Watertight hatches

Expensive high-tech watertight hatches, as normally fitted to yachts, seen to be in fashion now for dinghies. The 14’ Leader may have started the trend by fitting one of these hatches to the rear buoyancy compartment of their latest marques last year. Now other boats have followed suit. One of the new Laser range of dinghies now has a high-tech hatch fitted to its forward bulkhead, with an adhesive label stating that the boat depends upon the hatch being closed for its buoyancy!

The latest cruising* Wayfarer has not just one, but two hatches fitted to its forward bulkhead, one above the other, providing two separate watertight compartments forward, in addition to the one fitted aft. These hatches however are not high-tech, but ordinary GRP mouldings reinforced with stainless steel flat bars. The front hatches are clamped by hand-operated screws.

Wayfarers

*1 A new cruising version with the stowage/buoyancy compartments as mentioned above, a parallel buoyant mast and floorboards as usual.

2 The familiar Wayfarer with open under-foredeck stowage, rear hatch, and floorboards.

3 The recently introduced ‘sailing machine’ version with a self-draining cockpit.

14’ Wanderers

Peter Bick’s report in Bulletin 125 referred to difficulties in righting capsized Wanderers. I took this up with Margaret Dye and Stan Telling (DCA member) and they confirmed that with the side buoyancy tanks it was difficult for a crew in the water to climb on to the centreboard to right the boat. They showed me photographs showing that the problem could be overcome by cutting holes in the side buoyancy tanks (providing open storage compartments) and allowing the capsized boat to float lower in the water.

Also on display was the new inflatable sailhead buoyancy for the Wanderer. This can be deflated when the sail is to be stowed.

(My own view of the Wanderer controversy is that it is basically a well-thought out boat, but like all lightweight cruiser/racer dinghies, it is dependant on a fair amount of skill, stamina and awareness for reasonable safety, even in short-range cruising. Unfortunately, it is a victim of its own success in that it seems to have attracted many relatively inexperienced purchasers).

Margaret Dye was camping in her boat as usual, but this time had reverted to a simple ridge tent cover, because it provides enough room for one person and is much quicker to erect than a cottage style cover.