Capsize vs Sinking Fear

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Actually, that confuses me. You're a mono guy, but would rather be in a capsized cat? Because it floats?

Haha, well me to if you ask me, no doubt, I prefer to be near a floating turtle multi than alone in a liferaft in the middle of nowhere.....

[SV DestinyAscen]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Actually, that confuses me. You're a mono guy, but would rather be in a capsized cat? Because it floats?

Given the two propositions, I can't see how anyone would pick sinking monohull over capsized catamaran. It's like being asked if you'll rather be shot in the head or have your wrist cut off.

[captain58sailin]

I prefer to operate my vessel in such a manner as to not have either choice.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Never leave the dock without a bucket...and duct tape.

And zip ties

[Sea Dreaming]

I've read all the disaster stories but what fills me with fear is breaking bones at sea. How's that for logic?

[ontherocks83]

And the winning statement is.....

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

I prefer to operate my vessel in such a manner as to not have either choice.

[Suijin]

Every highly experienced sailor I know who has finally made the switch from mono to cats says that they feel inherently safer on the cat...based on their subsequent experience on the cat handling bad weather. I think the fear that the uninitiated have about capsizing cats is a result of lack of experience and abstract conjecture.

That said, I think three of the Vendee Globe boats have hit underwater objects in the first leg of the race. That's a stupid high percentage, and pretty alarming if you think about it. For one of them Vincent Riou, it's the second race that he's hit something.

So yeah, the possibility getting holed, or losing your rudder is always there in a mono hull.

Overall, I think risks are risks. They are both there in both types of boats, but it's sort of like walking around being overly concerned that you're going to be hit by lightning. You prepare intelligently and deal with stuff as it happens.

Speaking of bad luck and lightning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjI8AxZnrx8

[siamese]

All I know is, I don't want to get wet.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Actually, that confuses me. You're a mono guy, but would rather be in a capsized cat? Because it floats?

Look at it this way: we own and sail a mono. So being in a capsized cat is a highly speculative event while being in a sinking mono is a far more probable scenario. Having to chose between two undesirable events: one highly unlikely and one probable, I would pick the less likely one.

Some mono sailors can be very smart, contrary to what many cat owners will say! ;-)

Now, seriously: yes, because capsized cats float while sinking monos go to the bottom.

b.

[SouthernPride]

Cat, mono, power boat, ocean kayak, etc...
I don't care about sinking any old way...it's the sharks that bother me !!!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Sea Dreaming

I've read all the disaster stories but what fills me with fear is breaking bones at sea. How's that for logic?

Depends on which bones of course.

[roverhi]

Just because a multi will float inverted doesn't mean the crew will survive. Know one tri that inverted and both crew died. One drowned entangled in the rigging and the other disappeared. Since I single hand a lot, can't be sure that I'll be on deck and act quickly enough to keep a cat from flipping.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

Given the two propositions, I can't see how anyone would pick sinking monohull over capsized catamaran. It's like being asked if you'll rather be shot in the head or have your wrist cut off.

Certainly would be my choice too, but there still those who make that decision (like my friends I used as an example originally).

That said, Im OK with being offshore in a well prepared mono...or cat for that matter.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

I prefer to operate my vessel in such a manner as to not have either choice.

Yeah, but which one keeps you awake off watch?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Just because a multi will float inverted doesn't mean the crew will survive. Know one tri that inverted and both crew died. One drowned entangled in the rigging and the other disappeared. Since I single hand a lot, can't be sure that I'll be on deck and act quickly enough to keep a cat from flipping.

I think speed of rescue is a significant factor. Most cases where rescue has occurred within 24 hours cat crews have survived using the hull. Further offshore...not such good odds. Even in Tropical waters hypothermia becomes an issue eventually. And though an inverted cat makes a better SAR target...it cannot be a pleasant way to spend the night(s).

The only designer I know of who incorporates bunk space into his inverted water lines is Wharram. Certainly not to be found in modern cruising cats.