Day Sailer Fleet 64
Arlington, Texas(The Horned Frog Fleet)
Adding Flotation - Self Rescue: Fresno Style
Edition #57 - Summer 1975
In this time when all classes are looking to increased safety for their boats, an urgent point has again shown itself in our class that should immediately be rectified.
The Day Sailer as designed by Uffa Fox, with air tanks all the way along the sides to the gunwales, is rescueable. The boat as revised by O'Day Corporation with the fiberglass seats as air tanks and without some additional flotation added is practically impossible to right after being knocked down.
This point of the newer boats being non-rescueable is costing us some very enthusiastic members.
There have been two incidents, involving the newer boats with flotation in the seats, within the last year at regattas which Lew Wagoner attended. Both of these incidents could have ended in tragedy except for the excellent coverage of rescue boats by the host clubs. Both occurred in very cold water, 40-45 degrees, in which survival time is very limited. After it became evident the boats could not be righted by their crews, the crews were rescued and taken to shore and the boats were left to be rescued after all crews were saved.
In the most recent of these incidents, Lew helped to right the boat and it was impossible for one or two men to right the boat without the assistance of power boats. Lew has also helped right the newer boats in warmer water and it was possible for three men to accomplish the job without other assistance. At this same regatta one of the older boats, with the air tanks all the way to the gunwales, went over and was easily righted by the skipper and his crew (wife) and safely sailed back to the dock.
The problem is simply a matter of leverage. Using the centerboard as a lever and the center of flotation in the hull as the fulcrum, the lever is longer in the older boats than in the newer ones with the flotation in the seats. Also, with the flotation lower in the boat, the newer boats have more of a tendency to turn turtle because instead of holding the boat up by the gunwale, the bottom wants to rise with the gunwale down, TURTLE!
This situation can easily be remidied in a number of ways.
One boat, number 1679, in our fleet had a record of capsizings. We removed he coamings, placed styrofoam blocks (cut to fit) between the seats and the gunwales, held these in place with 1/8" thick tempered masonite painted white; the masonite in turn was held in place by the ridge on the fiberglass seats and the coamings as they were replaced. This results in the easiest solution and it serves the purpose intended. After the installation the boat was intentionally capsized and righted by two teenage boys.
Photograph #1 shows boat 957 during installation of the styrofoam. These are styrofoam blocks cut to fill the void. The photograph on the next page, #2, shows the completed installation. With the masonite painted the same color as the seats, it is difficult to tell that it is not a part of the original boat. This installation could also be accomplished by placing the masonite and pouring liquid foam in the void.
Another solution was accomplished by Ken Glassbrooke on his boat, #1313. He formed air tanks in the void by using plywood and fiberglassing over it. He also formed air tanks between the seats and the transom from hull to deck with the center section left void for his drain plug, hiking strap connection, etc. This was beautifully executed by Ken as shown in the drawings #3 & #4.
For Fleet information, contact DS Fleet
Captain Manuel Le Blanc, 5519 El Captain Ct., Arlington, TX 76017 - Phone
(817) 784-0910 or by e-mail to Chuck Hield - chield@earthlink.net
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