Brendan is sure correct about the importance of securing the front hatch--we forgot to do this in the stormy BYC North Channel Race this year and on a beat into big waves took on water up to the floorboards before we noticed. However, I don't agree wrt the companion way. My recollection is that an E27 sank in Racoon Strait on San Francisco Bay in the early 1980s. The boat broached under spinnaker, and waves washed over the boat filling the cabin. The boat sank and was never recovered. I've broached and put the mast in the water without getting water into the cabin; however, the water was relatively smooth.

The Port Huron and Chicago Macs require boats to have a mechanism to secure their main hatch boards. We accomplished this by fastening a shock cord with a hook on it on the inside of the bottom of the hatch with a U strap. Itt works with both one hatch board in place or both.

:: Hi Brendan,

:: Thanks I appreciate your input. I will make a set of
:: offshore boards an seal the main hatch slide an board
:: slides better. At least then I will greatly reduce the
:: water intake if there is a problem.

:: I was I your area this past weekend. Went for a sail
:: with Kame an Sally on Sat . Nice to be back on the bay,
:: winter has set in Rhode Island. Kincora is in her shop
:: with a long list. I should be back for the Three Bridge,
:: maybe we can have a beer?
::
:: :: I don't think you can wipe out hard enough to get the
:: :: main hatch underwater (not in 30 knots of wind). The
:: :: boats float really high when they are on their
:: :: side--there's a good photo of Attack from Mars getting
:: :: sideways in the 'Best Shots' album. Even the seatbacks
:: :: don't get underwater. I've seen plenty of gnarly
:: :: wipeouts and never worried that water would flood into
:: :: the main hatch.
:: ::
:: :: However, open front hatches can sink boats if they get
:: :: driven underwater hard, so dogging the front hatch is
:: :: better insurance against real trouble.
:: ::

:: :: --brendan

:: ::
:: ::
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: :: Question:
:: ::
:: :: :: What are the shorthanded Express 27's doing to seal
:: :: :: their main hatch in-case of a bad wipeout?
:: :: ::
:: :: :: I put my boards in and close the hatch but but when
:: :: :: running a kite in 25-30 singlehanded I wonder what
:: :: :: others are doing?
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Having a Tuttle rudder and pushing the boat with MH up
:: :: :: to 26 true in big waves it is a dream to sail. But I
:: :: :: know there will be days with more breeze and nights when
:: :: :: I am on pilot while attending something else and she
:: :: :: will go. So just looking at my options while she is in
:: :: :: my shop for the winter.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Thanks in advance for the input.