The Leeway of an Open Boat and Three Life Rafts in Heavy Weather
Abstract
A field test of the leeway of three search and rescue (SAR) craft was conducted during November-December 1995 by the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center and the Canadian Coast Guard. The experiment was conducted on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The SAR craft included a 5.5 meter wooden-planked open boat common to the Newfoundland area and two versions of the Switlik 6-person marine life raft. In addition, leeway data for a Dunlop-Beaufort 4-person life raft collected during a prevous experiment were reanalyzed. During the course of the drift period, all leeway craft swamped or capsized. This report summarizes statistical analyses of both the pre- and post- swamped/capsized portions of the data records. The leeway speed of the 5.5m wooden open boat decreased from 3.65 to 1.73 percent of the 10m wind speed after swamping. The leeway speed of the Switlik life raft with a full ballast bag and drogue decreased from 1.95 to 0.79 percent of the 10m wind speed after swamping. The leeway speed of the Switlik life raft with four small ballast bags and drogue decreased from 2.82 to 1.13 percent of the 10m wind speed after capsizing. The leeway speed of the Dunlop-Beaufort life raft with a drogue and four man loading decreased from 1.93 to 0.89 percent of the 10m wind speed after capsizing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA338829
Entities
People
- Arthur A. Allen
- Reginald B. Fitzgerald
Organizations
- United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center