| BayRaider Capsize Tests |
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As part of her RCD certification, we capsize tested the BayRaider. The first set of tests was a 90 degreee capsize to ensure the hull was easy to right single handed from a 90 degree knockdown, when the ballast tank was empty. She passed easily, with barely any weight being needed on the centreboard to bring her back upright quickly. With the tanks full, she was much harder to capsize - we had to have one of us climb the mast. Once over, we hung onto the mast, "walked" out to the tip and let go. She has huge reserve stability and righted like a cork. Have a look at the photos and video below: ; "Capsize") Climbing the mast in a wetsuit in early April is not easy... ; "capsize test") Leaning out on a rope tied to the opposite chainplate ; "capsize test") Over she goes... ; "capsize test") Even with the ballast tank full, she still floats high enough for an outboard engine to be well protected. This also means that little water is shipped when she is righted ; "self righting capsize") When the mast tip is released she rights quickly. Below: Tanks Empty - 90 degree capsize. Click on the play icon, centre screen Below: Capsize with tanks full. Click on the play icon, centre screen For the next tests, the boat was sailed out into deeper water in Cardigan Bay, so that she could be fully inverted. Her ballast tank is empty in these pictures (worse case scenario) but the videos below show full and empty. You can see that the weather was perfect, not exactly the sort of conditions you would expect to capsize in, but the RCD does specifically say that the conditions shoudl be flat calm. ; "capsize") Once inverted, the bilge runners are essential for helping climb on the inverted boat ; "capsize") Gradually the asymmetric tank floods and the boat cants over to one side. ; "capsize") 30 seconds later the boat has considerable heel angle ; "capsize") In rough conditions it is probably easier to hang underneath the centreboard rather than on top ; "capsize") The ballast tank is empty during this test - note how high she floats - meaning little bailing is required ; "capsize") Re boarding is the hardest part. A Vee fender on a fixed line tied to the mizzen would probably be the best solution ; "capsize") The tanks being flooded to perform the test a second time Below: 10 degree inversion with tank empty - apologies for the narration. Below: The same test with ballast tank full: |