Self-bailing cockpit-Typhoon

[Becky Willingham-Massey]

I am a novice! Please explain "Self-bailing Cockpit". I was told to close sea cocks/through hulls(?) before going out. What should I do and why?

[Anthony P. Jeske]

I am a novice! Please explain "Self-bailing Cockpit". I was told to close sea cocks/through hulls(?) before going out. What should I do and why?

Becky:
You are correct in assuming that the self bailing cockpit thru hulls need to be open in order to work.
The advice about closing all you thru hulls is an example of the partially correct advice you will often encounter. While it's true that unnecessary thru hulls should be closed before going out, it's just as true that necessary thru hulls should be left open. For example, on my boat, a CD28 with an inboard engine, I had better leave the cooling water intake open if I plan to run the engine! I leave the cockpit thru hulls open all the time. While moored or in winter storage, this allows the rain water to drain out of the cockpit. It is good practice, and strongly recommended, that the water intake for the head be left closed at all times except when usiing the head. Likewise, the Cape Dory factory put a message on the sink drain seacock stating that that thru hull should be left closed, or the sink could fill with water while sailing heeled.
What is important is that you disassemble, clean and grease the seacocks annually. You want to inspect the hoses and clamps at that time, also. All the hoses should have double clamps, by the way. On an extended sail, it's a good idea to peek into the bilge, or to keep track of the number of strokes needed to pump out the bilge, as a check on leaks. I do this once an hour in those situations.
Good Luck!
Tony Jeske
CD28 World Enough



ajeske@ixpres.com

[Bob Bundy]

I am a novice! Please explain "Self-bailing Cockpit". I was told to close sea cocks/through hulls(?) before going out. What should I do and why?

Becky,
On the Typhoon, I have found that with the additional weight of you and other passengers the Typhoon will sit a little low and water will come in the cockpit drains. The drains should be closed while underway because of that. I do leave mine open while the boat is unattended so that rainwater will drain out and not pool up.

On larger boats, most seacocks are left closed, except for cockit drains, while the boat is unattended. I did this on my CD27 to keep any possible hose failure from occuring. I rarely closed cockpit drain seacocks but would check them very closely when outhauling each year.

I'd leave the Typhoon's open when not there but close them when you are sailing. The cockpit is not truly self bailing underway. You can experiment by taking a five gallon bucket and dumping it in the boat. Time how long it takes to drain. Probably long. I don't take it into places where I could get pooped from the stern.

Good luck with it.

Bob



BundyR@aol.com

[Jon Larson]

Gosh, I do not ever remember water coming into the cockpit when sailing my 1975 Typhoon, except over the coaming and thence into the cockpit and then it drained. If you sail with a big mob, then perhaps it could be a problem, I'd give leaving the sea cocks open a try first, sure nice to have the sea slops drain out. If you have a problem with draining, then close them.

Jon Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay

I am a novice! Please explain "Self-bailing Cockpit". I was told to close sea cocks/through hulls(?) before going out. What should I do and why?

Becky,
On the Typhoon, I have found that with the additional weight of you and other passengers the Typhoon will sit a little low and water will come in the cockpit drains. The drains should be closed while underway because of that. I do leave mine open while the boat is unattended so that rainwater will drain out and not pool up.

On larger boats, most seacocks are left closed, except for cockit drains, while the boat is unattended. I did this on my CD27 to keep any possible hose failure from occuring. I rarely closed cockpit drain seacocks but would check them very closely when outhauling each year.

I'd leave the Typhoon's open when not there but close them when you are sailing. The cockpit is not truly self bailing underway. You can experiment by taking a five gallon bucket and dumping it in the boat. Time how long it takes to drain. Probably long. I don't take it into places where I could get pooped from the stern.

Good luck with it.

Bob

jon9@ix.netcom.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

I am a novice! Please explain "Self-bailing Cockpit". I was told to close sea cocks/through hulls(?) before going out. What should I do and why?

Since none of the eloquent responses you received actually answered your request for an explanation of "self-bailing cockpit", the last resort is for an ignorant powerboater to jump in with both feet and do his best, confident that his blunders will elicit corrections from many a salty sailor. So here goes:

A self-bailing cockpit means that should water (as from a particularly rude wave) get into your cockpit (the area where you sit and steer), the water will run out without intervention on your part.



bilofsky@toolworks.com