Seafarer 26 capsize ratio?

sweeneyman · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

I'm interested in buying a seafarer 26 but I'm getting different numbers for them http://ad28.net/seafarer26brochure.pdf has
LOA 25'9"
L.W.L 22'3"
Beam 8'3"
Draft 2'7" (shoal draft)3'9" (high performance)
Displacement 4,110 Ibs
Ballast 1,625 Ibs. (1,460 cast lead, 165 fiberglass.
I've seen the numbers below even more often but the first are from seafarer themselves, does any one know if boats are different for different years? The capsize ratio's are quite different 2.06 and 1.9 respectively. Thanks
Hull Type Fin Keel
LOA 25.75 ft. / 7.85m
LWL 22.25 ft. / 6.78m
Beam 8.25 ft. / 2.51m
Draft Max:4.00 ft. / 1.22m
Displacement 5200 lbs./ 2359 kgs.
Ballast 1850 lbs. / 839 kgs.25

tommays · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

Draft 2'7" (shoal draft)3'9" (high performance)

I would not give it much worry BUT would think the shoal and deep draft would be the big difference and my J24 is 2.56 and i lived through it

raisin56 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

Check the model year on the boats. I believe that 1977 was the beginning of the McCurdy & Rhodes design, prior to that I think it was a Tripp design.

*edit*
It was Phillip Rhodes not Tripp and referred to as the Meridian. Which may be a mute point as I see looking at company brochures that your info is on McCurdy & Rhodes style boat. Guess I really have no insight.

Dan

JimsCAL · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

Not sure why you are hung up on the capsize number. The Seafarer 24 is a lightly built coastal cruiser and not suitable for anything approaching conditions that would result in a capsize.

cb32863 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

Where are you planning on sailing and as JimsCAL said, why are you so hung up on "the numbers". Bill Crealock, just Googs that if you have no idea who he is, said "Beware the numbers game...." I think it is an interesting place to start but if you have no idea what the number relates to, any "number" or statistic, is pretty useless.

PCP · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeneyman

I'm interested in buying a seafarer 26 but I'm getting different numbers for them http://ad28.net/seafarer26brochure.pdf has
LOA 25'9"
L.W.L 22'3"
Beam 8'3"
Draft 2'7" (shoal draft)3'9" (high performance)
Displacement 4,110 Ibs
Ballast 1,625 Ibs. (1,460 cast lead, 165 fiberglass.
I've seen the numbers below even more often but the first are from seafarer themselves, does any one know if boats are different for different years? The capsize ratio's are quite different 2.06 and 1.9 respectively. Thanks
Hull Type Fin Keel
LOA 25.75 ft. / 7.85m
LWL 22.25 ft. / 6.78m
Beam 8.25 ft. / 2.51m
Draft Max:4.00 ft. / 1.22m
Displacement 5200 lbs./ 2359 kgs.
Ballast 1850 lbs. / 839 kgs.25

You can calculate it using this calculator:

Capsize Formula

Regards

Paulo

PCP · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommays

Draft 2'7" (shoal draft)3'9" (high performance)

I would not give it much worry BUT would think the shoal and deep draft would be the big difference and my J24 is 2.56 and i lived through it

No, it does not make any difference. The only factors taken into account are weight and beam and that's why it means nothing to modern boats with deep drafts and bulbed lead bulbs.

To the capsizing ratio it is the same if the boat has all the weight on the bottom (like a "deriveur") or the same weight on a bulb at the end of a 3m deep fin keel. Makes not much sense doesn't it?

Regards

Paulo

sweeneyman · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011

Thanks for all the responses I will be sailing around Cape Cod and trips to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. I've heard the water gets pretty choppy, I've only sailed the Harbors in a day sailer 17' with a center board, we never tipped the daysailer but it came close when the main sheet got hung up. My wife and I are new to sailing and we are looking for something safe as we plan on bring the 3 kids 10 years old and up. I was thinking of a Cape Dory or Bristol but the Seafarer seem to be cheaper but seaworthy. Thanks again, all suggestions welcomed.

Yorksailor · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011

Boats get capsized because of big waves, they get knocked down because they are over canvassed because they are not reefed correctly for the conditions.

It has far more to do with your judgment and competency than it does with the boat as all keel boats are designed to stay on their feet if sailed correctly in appropriate conditions for the boat.

Do learn to be competent before you take the kids out!

Phil

JimsCAL · #10 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011

The Seafarer is fine for trips to the Vineyard and Nantucket. I've been all over those waters in a Pearson 26 years ago. A 26 foot keel sailboat is far more stable and secure than a 17 daysailor with a centerboard. May get a bit uncomfortable in nasty weather, but you really have to do something stupid to capsize a boat of that size in coastal waters. As Yorksailor says above, it depends more on how well you sail the boat, especially reefing when the wind is up.