At least I Know I Have Enough Flotation

[knpc]

I've often wondered if I had enough flotation in my hulls to keep them afloat if something went bad. Today I found out the hard way that I do. My df33 was doing around fifty when it got loose and took a nasty crash. I had my kayak right next to me so I was able to get to it fast. As I was getting close to it I could tell it was filling up with water and a couple seconds later just the nose was bobbing above water, the hull was completely full but didn't sink.
The tape had ripped off during the crash which let to all of this. I need to find a good way to mechanically secure the hatch so I don't depend on the tape alone.

Everything is drying out now and hopefully will be ok.
If it weren't for the flotation I would have been diving for it!

[dana]

ouch man, thats a sick boat too. hope everything is ok!

[exotica]

...try something like this set up as the hull will never come off unless it breaks off...

[Raydee]

Yep I went through the same thing about 2 weeks ago with my DF 33. I have thumb screws on ALL my hulls now.

[knpc]

I read your thread Raydee and planned on doing something to secure the hatch, just hadn't done it yet. I guess I deserve this for procrastinating.

[Raydee]

Def a crappy feeling watching your hull fill with water. I scrambled to get my rescue raft blown up and get my hull before it sunk. From now on the raft will be blown up first before a hull touches the water.

[knpc]

It is a helpless feeling watching your boat sit there upside down. I had my kayak on the shore so I got to the boat in less than 90sec, but when the hatch comes untaped it doesn't take long.

[Gary]

Hatch nuts/screws are the only way to go with a fast hull but not bullet proof. My boat would rip the screws right out of the hull........all six of them, during a bad crash. Hell i even had a garmin 101 gps unit come straight threw the back of the hull and lost it during a bad crash. That day was not to good.