Atlantic 21 First real sea test Grrrrr!!!

[TMB]

I have been using my Atlantic every day for months now but I have never come accross a descent sea (sea state 4/5) yet untill a few days ago. We have been having plenty of easterly winds knocking up a very confused sea. Anyhow, I thought it was about time I gave her a run for her money, a little bit of a mistake.
I am going to start by saying the boat is an incredible bit of kit for its age (1975) and I still love it. However, I have hit a few problems with it.
1) The coxwain and crew get soaked as the consol is mid craft (mainly following sea)
2) Very light at the front attacking a descent swell, so plenty of throttle experience required for a comfortable passage.
She is in need of chimes like the 75 for a following sea as she digs in heavy, resulting in the collar (tube) parting from the bow section.
I now have a poorly boat in need of a little TLC. I sometimes forget not all Halmatics are completely bomb proof Having said that, the fixtures and fittings are fantastic and really built to last.
I was hoping to join my ex collegues on there millitary advanced course (RM Poole) for a jolly through St Albans Race and Portland Race. Having said all this, there is a very similar problem with the Arctic 28. ( I remember a similar problem on a A 28 parting collar which was reinforced)
Going back to the issue, I have a friend who has worked on Weymouth ILB and he tells me there 21's were allways being sent back for a repair on the collar.

[martini]

I can see how the collar could part company, my Arctics the same. Quite tricky sometimes to keep the bow from completely burying itself. I've seen the nose of the collar completely squashed out of shape by the back of a wave, I've got reinforcing straps but it's still a bit of a worry.

Been told by a well respected boat builder that it's partly due to the spray rails on the bow, theres a step on the top of the rail which catches the flow of water and guides the bow down even further into the water

[TMB]

The new SBS 28's they have put chimes all the way up the hull. Not like the smooth 28's we know.

[GJ0KYZ]

I don't know much about the way ribs are constructed but I'd say that a bow detubing in a F5 sounds fairly serious. I'd have your boat checked out by a reputable surveyor because if that happens again and you're alone offshore it could turn out to be pretty grim. Thankfully I haven't managed to stuff my Ribcraft yet, despite my best attempts...

[TMB]

The boat is 100% fine. The reason for partial detubing is because the sea was very confused and very short and sharp from all angels. With any craft that size and weight I would put money on them being the same condition if not worse than a 1970's craft. A new all singing all dancing 9.5m offshore raiding craft, alluminium hull would have been running for shelter looking for a safe haven in the sea I was in. Its easy to limp any craft in, you just slow down and surf the boat in.

[GordyP]

Did the same with the Arctic and split the tube at the bow, Henshaws reinforce the new tubes with Kevlar on the bow flap I believe.

[BruceB]

seems relevant, the front fell off.............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgrX7uOZqHI

[GJ0KYZ]

Sorry, I disagree. If your boat's detubing in a F4/5 then there's got to be something wrong somewhere. Our boats are the same length and I've been out in rougher seas than that and have taken some almighty slams with no damage whatsoever. And I'm not saying Ribcraft are the toughest ribs by any means; they're not. It's just that no manufacturer would survive nowadays if their boats detubed in what essentially is only a fresh breeze, albeit one with confused seas. I really would take expert advice here and perhaps look to retube with reinforcement as mentioned above.

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by TMB

The coxwain and crew get soaked as the consol is mid craft

Originally Posted by TMB

Very light at the front attacking a descent swell

Originally Posted by TMB

I now have a poorly boat in need of a little TLC.

Originally Posted by TMB

she digs in heavy, resulting in the collar (tube) parting from the bow section.

Originally Posted by TMB

The reason for partial detubing is because the sea was very confused and very short and sharp from all angels.

Originally Posted by TMB

The boat is 100% fine.

[paul tilley]

as a point of interest how old are the tubes ?,who made and fitted them ?