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Boarding in deep water
There is a discussion on the Yahoo PDRacer forum about re-boarding in deep water. Of the options mentioned climbing in over the bow seems to be the best with an OZ. My only concern with going over the bow is water entering the bow compartment around the mast.
A rope ladder was mentioned but when I've tried to use anything flexible my feet go up under the boat and they're of little use.
Has anyone found a better way of re-boarding the PDR after capsize?
My next build is going to be a Sabre. While looking at photos I've noticed about half the Sabre's have a large sponge jammed in the tiller which I assume is used to plug the centerboard slot so the boat can be bailed when swamped. It may be something to consider with the PDR.
Brad
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Hi Brad,
The most important thing about capsize recovery is to try it in a safe location. As many times as possible. Each boat is a bit (sometimes a lot) different so you have to try.
The best way of getting aboard is to go over the side. However this depends on swimming confidence, a bit of upper body strength and windspeed.
So I will cover that first
Have a look at these two videos.
This was the first capsize I tried in the PDR so am experimenting. I tried to right the boat in the classic way by going over the hull side onto the centreboard without getting wet - I had a lot of people on the beach for the launching party and wanted to impress. Anyway .. the rear buoyancy tanks don't have enough volume for that approach so the boat spat me into the water.
I then swam round and pulled the centreboard tip toward my chest without trying to climb on it and the boat came up so easily I was totally surprised.
There is about 4 seconds cut from this video when the photographer moves the camera to follow a bird and then returns to the boat. She is going to graduate from art school this year.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48JuTGEfV4"]YouTube - PDracer capsize test[/ame]
The other one might explain a bit more - more close up. We made a serious error with this one in that we tried to get a straight through footage but the boat kept turning around so you couldn't see what I was doing. So it is a composite and the mistake is we ended up using a test run and I had not put my lifejacket on at that point. So you will see it appear and disappear.
The video also shows that one of the things that is useful is for there to be some wind. you position the boat with the wind behind you. The boat moves towards capsizing again the time I was at the best angle for the camera, the other times I got aboard easily.
If there had been more wind there would have been no prob.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-3yzkr-e_o"]YouTube - PDRacer Capsize Drill[/ame]
With the entry over the bow method ... I think try it. Unless you sit on the bow for 15 minutes I don't imagine the mast partner will take more than a litre or two (thre pints) - but the trick is to try it and see.
The sponge in the tiller of the sabre is just where some people put it. There is no need in most modern boats to prevent the water coming in the centrecase because they have enough buoyancy to hold the case above the water level and the centreboard is close enough fitting to prevent much water coming in (except for the swinging centreboards on boats with inadequate buoyancy where there is lots of space for water to come in.
But any PDR with side tank buoyancy will come up almost dry. The Sabre comes up with a gallon or two of water because the side decks are lower than the gunwale.
Best wishes
MIK
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Thanks Mik. I've seen those videos but it's been so long ago I'd forgotten how easy it looks when you do it. Capsize recovery is something I should practice in the harbor.
I sailed the PDR this evening, forecast was for 8 to 10. Had pretty good wind while I was rigging the boat but when I pushed off it died. Had periods of 4 to 5 then it died down to 1 to 2 while I was beating back to where I launched.
I was surprised at how well it moved in the very light stuff. Toward the end the only ripples on the lake were the bow waves from the boat.
I'm starting to like the boat more but still have a few more things to do.
Brad
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You can also compare the two capsizes to see how I have learned to capsize the boats with a lot less effort.
Some things improve with experience.
MIK
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Hi Gyula, I would hate to have that hanging over the back of my sailboat, but gee it is a brilliant design!!!! It resolves a whole bunch of the problems of almost any other method I've seen. Also suspect it is heavier than it needs to be - I would suspect a two pieces of 9mm ply would go very close to being strong enough without much framing at all. But the design is completely brilliant. The downside of getting in over the stern is that if there is much wind the bow of the boat will blow downwind, the sail will fill and the boat capsize again. MIK
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The original is on the Duckworks site. Duckworks Magazine
