I know nothing about power boats but am curious about something.
Every year here on the N. Gulf coast, a small power boat goes offshore
fishing and gets swamped because somehow it gets a wave washing over
the cutaway transom that drown the batteries etc. I can understand
that such a transom makes engine access easier but why not have a
piece of canvas that covers the transom cutaway so waves cannot come
aboard so easily? It wouldnt even have to make a seal, just slow down
the entrance of water.

"Parallax" wrote in message
m...

I know nothing about power boats but am curious about something.
Every year here on the N. Gulf coast, a small power boat goes offshore
fishing and gets swamped because somehow it gets a wave washing over
the cutaway transom that drown the batteries etc.

I would assume that the "cut away transom" is for an outboard mount. The
motor needs to sit lower on the transom so that the shaft extends below the
bottom of the hull. In addition, when the engine is lifted it needs
clearance so the power head can lean forward into the back of the boat.

The area just foward of the motor mount is usually expected to be a wet
area. It is a bad idea to mount the batteries there, but tempting because
it can't be used for much else and it is really easy to get to.


I can understand
that such a transom makes engine access easier but why not have a
piece of canvas that covers the transom cutaway so waves cannot come
aboard so easily?

If you get a large wave washing over the transom a piece of canvas held down
with snaps is not going to stop it. You would have to have some serious
attachment points for the canvas and have it laced in or screwed down, and
even then a big enough wave would just shred the canvas material. A wave of
water weighs a lot!

What people could do and what they will do are two different things. There
will always be people who will take too small of a boat that wasn't intended
for ocean conditions into places they just don't belong. Most of the time
they get away with it. The people you read about are the ones who's luck
ran out.

Rod McInnis

"Parallax" wrote in message
m...

I know nothing about power boats but am curious about something.
Every year here on the N. Gulf coast, a small power boat goes offshore
fishing and gets swamped because somehow it gets a wave washing over
the cutaway transom that drown the batteries etc.

I would assume that the "cut away transom" is for an outboard mount. The
motor needs to sit lower on the transom so that the shaft extends below the
bottom of the hull. In addition, when the engine is lifted it needs
clearance so the power head can lean forward into the back of the boat.

The area just foward of the motor mount is usually expected to be a wet
area. It is a bad idea to mount the batteries there, but tempting because
it can't be used for much else and it is really easy to get to.


I can understand
that such a transom makes engine access easier but why not have a
piece of canvas that covers the transom cutaway so waves cannot come
aboard so easily?

If you get a large wave washing over the transom a piece of canvas held down
with snaps is not going to stop it. You would have to have some serious
attachment points for the canvas and have it laced in or screwed down, and
even then a big enough wave would just shred the canvas material. A wave of
water weighs a lot!

What people could do and what they will do are two different things. There
will always be people who will take too small of a boat that wasn't intended
for ocean conditions into places they just don't belong. Most of the time
they get away with it. The people you read about are the ones who's luck
ran out.

Rod McInnis

On 18 Apr 2004 06:35:07 -0700, Parallax wrote:
I know nothing about power boats but am curious about something.
Every year here on the N. Gulf coast, a small power boat goes offshore
fishing and gets swamped because somehow it gets a wave washing over
the cutaway transom that drown the batteries etc.

You hear about it much more often during shrimping season. An outboard
powered boat dragging a shrimp net won't be lifted by a wave from
astern. The net will hold it down and allow the wave to come aboard.
In my book, that's called operator error.
You'll also hear about it when someone stops for a few minutes to fish
and for convenience sake, anchors by the stern instead of the bow.
Same problem as above with the same result. Again, operator error.
The stern of a properly designed drifting o/b boat will lift up and
over a non-breaking wave if it's allowed to do so (within reasonable
limits of course) and a well designed motorwell will dump incoming
water right back overboard. Batteries shouldn't be in the motorwell.

why not have a
piece of canvas that covers the transom cutaway so waves cannot come
aboard so easily? It wouldnt even have to make a seal, just slow down
the entrance of water.

You've got the right idea but a piece of canvas won't stop solid
seawater water from rolling in. Fine for stoping rainwater but not
solid seawater. There are a number of other ways of doing what you're
thinking of though. The ways I know about are all basically just
variations of a motorwell.

Rick

On 18 Apr 2004 06:35:07 -0700, Parallax wrote:
I know nothing about power boats but am curious about something.
Every year here on the N. Gulf coast, a small power boat goes offshore
fishing and gets swamped because somehow it gets a wave washing over
the cutaway transom that drown the batteries etc.

You hear about it much more often during shrimping season. An outboard
powered boat dragging a shrimp net won't be lifted by a wave from
astern. The net will hold it down and allow the wave to come aboard.
In my book, that's called operator error.
You'll also hear about it when someone stops for a few minutes to fish
and for convenience sake, anchors by the stern instead of the bow.
Same problem as above with the same result. Again, operator error.
The stern of a properly designed drifting o/b boat will lift up and
over a non-breaking wave if it's allowed to do so (within reasonable
limits of course) and a well designed motorwell will dump incoming
water right back overboard. Batteries shouldn't be in the motorwell.

why not have a
piece of canvas that covers the transom cutaway so waves cannot come
aboard so easily? It wouldnt even have to make a seal, just slow down
the entrance of water.

You've got the right idea but a piece of canvas won't stop solid
seawater water from rolling in. Fine for stoping rainwater but not
solid seawater. There are a number of other ways of doing what you're
thinking of though. The ways I know about are all basically just
variations of a motorwell.

Rick