lagasse@biomed.UUCP (Robert C. Lagasse) (07/10/85)
I don't want to start an arguement, but, what do you think is the
TRUE meaning of a self- bailing cockpit or bilge?? Does it mean:
A). If I pull out the drain plugs on my 18 foot sailboat or powerboat or
whatever, the cockpit will fill with water to a certain level, and , once
the water level equalizes , and the freeboard is hopefully not compromised
too much (it should not be if the boat is of decent construction; the boat
should only sit in the water a couple of inches lower), all water flow
should stop. Now, if I add one gallon of water to the inside of the boat,
one gallon of water should flow out of the drain plugs into the sea. And,
if I pull out the plugs at the end of a weekend, and leave the boat at a
mooring for a week, and during the week, it rains, the same number of
rainwater gallons that enter the boat should also come out the drain plugs.
Hence, the term self-bailing.
---------- O R ----------
B). If the boat fills with water for whatever reason ( 10 wet waterskiers
climb aboard, or, 369 bluefish puke-up water into my bilge) , I just start
the engine, or raise the sails, get going at a good clip, and pull the drain
plugs. Whatever water is in the bilge will be sucked into the ocean by the
magic of suction.
Well, which is it??
(I hope this does not end up in net.flame)
Bobby L @ MGHscs@axiom.UUCP (Steve Schwarm) (07/12/85)
> I don't want to start an arguement, but, what do you think is the > TRUE meaning of a self- bailing cockpit or bilge?? Does it mean: > > A). If I pull out the drain plugs on ... > whatever, the cockpit will fill with water to a certain level, and , once > the water level equalizes , and the freeboard is hopefully not compromised > too much, all water flow should stop. ... > > ---------- O R ---------- > > B). If the boat fills with water for whatever reason ( .. ) , I just start > the engine, or raise the sails, get going at a good clip, and pull the drain > plugs. ... My Sunbird Sail boat has a third. When I am sailing fast enough and water that enters the cockpit will run out. This is done by a float ball in a chamber on the bottom of the boat. When the boat is going to slow the ball floats up and blocks a hole in the bottom of the boat. If I go fast enough, a vacuum empties the chamber (it is open only to the stern of the boat) and water will run out of the cockpit though the hole. Now that's self-bailing. Steve Schwarm linus!axiom!scs
hrs@homxb.UUCP (H.SILBIGER) (07/16/85)
I always thought that all you were guaranteed if you had a self bailing boat which filled with water that it would not sink altogether. You could th bail it with a bucket your self :-) Seriously, any boat whose cockpit floor is below the waterline will have to move to be self bailing. If the cockpit is above the waterline, open drains can let the water out, as long as you dont get it in the cabin. Herman Silbiger
hogg@utcsri.UUCP (John Hogg) (07/16/85)
"Self-bailing" in the context of boat advertisment means whatever
copywriters want it to mean. But here is a sailor's (as distinct from a
powerboater's) point of view:
A "self-bailing" cockpit is scuppered and has its sole above the waterline;
seacocks (if any) are normally left open. Thus, the sole is always dry
unless a large wave has just come aboard.
A "self-bailing" dinghy has transom and/or suction ("Elvstrom") bailers and
can be sailed dry. Of course, some dinghy cockpits are in addition
"self-bailing" by the definition given above.
Nautical jargon has a very old and rich history, which is a nice way of
saying that words and definitions are hopelessly imprecise. There are many
words for which I can't give you an unambiguous definition without context.
You happen to have asked about a comparatively recent one.
And while I'm wasting phone charges, are there any other Shark 24 sailors
out there?
--
John Hogg
Computer Systems Research Institute, UofT
{allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsri!hoggreh@aplvax.UUCP (Ron E. Hall) (07/16/85)
> > I don't want to start an arguement, but, what do you think is the > TRUE meaning of a self- bailing cockpit or bilge?? Self-bailing cockpits in larger boats drain completely even if filled with water. In dinghys, self-bailing means that if the bailers are opened, the boat drains completely even if the boat is sitting quietly at anchor. This is usually done by putting a false floor in the boat with foam under it so the cockpit floor is above the water line. Self rescuing boats float upright with water in them and the water can be sucked out if the bailers are opened and the boat moved through the water. Ron Hall JHU/APL ...decvax!harpo!seismo!umcp-cs!aplvax!reh ...rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!aplvax!reh -- Ron Hall JHU/APL ...decvax!harpo!seismo!umcp-cs!aplvax!reh ...rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!aplvax!reh
mat@amdahl.UUCP (Mike Taylor) (07/16/85)
> > I don't want to start an arguement, but, what do you think is the > > TRUE meaning of a self- bailing cockpit or bilge?? Does it mean: > > > > A). If I pull out the drain plugs on ... > > whatever, the cockpit will fill with water to a certain level, and , once > > the water level equalizes , and the freeboard is hopefully not compromised > > too much, all water flow should stop. ... > > > > ---------- O R ---------- > > > > B). If the boat fills with water for whatever reason ( .. ) , I just start > > the engine, or raise the sails, get going at a good clip, and pull the drain > > plugs. ... > > My Sunbird Sail boat has a third. When I am sailing fast enough and > water that enters the cockpit will run out. This is done by a float > ball in a chamber on the bottom of the boat. When the boat is going > to slow the ball floats up and blocks a hole in the bottom of the boat. > If I go fast enough, a vacuum empties the chamber (it is open only to > the stern of the boat) and water will run out of the cockpit though > the hole. Now that's self-bailing. > > Steve Schwarm > linus!axiom!scs Normally, a true self-bailing cockpit is one whose floor is above the waterline of the yacht, such that any water in the cockpit will happily run down the drain holes. Paul Elvstrom developed the idea of a hydrodynamic self-bailer with a non-return valve, like the Sunbird mentioned above, that will provide self bailing when the boat is going fast enough. These do not, however, meet IOR or most other offshore requirements for self bailing. The most obvious examples of true self-bailing are ocean racers whose cockpit is open to the sea at the stern, preventing any water being trapped in the cockpit and slowing the boat. -- Mike Taylor ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,sun}!amdahl!mat [ This may not reflect my opinion, let alone anyone else's. ]
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (07/16/85)
In my laser it means that when you gt going fast enough the self bailer portion that sticks below the bottom of the boat creates magic suction that sucks the thing dry. Also in the laser self bailing means that when (not if) you tip over the cockpit is above the water and all the water that has collected in the cockpiut drains (bails) out (as do all the passengers). In my power boat there is a plug at the back that you pull out when you get on plane and all of the water bails out. Another feature on the motor I have is an automatic bailer that sucks water out whenever the motor runs. I really don't know what I would do with all the water that water-skiing brings in if I didn'd have the bailer. Real boring bailing. Bottom line on bailing... Self/Automatic bailers get the boat dry. t.jones