Scamp Capsize Tests

[David2249]

It would be interesting to see some capsize tests on Scamp
With and without water ballast. I’m wondering if capsized to port would the offset board be hard to reach.

Best wishes

David

[Editors]

Hi David,

We plan to do capsize testing as soon as reasonably convenient. Remember too that SCAMP has prominent skegs on her bottom, which would also come in handy if she needed to be manually righted.

Josh

[keyhavenpotterer]

Hi Josh, once the shallow safe water capsize test is done, please also try a windy open roughish water test, the kind of situation when you might capsize. I have found huge differences between flat shallow water tests and open water real situations. I guess you know this, but there is so much more water comes aboard in waves. Climbing back on board can be the greatest problem by far. We use plastic stirrups lashed to the side deck to help climb back on board. Please also watch out for the angle the boat lays at on her side. If she floats too high, the mast can be submerged, and the water ballast could go past the center of buoyancy and actually capsize the boat.
I should imagine SCAMP will be quite difficult to capsize even intentionally!
Brian

[keyhavenpotterer]

It will be good to complete capsize testing when the water warms up somewhat.

In the meantime I thought you might enjoy looking at this capsize testing video of the Uk designed Swallow Bay Raider 20, a water ballasted design built in wood by Denman Marine. It's very impressive and shows how good buoyancy and water ballast can work for a cruising dinghy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYrFXsHzvcg
Brian

[keyhavenpotterer]

http://www.force4.co.uk/1529/Force-4-Sp ... Brass.html

Saw this really neat brass folding step at the chandlery today. Quite substantial and could be a neat, if screwed low on the transom, way of climbing aboard after launching. Possibly after a capsize if rig was dropped. Just £12.95

When the rig is raised it is best to climb aboard from the side with the rig flapping loose. A horse riding stirrup on a leash is used for our lower freeboard Scows, but the higher SCAMP might need something more like a wire climber's ladder. Here is an example

http://myboatsgear.com/mbg/product.asp?prodID=1681


The rolled up ladder is stored under the side deck coaming with a lanyard hanging over the side.

This item is quite expensive. But would be easy to make for SCAMP. If using alloy tubes there will be some left over after making the yard and boom. This can be cut to short ladder width lengths and strung together with dyneema line.

Brian

[cdcook2]

I had been thinking of those folding steps too for a transom boarding system. A lot of weight would be concentrated on the two fasteners, though. Depending on how it's attached, a ladder would probably distribute the boarder's weight better but I like the simplicity and compactness of the folding steps.

[keyhavenpotterer]

Sorry, was just adding the ladders when you posted! Can use both. Would through bolt the step.

Brian

[wdscobie]

i've found these 'rope ladders' difficult to use. when trying to push up you find your feet go horizontal under the hull and you are not going up but out. i've climbed aboard slowly and with difficulty. the ladder was was used as a test, intentional, and in calm seas.

being cold (real concern in puget sound sailing), in a chop/sea, and in a high-stress situation i wonder if i would be able to get aboard.

the challenge on a small craft is that a fixed folding ladder is difficult to place.

yes something is better than nothing. i've have a rope ladder as my safety for the last five years. in a few weeks i'm going to install a fixed fold-down ladder to the transom.

[Anders Bjorklund]

i've found these 'rope ladders' difficult to use. when trying to push up you find your feet go horizontal under the hull and you are not going up but out.

That's been my experience with ladders like that, and I have heard the same report from others many times over. I worry that they might give boaters who haven't tested them a false sense of security. The folding ladder Mike Monies used on his Scamp in the EC looks like a winner. I'd like to hear more about how it worked out in practice.

Andres

[keyhavenpotterer]

There is a very neat single fold down step that suit SCAMP


http://www.ongaromarine.com/misc.htm?

Think it might be made by ROCA but their site is hopeless.

Getting back in over the side is really important if the rig is still raised. If you are in the water at the transom with the rig up, she will swing downwind and drag you along behind. A folding roll up ladder which becomes "stiff" when unrolled is what we need.

Brian