is a center console or closed bow more seaworthy

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by Relaxin, Jan 4, 2013.

  1. Relaxin
    Joined: Jan 2013
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    Relaxin New Member

    Caught out in ruff weather you don't want to be out in, would you rather be in a Donzi 28 zx closed bow or a Donzi 29zf center console?
     
  2. Landlubber
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    Is the sole above the waterline?....If so it does not really matter, you get wet anyhow.
     
  3. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Dont know. There is a new 32ft Donzi center console at the shipyard.

    Looks good, looks self bailing and it looks incredibly overpowered. 700hp. Hit a wave with that baby and You could easily loose your teeth, break an arm or kill yourself .

    Ive often wondered why they require drivers of cars to be seat belted and air bagged ito avoid injury, but when that driver unbuckles and jumps into his high speed skiff , he can stand up, hold on , shout YeeHaww !!! with a can of beer in one hand and blast away at 50knots.

    Strange world
     
  4. PAR
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    It's only a "strange world" to those without or with limited personal freedoms.
     
  5. whitepointer23

    whitepointer23 Previous Member

    I would not want it any other way.
     
  6. 805gregg
    Joined: Apr 2010
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    805gregg Junior Member

    Enclosed bow will not take on water, center console may fill to the gunnel, that's why cc's have floatation, but the best floatation is empty air space, like a cabin.
     
  7. Relaxin
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    Relaxin New Member

    Yes it's above the waterline
     
  8. Relaxin
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    Relaxin New Member

    Ya, the scuppers will handle some water no problem but would a bad break swamp the center console enough in an instant that the scuppers are underwater before they drain? Does that ever happen or is it worrying about nothing?
     
  9. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    If you're in conditions where a boarding wave is tall enough to swamp the boat, you got bigger troubles then wondering if a CC design was a good choice. Safety is more about the common sense of the skipper than design selection. Of course some designs are better than others, but you can no brain yourself into a hole in either type of boat. I personally always like some foredeck, if only to have a place to handle lines and have some dry stowage under it.
     
  10. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Its irrational thinking. Seamanship will slow the boat down before you sink. Open to the sea transom draining is always safer.


    http://[​IMG]
     
  11. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    If the cockpit sole is is sufficiently above the loaded waterline, downflooding is not possible if the cockpit floods, etc.
     
  12. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Gee...handling a small boat with two tons of water shifting fore and aft because its scuppers are small or a sardine has lodged its head in the scupper, is not so good.

    Takes a huge sardine to plug an open transom
     
  13. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    Neither is handling a small boat with two tons of water shifting fore and aft because water flooded into the bilge, cuddy, etc and is too low to drain out. An open transom can be great as long as the water in the cockpit will drain out and not lower into the boat.
     
  14. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Of course !!
     

  15. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    SamSam Senior Member

    With the photo above, I'm wondering when the guy is going to notice the wife, the kids, and the dog all slipped out the back when he tore off from the dock. Probably when he reaches for a beer and realizes the cooler went too.

    What are the logistics of going in reverse with a boat like that?
    With a sudden stop, wouldn't a wave just wash in and then wash back out with all your stuff?
     
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