The topic on the NZ guy sailing across the ditch in a 21ft cat brings up the question "What do we consider a seaworthy boat?"
By some of the comments in the other thread, maybe comfortable is considered a big aspect of seaworthiness. We know it is not neccessarily size.
For me it is a matter first of inherent stablity, strength of build and watertight hatches, and a boat that tends to self steer- easily balanced rig, secure cockpit.
Select to expand quoteUncleBob said...
Hey, in my mind the person at the helm is the most critical seaworthy component. 
You mean the nut behind the wheel Bob!
I can offer a view on this issue.
The seaworthiness of the boat can be defined by its inherent stability and strength for its intended use, the suitability of the boats systems for the intended use and the serviceability/reliability of the systems.
The qualifications, competence and currency of the crew is a separate but complementary issue to determine the boat/crew fitness for purpose.
When I was designing and building my timber yacht one critical seaworthy factor was this:
* it had to be able to recover from an inverted position with all equipment, fittings, batteries, engine, etc, etc undamaged, still functioning and in their original position.
That means everything had to be properly secured.
I could not then and still cannot fathom the unsecured junk and equipment I see in yachts and the inherent risk in that approach. Even moderate to heavy seas means big trouble for them.
Select to expand quotezilla said..
When I was designing and building my timber yacht one critical seaworthy factor was this:
* it had to be able to recover from an inverted position with all equipment, fittings, batteries, engine, etc, etc undamaged, still functioning and in their original position.
That means everything had to be properly secured.
I could not then and still cannot fathom the unsecured junk and equipment I see in yachts and the inherent risk in that approach. Even moderate to heavy seas means big trouble for them.
Does that include your anchor chain? 
Select to expand quotezilla said..
When I was designing and building my timber yacht one critical seaworthy factor was this:
* it had to be able to recover from an inverted position with all equipment, fittings, batteries, engine, etc, etc undamaged, still functioning and in their original position.
That means everything had to be properly secured.
I could not then and still cannot fathom the unsecured junk and equipment I see in yachts and the inherent risk in that approach. Even moderate to heavy seas means big trouble for them.
Im with you Zilla.
I have often looked at my Volvo engine downstairs and wondered if it would come off its engine mounts if the boat rolled. Everything else is bolted down and would be OK but the engine carries a bit of weight.
Reading the steve dashew books tells alot.
Keeping weight from the ends.
Keeping weight low. Amazing how much stuff people put on cabin tops/decks. Every bit of weight above water line takes weight from the keel. Positive locks on all lockers. Everything stowed.
I recently tried this approach and thankful for those books. Those books are a complete encyclopedia of sailing and boats.
Keeping weight low
That's why the pedestal was removed 
What makes sea worthy
For me you start as the bow and work your way back to the stern multiple times and just keep repeating the process while you own and sail the boat.
And I have many more times to do it even before it gets outside .
Select to expand quoteBristolfashion said..UncleBob said...
Hey, in my mind the person at the helm is the most critical seaworthy component.
You mean the nut behind the wheel Bob!
Yeah, that's about it I guess.
Select to expand quoteUncleBob said..Bristolfashion said..UncleBob said...
Hey, in my mind the person at the helm is the most critical seaworthy component.
You mean the nut behind the wheel Bob!
Yeah, that's about it I guess.
No matter how good the person behind the helm, an unseaworthy boat will catch up to them eventually. I know a few people who are good sailors but hopeless at understanding the boat isn't up to the job. Mostly racing sailors I admit.
As it turns out, that Wharram 21 Tika was seaworthy, or oceanworthy, so much so that it could even complete a significant ocean voyage with the loss of 50% of its steering system.
Personally I don't like small cats as there is really no way out of a rollover, so I don't consider them seaworthy by inherent virtue of their basic design.
My dream is to sail offshore and I intend on buying something like a Tayana 37; that's my idea of an affordable ocean going yacht/Russian tank that would survive virtually anything the ocean could throw at it.
No matter what people sail offshore in, I'd like to see the data for fatalities in under 50' yachts/ocean nautical miles travelled compared with fatalities in family cars/kilometres travelled on the open road.
I'd say sailing in a little cat is probably safer than driving, despite the inherent risk of a vessel that cannot self right. But that's life.
Select to expand quoteAshleyM said..
As it turns out, that Wharram 21 Tika was seaworthy, or oceanworthy, so much so that it could even complete a significant ocean voyage with the loss of 50% of its steering system.
Personally I don't like small cats as there is really no way out of a rollover, so I don't consider them seaworthy by inherent virtue of their basic design.
My dream is to sail offshore and I intend on buying something like a Tayana 37; that's my idea of an affordable ocean going yacht/Russian tank that would survive virtually anything the ocean could throw at it.
No matter what people sail offshore in, I'd like to see the data for fatalities in under 50' yachts/ocean nautical miles travelled compared with fatalities in family cars/kilometres travelled on the open road.
I'd say sailing in a little cat is probably safer than driving, despite the inherent risk of a vessel that cannot self right. But that's life.
I ran some rough numbers about a year back. It seemed that doing a Cat 1/2 offshore race was as dangerous as being ashore, living a normal life for the same period.
