The Wanderer Technical Committee has been having a look at simplifying measurement arrangements, and in doing so the question of buoyancy and buoyancy testing came up.

Theoretically Wanderers should be tested for buoyancy at least once every three years, but sadly this does not happen as often as it should! However, confidence that your buoyancy tanks don’t leak, and that the boat will retain sufficient buoyancy in the event of a capsize, is obviously something worth checking on a regular basis. What is more, reliable buoyancy is probably more vital if you are cruising alone rather than racing round the buoys with rescue boats in close attendance!

The thoughts of the gurus and sages on the WCOA Committee are these:

• Each boat owner is basically responsible that his or her boat is safe and seaworthy.
• Insistence on the letter of the law as at present prescribed in the Class Rules is probably not a practical possibility.
• However, the Committee strongly recommends that buoyancy is checked at least every three years.
• This can be done by asking a Wanderer Class Measurer (e.g. Fred Daborn) to do it, or
• By getting a qualified measurer at your own club to conduct a test.
• The recommended “wet” and “dry” methods of testing are described in the Class Rules (36.7 & 36.8). The “dry” method is preferred, and the method is reproduced below.

For further advice contact Fred Daborn, David Davies, Mike Powell or Gavin Barr.

36.7 Dry Buoyancy Test. Shall be conducted as follows:

(a) Hatches shall be closed normally, using only the boat’s own hatch covers.
(b) Drainage holes from the buoyancy compartment shall be closed with their normal stoppers, except where tubes to a pressure/vacuum source and gauge are connected.
(c) Equipment for producing and assessing pressure differentials between the buoyancy compartment and surrounding atmosphere, and including a U-tube water gauge, shall be connected to the compartment.
(d) Super-atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure shall be applied to the compartment, sufficient to produce a differential reading of at least 120 mm on the water gauge.
(e) After isolating the buoyancy compartment from the pressure or vacuum source, the pressure differential specified in 36.7d above shall not reduce from 120 mm to 50 mm in less than 30 seconds.

Friday June 14, 2002