open transom on 26x

[Jansen]

My wife is concerned with the 26x we are looking to buy that the transom is not closed like our other sailboats. Anyone ever have water come in when at anchor or in rough water or any time? Any modifications to keep water out? Need help please!

[kmclemore]

It's never been a problem for me. Many boats are configured with an open transom. And any water that should come in would simply flow right back out, providing you've got your hatch in place, so it's nothing to be concerned about.

[Chinook]

If you're not familiar with this configuration, it's easy to feel concern. However, at anchor the boat will swing so bow faces any swell. In rough water, if headed into or quartering the seas, no issues with the open stern (spray splashing over the bow is another matter; keep the forward hatch securely fastened). With following seas, we've never even come close to taking in water through the transom. While returning from the Bahamas we had 8 to 9 foot following seas one time. We were motoring at around 6 knots and the following swell would catch up to us and the boat accelerated to around 10 or 11 knots while surfing the swell. Great fun, but no water in at the stern. The panel that fits into the open transom, under the steering seat, is useful in keeping items stored under the seat from sliding back, and it also seems to help with reducing engine noise. If you don't have a panel, it would be easy to make one.

[PEN24]

Never had any problem with water coming in but when under way we jam the companionway cover under the seat so it closes off the open transom. Apart from the fact that it is somewhere to keep it without having to take it below, it allows you to put small items like shoes, fenders and so on under the seat without risk of them falling overboard.

[Tomfoolery]

Tell the admiral that when you're all out racing your new in the heavy stuff, you'll be glad it has an open transom.

It'll go from flooded . . .



to dry . . .



in seconds. Notice the open transom in these ocean racing boats.

OK, kidding a bit, but an open transom will allow water, even very large amounts of green water over the bow, to drain quickly, whereas a closed transom needs scuppers or drains in the cockpit sole. Many, many boats have sunk from heavy rain and a clogged drain. All that will happen if the little drain in the engine well in an clogs, which they do often as they're so small, is the little well fills and and that's it - water from the cockpit just drains normally after that.

Concerns about water coming in from a following sea, or while at anchor, are unfounded, as addressed by others. If you're anchored such that waves are breaking through the stern, it's because you're using a stern cleat instead of a bow cleat for the anchor rode. Sometimes folks do that for various reasons, but if the water is that rough, 'normal' anchor methods (bow to wind) would be called for. It's also easy to wash down when filled with leaves and other junk, which happens to mine every year before I get the cover on. Just hose it all out the back.

I've had a couple of boats with open transom, large and small, and never had a drop come in. FWIW.

[tlgibson97]

The only time I have had water come over the stern is when reversing into waves. Got my feet wet once that's about it.

[mastreb]

We have big swells out here just a few miles out into the Pacific, and I somewhat routinely take the boat out in 8 foot following seas with waves moving so fast the boat can't stay in the trough even at wide open throttle.

Never have taken on any water from behind. You'd have to be moving against breaking swells in reverse in order to take water in through an open transom. As with others here I concur--it's a safety feature, not a problem.

[drams_1999]

I think everyone here hit it on the head......you would need to be a daredevil and go out of your way to create an unsafe condition with the open transom on these boats. Keep in mind these boats have a very high freeboard and the deck in the cockpit is relatively high. In my opinion you would need to be out in weather that the boat isn't designed for and doing stuff you shouldnt be doing in order to find this issue to be of concern.

[dlandersson]

Like, say, Robert Redford in "All Is Lost"

I think everyone here hit it on the head......you would need to be a daredevil and go out of your way to create an unsafe condition with the open transom on these boats. Keep in mind these boats have a very high freeboard and the deck in the cockpit is relatively high. In my opinion you would need to be out in weather that the boat isn't designed for and doing stuff you shouldnt be doing in order to find this issue to be of concern.

[Russ]

What about losing items over the transom.

We lost a camera as it bounced out of the cockpit over the back to Davy Jone's locker.

[mastreb]

this is where the "companionway hatch in the transom" trick works really well.

[Tomfoolery]

this is where the "companionway hatch in the transom" trick works really well.

Or a net. Mine came with a Sunbrella panel to fill it in, in concert with the full enclosure, for keeping out bugs and cold. Should keep cameras and cel phones in, too.

[dlandersson]

How does it fit?

this is where the "companionway hatch in the transom" trick works really well.

[Three Gypsies]

Water coming in thru the transom has never been a problem for us and we have been in some very rough seas .
We store three 5 gallon army surplus plastic gas cans under the helm seat . These block the opening , but doesn't seal it .

[mastreb]

How does it fit?

this is where the "companionway hatch in the transom" trick works really well.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/68241682@N07/8063912269/

Fits just fine, even motor up. Thinking about making some UHMWPE slides for it to make sure I don't get any gelcoat damage, but it doesn't move around or anything where it is. Sits at about a 20 degree angle. You'll have to experiment with position for your particular engine.