RCD Guide for Fitting Out Dutch barge replicas

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Stability and buoyancy ESR 3.2 & 3.3

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To show that the craft meets the requirements for stability and buoyancy the following areas have to be considered:

• Downflooding openings
• That the craft has sufficient stability for the loading condition
• Heel due to wind action

Downflooding openings

Downflooding openings are entry points for water into the interior of the boat. All apertures through the hull, decks and superstructure for skin fittings, cockpit drains, doors, windows, engine exhausts etc. need to be considered as to whether or not they are a downflooding risk.
For design categories C and D barges the basic minimum required downflooding height are shown below. For category D craft there is an increased requirement at the bow as shown:

All measurements for downflooding heights must be taken in the fully loaded condition with:

• Fresh water tanks full
• Fuel tanks full
• Toilet holding tanks full
• Crew weight as shown on the builder’s plate
• Baggage load as shown on the builder’s plate

Once all the downflooding heights have been identified, refer to the table of exemptions shown overleaf. It should be possible to exempt the majority of the downflooding points from the minimum height requirement.

Small Craft Consultancy Ltd. © 2006