Re: Easy cockpit access

Posted by LeeG on Apr 26, 2004

I honestly don't see the need. Putting a hole through the fordeck is abominable leverage for a pump. Through the skirt is doable but hand pumping is a very risky operation in rough water anyway,,you're better off with assisted rescues and developing the range of skills that pre-clude pump out in rough water as THE live saving solution. The idea of a Beckson hatch in the skirt doesn't sound good because of interference in rescues or getting jammed up with sand. Finally what is it that you can get out of a 4" beckson hatch that can't be secured on your pfd or deck? If you're in conditions where a skirt cannot be popped for a few seconds then you really can't have anything in your lap anyway,,if it's something reachable through the skirt it's in a cockpit where it has to be secured very well (for those conditions where removing the skirt isn't good) so digging around through a sleeve,,in conditions where a skirt is necesary,,to unclasp a securely attached item and pull it out,,and NOT allow in more water (for those conditions where a skirt is needed),,in order to deal with it just sounds awkward. Why not have a zippered mesh fanny pack around your waist with the needed items accessible immediately? If you want something accessible but not sitting in a puddle of water under the forececk is ideal,,pop the skirt, grab the item, put the skirt back on. If the issue is a skirt that's too hard to put on/off then look around for a more stretchy one,,unless the issue is short arms and long coaming. Just to double check,,when you put a skirt on/off are your forearms flat to the coaming or are our elbows in the air?

In Response to: Re: Easy cockpit access by M_Man on Apr 26, 2004

Replies:

• Re: Easy cockpit access by Bill B on Apr 26, 2004