Hi Murray,

 

After rereading your description of your knockdown in the M15, let me pass along some big boat sailor advice.

 

All sail locker lids should be gasketed (use closed cell foam rubber strips) to prevent leakage.

 

The sail locker lids must have some form of lock so that they can't open by themselves, as yours did. 

 

I use a tight fitting hasp.  When I leave the boat at the marina I can lock the sail lockers; and when I am sailing, the hasps fit tightly enough so that they won't inadvertently open by themselves.

 

If weather starts to gets rough, put in the hatch boards and close the companionway hatch.  In the event of a knock down you would get some water in the cockpit, but that's all.

 

The ultimate name of the game is keep the water out of the boat even in knock down conditions.  i.e., button up the boat to keep water from getting inside. 

 

You may get wet; the cockpit and deck of the boat might get wet; but everything inside the boat has to stay dry.

 

Connie

 

M15  #400  LEPPO

ComPac 16

Bolger MICRO

Tripp-Lentsch 29

Northeast 38