I always figured it was the physics of a smaller body of water . . . ----- Original Message ----- From: "MC Carpenter" <southisland2@earthlink.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 12:18 AM Subject: Wet cockpit in M15 question; on sailing in that Lake Michigan, I hear the water can be very choppy because of the short peck to peck, is that due to the fresh water instead of salt, does the Monty act differently, ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve McClellan" <s.mcclellan@comcast.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:27 PM Subject: Wet cockpit in M15
When I refurbished my centerboard, I took the opportunity to install a flap-valve of my own design and construction into the cockpit drain. I have NEVER had any water in my cockpit -- and Lake Michigan can be VERY choppy.
Essentially, it is just a rubber flap that closes against a flat frame whenever water tries to come up the drain. But it allows water to drain out just fine. It is installed just barely down inside the rectangular shaped hole of the drain. I have removed the wooden board that obscured that hole. Of course, there is a hole through the frame of it just exactly large enough for the centerboard halyard to go through with no clearance.
I know it's working because, whenever I'm in choppy water I hear the constant (or intermittant) "suck-slap - suck-slap" sound (it's really more of a "thhhhT!-thhhT!" sound, and nothing more than perhaps a drop get's through.
The original design is really unfortunate in the sense that, even doing something like stuffing a rag around the hole won't really work. The shape of the centerboard slot, being triangular and narrowing toward the hole, makes it so that a wave forcing itself upward develops tremendous hydraulic force.
I know if there were enough montgomery 15 boats out there, I could market this thing and make a million. O ~~~~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve McClellan - M15 #152 - Chicago
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