Sailboat sinks in San Diego Bay

Warren Kaplan · Post by **Warren Kaplan** » Mar 28th, '11, 06:08

A sailboat capsized and sank in San Diego Bay. Cause not known yet. At the end of the article they said there were 10 people aboard a 25 footer. I suppose if they all were sitting to leeward there could be some problems, depending on the kind of boat.

Here's the article. Hope the link works.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110328/ap_ ... t_capsizes

drb9 · Post by **drb9** » Mar 28th, '11, 08:17

How many people would you consider taking for a day-sail on a CD25-27?

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Mar 28th, '11, 09:10

I am sorry to hear of the loss of life and the injuries for that matter.

Although there were not many useful details in this story, I believe it is safe to say that they did not exercise the greatest judgment or seamanship.

Forget about how many people could be safely taken aboard a CD-25. What about a light displacement centerboarder? The biggest issue is weather or not there were 10 or more PFDs aboard. This was a preventable tragedy. It is also the type of event that increases regulations and insurance rates.

It is impossible to protect everyone from themselves, Steve.

Bill Goldsmith · Post by **Bill Goldsmith** » Mar 28th, '11, 10:08

drb9 wrote:How many people would you consider taking for a day-sail on a CD25-27?

The number for me would be inversely proportional to the expected conditions and the time allotted, with additional consideration given for the sailing experience (or lack thereof) of the guests.

Maybe maximum of six with breezes under 12 kts, and a short sail. Goes down from there with more wind and more time on the water.

Scott Launey · Post by **Scott Launey** » Mar 28th, '11, 10:12

I live in SD and from the news pictures it's obvious that the keel fell off and they also said it was a 35 footer. Still a crowd with 10 people onboard. Weather was not a factor yesterday; it was beautiful with light winds.

Scott

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Mar 28th, '11, 15:35

Posts on Sailnet indicate it's tentatively identified as a MacGregor 26.

Scott Launey · Post by **Scott Launey** » Mar 28th, '11, 18:50

As usual the local paper had it wrong and it was a 26 footer. The info is still sketchy as of now.

Scott

sgbernd · Post by **sgbernd** » Mar 28th, '11, 18:59

I saw the footage of the overturned boat, and it seems to be missing the keel?!?
The news reported it was a rental boat but I have never heard or a keel-less rental 25ft sail boat. Also, in the footage, it was floating upside down. Most boats I have owned don't float upside down very long, either they will right themselves or fill with water and sink. Is it possible the keel was lost?

Or if it was water ballasted (think Mac-Gregor 26) that the ballast was forgotten?

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Mar 28th, '11, 19:11

This might explain a lot.

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/saili ... tions.html

There is no keel!

If it was a rental and the folks really didn't know what they were doing they might not even have had the centerboard down.

This boat just doesn't look all that stable. Lots of small boats don't look and in fact are not very stable but an experienced crew is able to sail them. Then again even with the best of crews there are capsizes all the time in dinghy sailing.

This just seems like it was the wrong combination of boat and crew, Steve.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Mar 28th, '11, 19:11

sgbernd wrote:I saw the footage of the overturned boat, and it seems to be missing the keel?!?
The news reported it was a rental boat but I have never heard or a keel-less rental 25ft sail boat. Also, in the footage, it was floating upside down. Most boats I have owned don't float upside down very long, either they will right themselves or fill with water and sink. Is it possible the keel was lost?

Or if it was water ballasted (think Mac-Gregor 26) that the ballast was forgotten?

The MacGregor 26 has a centerboard. Inverted, it would fall into the trunk. (The specs say that board up the boat draws a mere 12".)

jbenagh · Post by **jbenagh** » Mar 28th, '11, 20:57

We had a McGregor moored next to us for a couple years. It behaved freakishly, and that was at the mooring! It consistently pointed 90 deg off from all the other boats in the mooring field.

My friend's theory was, there are always a lot of them for sale, lightly used -- that should be a hint.

Jeff

Jack & Jo Chamberlain · Post by **Jack & Jo Chamberlain** » Mar 28th, '11, 22:02

I just found this link which seems to be the most factual account so far.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... -accident/

Dan & Chris · Post by **Dan & Chris** » Mar 29th, '11, 06:54

This sounds similar to the one we had in Vermont in 2002, also a MacGregor 26 with many on board:

http://www.ne-ts.com/ar/ar-407capsize.html

Dan

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Mar 29th, '11, 12:42

The MacGregor 26 is essentially a hybrid -- a cross between a sailboat and a powerboat -- but it is more of a powerboat than a sailboat and does not have a sailboat's keel, instead it uses ballast tanks for stability. The hull is also cored with foam so that it is unsinkable, but it certainly can capsize when overloaded.

According to federal reguglations, every power boat built since 1972 which is less than 20 feet must have a capacity plate. The individual states have requirements which are even more strict. So if you've got a small power boat, look for it. It will look something like this:

Boat U.S. wrote:"...For boats over 26 feet, the general rule of thumb is to only have as many people aboard as you have built-in seats. Another way to determine how many people you may safely carry is to use the following formula (the formula assumes that each person doesn't way more than 150 lbs):
<center>=========================</center>
Boat length (in feet) multiplied by Beam (in feet) divided by 15...."

If you try the formula, you'll find it gives you a ridiculous number. You can load up your boat like that while sitting at a dock, anchored or on a mooring, but don't try to go anywhere with that many people aboard.

The capacity of the MacGregor 26, according to the manufacturer's web site is: when the ballast tanks are full -- 6 people or 960 pounds. So they were obviously way over the limit. There's no way the combined weight of 10 people, unless they're all small children, is going to be less than 960 pounds.

MacGregor's web page on safety: http://www.macgregor26.com/safety/safety.htm

Boat U.S. info on capacity plates: http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/revi ... info1a.htm

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

SurryMark · Post by **SurryMark** » Mar 29th, '11, 15:07

Not to worry. Check out the videos on the MacGregor site - http://www.macgregor26.com/ - to see a 26 footer that frolics in 50 kts and beam seas (with the companionway wide open) when those silly Cape Dorys head for a b&b. And it sleeps six and goes 25 mph with the outboard. Eat your heart out, Cap'n Alberg.

The Cape Dory Board

Sailboat sinks in San Diego Bay

Sailboat sinks in San Diego Bay

How many?

Re: How many?

Capsize

Capsize

I can't figure this one out....

Re: I can't figure this one out....

Again?

Way over the limit...

Ah, the perfect boat