Posted by Alex Forbes on July 31, 2003 at 19:16:03 from 209.245.160.54 user Pitsligo.
In Reply to: Re: another plot-defining nautical mishap posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on July 31, 2003 at 12:40:28:
I don't think Swallow being holed is at all a stretch. That moment after a hard jibe when the boat accelerates up into the wind should offer enough force to break a couple of thin planks, provided the rock is toothy enough --which, given the name "Pike Rock", I think we can assume.
The question I've always had is why did she remain on the bottom after the pigs of lead were out? I can tell you from personal experience that a 12' Beetle Cat, 14' skiff, 12' peapod, and 9' punt all float even when completely full of water. All are wood, none have flotation devices, all are in the water as full time as Swallow and, presumably, every bit as saturated. All floated with their gunwales a little bit above the water. The Beetle even did so with a lead-weighted centerboard, 10 pound anchor, and a fair bit of dunnage aboard.
Maybe Swallow had a lead ballast keel let into her wood keel?
I've always just let it slide as an error, but necessary enough to a good plot that I'm willing to suspend disbelief.
Alex