Ralph, Agree most rules make you have a way to secure the main hatch an boards from below an on deck, a good rule. I will make my hatch a lot more water tight an secure. As for forward hatch, good seamanship is always to dog it when sailing.

Will send links to the mods I have done an will be doing to Kincora for my shorthanded sailing over the winter. Really enjoy the boat, thanks Carl!

:: 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.