Posted by Dave K., WWP-15 & O'day 192 on 11/5/2007, 16:39:13, in reply to "Small Boats Safe?"
One hears the bottle analogy now and then, to which I like to respond "How can you tell how many times that bottle has capsized during it's voyage?"
Given the same conditions, I think it is safe to say that a small boat is affected more by the seaway than a larger one. There is the point that Ray mentioned - once the wave height and spacing reaches the point where the boat is no longer spanning two or more crests, the motion changes dramatically. Studies at the University of Southampton in the UK have concluded that even a well designed (ballasted, self-righting, etc.) boat can be capsized by a breaking wave with a height that is 60% of the boat's waterline length. That is less than a 7 ft wave in a Potter 15, while it would be a 22 ft. wave for a boat with a 40 ft. waterline. In unprotected waters, I think it is safe to conclude that a smaller boat would then find hazardous conditions far sooner and much more often than a larger boat.
But to really convince yourself, I think you really only need to go out and sail some bumpy stuff in a small boat. Whoever it was that said the boat can take more than the skipper really hit the nail on the head. The motion of a small boat in rough water is very tiring and I think that one's stamina would give out long before the boat developed an issue.
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