Cockpit Bailing

Well, PAR beat me to it but I will add some comments anyway.
Under ABYC H-4 (4.6-> etc) the freeboard formula for a 'quick draining' cockpit (watertight deck) is
Minimum height above loaded waterline = 3"
- or - Hull length (ft) x 0.22 (inch).
example: If you had a 40' trawler the freeboard = 40 x .22 = 8.8"
There are many other comments/requirements in H-4.

The other matter is if the cockpit area is large you may have to look into the free surface effect. A large cockpit with small scuppers (slow draining) can spell trouble.

While some people may say that compliance with a standard is optional, ignoring them can put people at risk, both physically and legally. Also, you may not be able to get hull insurance.

ps: relying on bilge pumps to drain the cockpit is not a good idea. Batteries & systems can fail when most needed.

 

Would Miami to the Bahamas be considered relatively protected?

 

The trip across the Gulf stream requires a seaworthy boat

 

Protected waters are lakes, sheltered, fairly narrow rivers and bays. Crossing open water, isn't sheltered in anyway. The Miami-Freeport run isn't especially difficult, but can get nasty occasionally. Shoal draft is important especially once you're there. The "stream" in this area isn't too bad, but again, if you get "caught" you can pay a price. Summer weather patterns in the area can catch you very quickly, with storms rolling in at over 30 MPH, often having winds double this speed.

ABYC suggestions should be heeded, but aren't the say and do all, of design. I often find many of them over the top or woefully lacking. While it's true pumps can fail, batteries can let you down, but many designs can't permit a self draining cockpit, so you have to do something. Ownership responsibility should count for something. I have several berthed boats and I check on them two or three times a week, if I'm not on them or using them. You can pray you get lucky or you can be responsible about owning a berth or moored yacht.

 

I have been considering ways to make my small outboard skiff self-bailing when rebuilding it. Its size does not readily permit a sole high enough above waterline, but I got the idea of fixed seats on both sides that drain directly. A deeper, narrow foot well in the middle will be covered while in port by moveable thwarts.

 

A well designed seat will have waterways along their outboard edge, to drain directly over, through scuppers or possibly aft, again through scuppers. Too often, I see side seating in both sail and power craft, that is just a flat of plywood, filleted to the hull planking, which means you're sitting in a puddle of water, if any comes aboard. Some do employ a locker scupper, which is better than nothing, but often too small and still dumps the water into the cockpit, not over the side, where it belongs.

Small outboard skiffs generally aren't big enough to have self draining cockpits, though the seats could be addressed, which is a modest help.