Interesting thread Matt, thanks. I have gotten slightly cavalier over the years I guess, and just focus on the major, and the easy to fix stuff.
Fuel getting out breathers is not a big issue IMO. . Yes, make sure
tanks,
batteries,
stove and
engine are well secured, and things like tables and
engine boxes. Floorboards and locker lids are no brainers. I am always wary of tools and knifes!
Water in the
mast is annoying, watch out where the
water exits as the pressure will be like a firehose blasting out as it drains. A few yachts have foam inserts in the top half to help reduce the upside down time. If the
mast is
keel stepped ideally the lower part inside should be watertight. But in reality the big problem is keeping the mast in the
boat. I have a theory that its the spreaders that fail in an inversion. It seems that in most cases the mast gets
lost... Make sure your
spinnaker poles and boom is well secured for a jury rig, but I note that jury
rigging a mast seems to be old fashioned these days, simply switching on an
epirb is the modern way to get back to shore.
I use rabbit hutch
latches on nearly everything, including floorboards. I just hack up some 50mmx8mm or so of hardwood trim, usually with a nicely rounded edge from the shop. If I have time I round off and router the ends, and
oil, but mostly I don't have time so I just clean up the rough sawcut and call it done. then I screw it on with an 8 gauge screw into a backing block, you adjust the tension of the latch with a screwdriver. I can remove them and just use the normal (usually inadequate)
latches for most coastal stuff. Only screwing them on for
offshore stuff.
Another idea is to drill small holes in the
plywood and use VB cord (or small spectra) to tie lockers shut. Little spectra loops though two holes make easy (and soft) lashing points. No matter how well you think you have prepared the
boat is going to be a bombsite, so be mentally prepared for this. Don't start to think your preparation is perfect because then when it's not you will start to lose confidence and panic.
The biggest issue by far is injuries. Almost everything else can be dealt with.
Rigging tight lines through the middle of the boat inside can help stop people flying about in rough stuff, and limit the damage if they do.
I like the idea of a soft helmet and seat belts for the bunks. Another idea is big lee cloths that go right to the roof or
deck. If they are made of light mesh they would stop you flying out, and stop heavy things flying in. I have a horror of the irony from being bashed to death by Adlard Coles heavy
weather sailing in a knockdown! Sleeping on the windward side is better from this respect. I like sticking my
head down into a quarter berth where it's pretty well protected in nasty
weather. It's the ostrich idea.
Everything will most likely get wet, and electrics probably won't
work well, or for long. So having a dry bag with some dry clothes, TPA's, and some
emergency snacks, torches etc is a good idea. A few foam camping mats gives you something warm to sleep on, instead of soggy mattresses.
Heading south to antarctica I carried a spare
SSB in a watertight container, and had a watertight box that went over the main HF. Sat Phones are good like this, being easy to store. I also had an inside and an outside
liferaft. I figured the outside one probably wouldn't survive a rollover despite being much more securely lashed than most I have seen.
Cheers
Ben