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From: hogg@utcsri.UUCP (John Hogg)
Newsgroups: net.rec.boat
Subject: Re: "s e l f   b a i l i n g "
Message-ID: <1259@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 09:18:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1259
Posted: Tue Jul 16 09:18:46 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Jul-85 09:34:06 EDT
References: <87@biomed.UUCP>
Reply-To: hogg@utcsri.UUCP (John hogg)
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 24
Summary: 

"Self-bailing" in the context of boat advertisment means whatever
copywriters want it to mean.  But here is a sailor's (as distinct from a
powerboater's) point of view:

A "self-bailing" cockpit is scuppered and has its sole above the waterline;
seacocks (if any) are normally left open.  Thus, the sole is always dry
unless a large wave has just come aboard.

A "self-bailing" dinghy has transom and/or suction ("Elvstrom") bailers and
can be sailed dry.  Of course, some dinghy cockpits are in addition
"self-bailing" by the definition given above.

Nautical jargon has a very old and rich history, which is a nice way of
saying that words and definitions are hopelessly imprecise.  There are many
words for which I can't give you an unambiguous definition without context.
You happen to have asked about a comparatively recent one.

And while I'm wasting phone charges, are there any other Shark 24 sailors
out there?
-- 

John Hogg
Computer Systems Research Institute, UofT
{allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsri!hogg