Seaworthiness and Safety

Yacht Design 102

Paul H. Miller
Dept of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering US Naval Academy
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Seaworthiness: A Definition
To be seaworthy, a vessel must be able to defend itself against the perils of the sea

A classic example of a seaworthy design.

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The Big Picture: Design in Context

1993 Marine Board Casualty (of vessels) Study 12% Design and Construction Issues 88% Owner and Operator Issues!

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Owner and Operator Issues

Training
Practice! Education:Safety at Sea Seminars!

Maintenance (Inspect, Maintain,

Repair) Crew Fatigue
Motion? (Bigger is better) Work load? (Smaller is better!)
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Owner and Operator Issues Example: 1998 Singlehanded Farallones Race 32 Miles Out into the Pacific and Back

Fifteen (exciting) Minutes after 79 Boats Started

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1 Hour Later 25-35 knot winds 12-20 foot waves 1/3 Dropped Out 1 Vessel Required USCG Support Swan 47! Flooded Hatches Improperly Secured!
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 First to Finish F/27 Trimaran Ave Speed 9.8 knots First On Handicap 28 Herreshoff
Rozinante Ketch Ave Speed 7.2 knots
The Moral of the Story Both boats were easy to sail, reef, and steer!
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Design and Construction: Three Basic Rules

(Sail or Power) 1. Keep Water Out of the Vessel! 2. Be Able to Direct the Vessels Course! 3. Keep the Vessel Upright!
These requirements often conflict with other goals, such as speed or roominess!
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1. Keeping the Water Out

Structure
Wood, Fiberglass, Carbon, Metal, (even Ferro-Cement!) are all acceptable, if sufficient Factors of Safety and quality ($?) construction are used Reputation of Designer and Builder are a clue, standards are another Thoroughly Survey for Current Condition Prior to Each Passage (PreFloat)
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1. Keeping the Water Out (2)

Structural Negative Indicators
Leaks around through-hulls, hull-deck joint, keel bolts Noticeable flexing of hull panels that cause joinerwork or furniture to move, doors jammed Broken joints (tabbing) Stress cracks
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Stress Cracks...

OneAustralia
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1. Keeping the Water Out (3)

Watertight Integrity
Hatches sufficiently strong, bedded and lockable (from inside and out) Hatchboards sufficiently strong and securable (ditto) Redundant bailing capacity

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Structures References American Bureau of The Elements of Boat Shipping Guide for Strength by Dave Gerr Offshore Racing Yachts

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2. Directing the Vessels Course: Power and Control

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2. Directing the Vessels Course (2)

Rudder and Keel
Sufficient area Keep attached!

Weak links
Shaft to tiller/quadrant Shaft to blade Cable, sheaves (Think Simple! Tiller?)
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Suggested Equipment References

US SAILING: Safety Recommendations for Offshore Sailing or Safety Recommendations for Cruising Sailboats
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3. Keep the Vessel Upright - Stability

Wind and waves
are trying to tip the boat over Ballast, hull shape and crew weight are trying to keep it upright
Dont rely on crew weight!
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3. Static Stability
Buoyancy Force
acts upward through the center of submerged volume
B

Weight Force acts

downward through the Center of Gravity

W Sum of the Forces equals Zero!

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3. Static Stability When Heeled

Give me a lever and I will move the earth! B W W Righting Moment = Righting Arm x Boat Weight = Stability Horizontal distance between Center of Gravity and Buoyancy is Righting Arm (RA)

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3. Static Stability When Really Heeled!

W B

Moral: A Low Center of Gravity is Nice!

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3. Static Stability - Beam Effects

Ballast Stability Form Stability

B W W W

Righting Arms!
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3. Static Stability Lessons

Beam Provides Stability at Small Angles (<40) A Low Center of Gravity Always Provides Stability For the Same Initial Stability a Narrow Boats Needs a
Lower CG (More Keel Ballast-More Weight?)

Positive Righting Moment - Boat Will Return Upright RM Limit of Positive Stability 0 Heel Angle 90 Negative RM Boat Will Capsize 135 180

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3. Static Stability Curves

Narrow Boat - Ballast Stability Beamy Boat Form Stability RM

Heel Angle

90

135

180

With Water Sloshing Inside!

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3. Dynamic Stability
A Vessels
Response to Gusts and Breakers is a function of:
Static Stability (RA x Boat Weight) Roll Mass Moment of Inertia Surface Area Roll Damping Luck!
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Uh Oh!

3. Dynamic Stability
Roll Mass Moment of Inertia
= Sum of (weights x distances from CG2)! Separate weights vertically (preferably lower so as to get more RM!)

Surface Area
Reduce Contact Area - dodgers, sails, etc.

Roll Damping
Keel Area Down Low (Bulbs?)
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3. Dynamic Stability
Form Stability vessels tend to follow the water surface! Ballast Stability vessels tend to follow gravity!

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3. Stability Suggestions
Capsize Screening Formula (a rough guide) Beam e2 1 BoatWeight (lbs ) 3 64 LPS >130 for cruisers (may be available
from US Sailing for a sistership, or ask a yacht designer)
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3. Effect of Size
The Static Stability
Curve, Damping and Mass Moment of Inertia terms do not have length factors. Displacement, draft, submerged area, beam, and center of gravity are more important!
Size is relative!

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Comprehensive References

Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of Offshore Yachts

by the Technical Committee of the Cruising Club of America
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Seaworthiness: The Forgotten Factor

C. A. Marchaj

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Rules To Remember When Selecting, Modifying or Inspecting Your Boat 1. Keep Water Out of the Vessel! 2. Be Able to Direct the Vessels Course! 3. Keep the Vessel Upright!

If in doubt, talk to an expert!

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