Posted by David Bamford on August 01, 2003 at -1:25:37 from 203.10.110.132 user David.
In Reply to: Re: another plot-defining nautical mishap posted by andy bolger on July 31, 2003 at 22:37:31:
A heavy boat, even a dinghy, is much more stable than a light one. The old Banks Dories, famed for their stability at sea, were quite heavily built [inch-thick oak bottoms, I believe] and then filled with lots of fishing gear. so if one were to have a dinghy which would be used by guests who may be of uncertain sailing abilities, it would pay to have a heavy, ballasted dinghy which would be difficult to turn over in a squall. It may not sail quickly, but it would be safe. Most of the dinghies available to us today are racing dinghies or based upon racing dinghies, and as such are as light as possible, and to hell with the stability.