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.