Straightening out the screening formula

A 348

To the editor: As usual, Nigel Calder’s story on stability (Issue 118, Nov.⁄Dec. 2001) is informative. I do, however, find myself confused by the seemingly contradicting statements regarding the capsize screening formula as it is shown on pages 78 and 80.

On page 78, he described a vessel being more prone to capsizing as its screening value increases above a factor of 2.0. On page 80, he stated that you would look for a vessel with a value of 2.0 or higher.

Stan Glatzer lives in Brentwood, N.Y.

Nigel Calder responds:

I goofed! For an offshore cruising boat, the recommended capsize screening value is 2.0 or lower, not 2.0 or higher. When I read this in the magazine it kind of jumped off the page. I thought, "What on earth caused Ocean Navigator to make this change without asking me?" Then I looked at my original draft, and there it was. I must have been sleeping at the wheel! Thanks for pointing it out.

Nigel Calder's latest book, Nigel Calder's Cruising Handbook, was just published by International Marine.

By Ocean Navigator