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Random Quote: I thought I was hooked on fishing then I got strung out!
After reading the Grady thread (and not wanting to hijack it) it got me thinking about what I could do RIGHT NOW to make a boat easier to stay with while it's upside down. There just isn't too much to hold onto when one looks like that. Maybe straddle the anchor pulpit if you have one, maybe stand on the motor. Just not many options to actually get yourself out of the water in that kind of situation. Some bow rails might make it easier to stand against the side if they aren't too deep. How about any life lines permanently attached to the boat that could deploy if it flipped? I like the floatation block the coasties use in the radar tower of a lot of their small boats. I watched a show recently where they mentioned there was enough floatation in the tower (t-top) to keep the boat from going upside down. A t-top made from about a 3" thick foam cored, lightly glassed would give a lot of buoyancy (app 600 lbs) up high where you need it.. I think I'd rather have a sideways boat than an upside down boat. At least there might be stuff to climb on.. What are your thought on keeping it from flipping or making it easier to hold onto if it does?? Arlon
Being an old HobieCat sailor one of the worst things that could happen is for you to capsize and then "turtle". Once the mast (18'-26' depending on model) inverts (assuming the water is deep enough) and the wind helps bury it in the bottom you are in a lot of trouble.
Some enterprising aftermarket companies developed a mast-top "blimp" which was an air-filled, zeppelin-shaped float. That float made you look like a total dork but at the same time kept the boat from turtling.
The other thing hobies have are lines designed to be pulled from around the hull to the bottoms in case of a capsize. These are "righting lines" intended to help a sailor hike-out and right the boat.
In a powerboat, the chances of capsizing should be lower than a hobie (high CG). I think having foam-filled gunnels helps to lower the risk. The question is should one try to lower the risk of turtling or just build a liferaft that deploys under these circumstances?
arlon,
Since you mentioned the GW incident, I am not advertising for this brand. In fact, when time is right I have two dozen complaints against these boats, but we need to give the credit where is due. Most other boats will not even float. So, there is no need to worry about a handle to hang on to it. Contenders, Fountains and boats of that type will sink in three minutes. I think proper boat operating education, and common sense is the best preventing method for capsizing. Elements break and accidents happen. Keeping batteries in the bilge is no accident. Going 50 miles offshore with one engine, priceless!
Instead of thinking about how to keep your boat from rolling after it's full of water, think about how to keep it from filling in the first place. A sea anchor is an absolute must, ESPECIALLY for notched transoms.
WishFish
...Most other boats will not even float.....
I thought all boats <25' are required to maintain positive floatation with a full load (fuel and engines). Am I wrong? The fact that this one rolled and held a sizable air-pocket was a very good thing. The seas were calm enough that it didn't burp the pocket as it rolled around upside-down.
I've always assumed my 26' would sink if it were to fill or capsize. I'd only have my pfds, ditch bag and the good Lord.
I don't know what incident your referring, but we had a capsize incident a week or so ago here (OC, MD) at one of the offshore canyons. The boat was an '87 GW Gulfstream with notched transom (not bracketed motors). They got a WWB line wrapped on a prop, stopped to clear the line, took a big wave over the back and sank within five minutes. The capt got on the radio quickly and all four were pulled from the water by another fishing boat. Very little of the boat was above water ... just some of the deepest V part of the hull near the bow. The was nothing easy to hold on to for those in the water. I think there outbound radio calls were on 68, which was good and bad. The good was there was another fishing boat nearby. The bad was the CG must have picked up the MAYDAY from another boat, since they don't listen to 68, normally 16, the call up channel and 22.
Long story short, these things can happen in a real hurry ... things you think may be possible in the comfort of your home just can't be done in the big water, especially if the seas and wind are honking! Keep you life vests at the ready and other safety gear very handy, cause you never know ...
A lot of people I take out (I have the same boat, but bracketed motor and closed transom) just don't understand why I just get crazy when they get lines near the props, but line on a prop can be a disaster, as this story shows. Be safe.
Jim
__________________ ================================================== ==
A bad day fishing is always better than a good day at work.
There is another thread about that same incident, it's the one arlon mentioned. He just started a new thread because he changed the topic (to preparation/prevention).
WishFish
...Most other boats will not even float.....
I thought all boats <25' are required to maintain positive floatation with a full load (fuel and engines). Am I wrong? The fact that this one rolled and held a sizable air-pocket was a very good thing. The seas were calm enough that it didn't burp the pocket as it rolled around upside-down.
I've always assumed my 26' would sink if it were to fill or capsize. I'd only have my pfds, ditch bag and the good Lord.
Not that anyone should test your 24's.
I think all boats less than 20' are required to have positive flotation that will keep them from sinking. Some manufacturers (BW, Edgewater, McKee) greatly exceed that and are much more difficult to capsize. GW has positive flotation on all sizes, but is not as bouyant as BW and easier to capsize.
Boat swamp/flip. 
