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PDQ 36 Capsize

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 6:00 pm
by thinwater
I'm assuming most of you saw this thread:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/sho ... ost2980865 It starts stupid, but post 50 gives good information.

The take away is to drop all sail when you see black clouds. Trying to sail through squalls is just a fools game based on too many romantic articles about sailing around mild tropical squalls. Anyone who has sailed with me knows I drive boats aggressively. I've sailed my PDQ 32/34 with a hull out of the water just for fun, but that was in a steady 20-knot breeze. They will also tell you I drop canvass all in a heart beat when I see a storm that I believe may contain strong down drafts. I've had bad experiences. Is it even worth the risk of damage, say, splitting a sail, for example? Why rush around after the wind hits? Instead, take it all down, motor for a while, and enjoy the storm from the comfort of the cockpit. Much better.

Re: PDQ 36 Capsize

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 9:07 pm
by chicagocat
Wow. That's quite a story. The microbursts here on the Great Lakes are no joke. I once owned a Nacra 20 foot that was kept chained on a beach in Chicago when not sailed. A microburst lifted that boat off the beach (with no sails on it at all, the trampoline acted as a sail), and threw the boat 100 yards down the beach and destroyed it. It seems likely that this accident may have been unavoidable.

That said, your unfounded statements about the keels being too far forward on the 36 because of design error (for hauling convenience of all things) are frankly defamatory and ridiculous. When Simon Slater's son called you out on those statements, you essentially admitted you know nothing about the 36. If I were him I would have been a hell of a lot harder on you.

Re: PDQ 36 Capsize

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:20 pm
by thinwater
Take it easy. First, in my very next post I said that I did not have much PDQ 36 experience and that I accepted that he said about the PDQ 36 in its entirety. I did not question any statement he made. So that issue is done. I'm not looking for a fight.

As for the PDQ 32, I sailed one for a long time and I stand by what I said, with the obvious provision that it is opinion (since there is no definition of proper balance). I'm assuming you are not very familiar with the 32, and he didn't correct me on what I said about the 32. In my experience, the balance of the PDQ 32 can be improved by extending the keels aft and using a genoa instead of the self-tacking jib. These are both things I tried, so I do not feel I am guessing. As for the reason the keels were placed where they are, that was only something I heard, and evidently it was without basis in fact. It doesn't matter anyway.

I also feel the rudders are somewhat undersized, probably on both boats. But this is pure opinion and no one needs to agree with me. I like deeper rudders.

Re: PDQ 36 Capsize

Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 7:32 pm
by martincreek150
And then there is the story of the PDQ 32 that capsized of the California coast in July, 2010?

Re: PDQ 36 Capsize

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:00 am
by SecondWind
The 32 capsize in California was a case of extreme stupidity. After being advised of severe weather by myself and several others the crew chose to enter the Pacific in gale conditions putting themselves and their boat at extreme risk. If the brother of the “captain” hadn’t rented a Epirb none of them would be alive today.