Really big sailors...

jarcher · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009

So, this is maybe a dumb question, but I was wondering, if a really big person, like 350lb or more, climbs on to a common fiberglass sailboat, like 30 footer, any problems with that?

bubb2 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009

No problem at all if they are physical able to do so. You should see my girl friend! lol

bogdog · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009

Hey, on our boat (a 30 footer) we call it/them "ballast". We have a good friend that is 480lbs. We've been trying to get him out sailing for years, maybe this season he'll go for it. We hope the wind will pipe up so we can put him on the lea rail and not have to reef until it hits 25+.

I didn't mention that this guy is a great guitar player and has all the moves of Stevie Ray. The guy can really "get down". So mobility is not his problem, he can handle himself real good. His only issue is when a sailboat heels,,,,, geeezzzssssh.

jarcher · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009

Good, thanks guys! You just saved me from a very awkward situation

soulfinger · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009

Consider how much wieght full fuel and water tanks are. Or another way to look at it: 350 lbs is a decent size guy and his girlfriend.

jarcher · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulfinger

Consider how much wieght full fuel and water tanks are. Or another way to look at it: 350 lbs is a decent size guy and his girlfriend.

But the difference is that all the weight in one person is concentrated in one space, not spread out. It makes all the difference in most things. Also, the fuel tank is in a spot designed to hold a fuel tank. The deck above my cabin was not

bobmcgov · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

F(l)at is fa(s)t, baby.

scottyt · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

put that guy in to a harness and get him to lean out more and the boat would heel into the wind

svHyLyte · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Jarcher--

A very large person may not be a problem for the boat per se but he/she can be a problem. The unfortunate fact is the many "large" people do not have the strength to support their own weight nor the balance they need on a smaller yacht to move safely. And a 350# or greater object falling even a few feet can represent a serious hazard to themselves and whatever they happen to land on--and if that happens to be a lifeline, they're over the side.

We had a very large fellow (400#+) that lived aboard a Catalina 27 in our marina for awhile. He was a teacher and a very nice guy that loved sailing. He also loved to eat and drink and did so with gusto. He was sitting behind us in the restaurant adjoining the marina one night when the chair he was in gave up the ghost. He was injured in the resulting fall and nearly crushed my 5' tall 100# wife whom he crashed into on the way down.

Some months later he happened to loose his balance while boarding his boat one night (the yacht would roll down 15* or more) and tipped into the sea. The SS boarding ladder at this stern would not support his weight (read broke) and he could not hoist himself over the ships rail tho he could reach his chain-plates. Two dock neighbors heard his shouts and went to his rescue but couldn't hoist him over the rail either. They rigged the MOB recovery tackle to his halyard but with his weight, the halyard shieve jammed and they couldn't get him up that way either. The Coast Guard finally got him out of the water by putting a swimmer in who manually hauled him to the near-by sea-wall where a tow-truck with a crane was able to lift him out. It took 5 guys to get him on a stretcher for the EMT's to get him to the hospital.

Not long after his sold his boat and moved ashore. He finally admitted that had he gone overboard anywhere but the marina, it would have been the end of him.

FWIW...

Tetra · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

I was selling a home-built 8' sailing pram last year and had gotten inquiries from all over. One gentleman in Florida emailed and was very interested in it. He'd always wanted to get into sailing and my little sailing pram was just perfect for him. As he was about to send payment and arrange shipping, he mentioned that he weighed in excess of 300 pounds and was 72 years old. He asked if I thought there was any problem with him sailing the boat.

I diplomatically explained that he'd be well advised to try out local boats, take a class or two, and then make that decision for himself. I'm frightened to think what might have happened if he had purchased my tiny boat and sailed away from land and helping hands.