Posted by Mike F on July 10, 2001 at 12:40:59 from 203.26.98.4:
In Reply to: Re: good boats posted by John Pazereskis on July 10, 2001 at 02:53:46:
John, I think the pendulum has swung a little recently, and that quite a few people would agree with your parents' point of view. Especially in the UK, it seems, there's been a very strong element of paternalism (read right-wing authoritarianism) in their so-called "high" places that has effectively stopped people taking responsibility for themselves, on the water and elsewhere. (Paradoxically, I think it actually started in the post-war "liberation" era. Eric Hiscock had a bit to say about it, as it impinged on sailing, in a couple of his books.)
Regarding the old-fashioned dinghies and their seaworthiness, I don't think one should overlook their enormous inherent stability. My open 15' clinker dinghy Aileen Louisa (photo above) carries no in-built flotation whatever. She does carry a steel centreboard, though, along with about a hundredweight of sandbags as ballast. If you could hold her gunwale under, she'd certainly sink. But "holding her gunwale under" is actually remarkably difficult. Her initial stability is quite high (I can stand on the gunwale while still maintaining plenty of freeboard,) she's got enormous carrying capacity (eight-and-a-half adults is the current maximum, and there was still some room and freeboard to spare,) the c/b and sandbags give her quite a good righting moment, and the large internal volume means that she can ship quite a lot of water without becoming particularly bothered by it. The nett result is that, so far, I've not been able to capsize her.
My impression is that, although a little larger, Aileen Louisa would be nearer to Swallow in construction and handling than to Amazon (which would have been somewhat lighter and more skittish -- although still not like one of today's small boats.)
Stu Wier's site, "The Boats of Swallows and Amazons," has some great details of Swallow and Amazon, for those who haven't visited there yet.