wet cockpit floor

[8philip8]

Hi all
the trip down to Sydney from Lake Macquarie last Sat.
motoring only on 5 knots early of the trip, water came in the cockpit floor,
later ,almost 1.5 inchs for the rest of the trip
does it happen to any other Top hats?
I 'd have a full tank (almost 40 lts) of diesel which located above the outboard well
is that the reason ?
8philip8

[storm petrel]

Hi Philip,

The only time I get water into the cockpit is when there are three or four of us in the cockpit with too much sail up and the gunwales are going under water. (Or when waves are coming over the cabin or aft topsides). 40 litres of fuel only weighs about 40 kg, so perhaps the prop was pushing the rear of the boat lower for some other reason. Was the following sea large and choppy? I have never had water come into the cockpit when I have been motoring, but I have rarely had to motor when offshore.

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Cheers,
Mark

[fullandby]

Hello Philip,

I have exactly the same situation. I have a 20 hp yanmar and a diesel tank in the port cockpit locker. At about 5 knots and over I get water through the drain holes. The faster I go, the more water. I get it sailing at over 5 knots as well. I occasionally prevent it by stuffing the drains with closed cell foam, but I worry I will forget to take it out at the end of the day.
I think its to do with the stern being fairly narrow plus the weight of the motor and tank. The stern on my boat squats a bit at 6 knots.

Cheers,

Bart

[Phillip]

Hi all

The answer to this problem is to get some weight forward to raise your sterns, you will also go faster!

P h i l l i p
SEAKA

[Miker]

Yep, happens to me too, but it's only happened with 4 people aboard going full speed under motor with some sail up. Comes in the well plug hole....

As Phillip said, send someone forward!

Michael

[brendan.lyon]

I get it too - I have just assumed its normal which it seems it is.

Will try harder to get unwilling crew up onto the gunwales!

[robf]

Good to know that it's not just me either. I've used a rubber bung now for many years when fully crewed - no need for it sailing solo or with just the kids. Under motor I also get water up through the rudder post with a full crew - which can't drain because I have the bung in. Has anyone come across some packing material that might prevent this water up through the rudder post?

Cheers

Rob

[Phillip]

Morning All,

My Mk1 had been used for racing in Pittwater, but when I started to load gear for cruising on
board I had to take the 70kg of lead ingots out of the bow!

Having a Top Hat slightly down at the bow increases the water line and hence the hull speed .

Even so, when I look at SEAKA now, I think I may have to load a bit back into the bow.
Will make a final decision on this after loading extra gear for a trip.

P h i l l i p
SEAKA

[8philip8]

hi all
Sylph is home at Gladesville, along the way ,we saw "SEA MONKEY"
when we were under the Harbour Bridge, I'd put the speed up to 5.5 knots ,
water begain to come in the cockpit
I've worked out that the water is caming from the outboard well as the prop drove hard.
Philip is right, more weight up front can fix that.
or is there any other way?
8philip8
Sylph

[storm petrel]

Good morning,

Do you have a fibreglass insert in the outboard well to maintain the hull shape? In my Mk11, the cockpit self drains around the outside of the insert and if the aft is a little low this is where water enters. As I mentionad above however, I have never had water enter the cockpit while motoring.

Cheers,
Mark