloth and made it up.!

MIK

Originally Posted by Boatmik

That sail was made by Biting Midge's local Tarpaulin maker. He had some sailcloth and made it up.!

MIK

Clearly he missed his proper vocation!

And he made them up about 12 years before these photos.

My sail was made by KenO'Brien from Adelaide. Cheaper, including transport and taxes, then to have it made in Holland! Looks good. Have not tried it yet. (se avatar for the sail)

Ab

Originally Posted by SOLing

My sail was made by KenO'Brien from Adelaide. Cheaper, including transport and taxes, then to have it made in Holland! Looks good. Have not tried it yet. (se avatar for the sail)

Ab

Amazing! Labour and postage costs are not exactly cheap here in Oz.

Originally Posted by woodeneye

Amazing! Labour and postage costs are not exactly cheap here in Oz.

I guess costs of labour in Holland is even more. For an hour working on your car they charge Euro 80 (AUS $ 148) excluding 19% VAT! The hourly rate for a sailmaker is some Euro 55.....

greetings, Ab

Joost's exploits in his Goat have reached Southern Africa too!

http://ckdboats.blogspot.com/

hahaha ... cool.

They are my agents in South Africa ... they do computer cutting of ply. They were quick!!!

MIK