# boaty dopers: why the low transom in small sailing dinghies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749 "2016-05-26T17:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/1 "2016-05-26T17:07:12Z")
I’ve noticed that many small sailing dinghies have a transom that is much lower than the gunwale. Here’s a random example: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/26/37/c2/2637c2420027562a90cc5a244d24aaa4.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/26/37/c2/2637c2420027562a90cc5a244d24aaa4.jpg) Is there a reason for this design? Seems like the boat is at risk of taking on water unless moving forward. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/2 "2016-05-26T17:14:41Z")
Racing boats like to reduce weight any way they can, they are easier to board, and the open transom is self-bailing like a motherfucker. ---
**Author:** ![ziper1221](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@ziper1221](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ziper1221)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/3 "2016-05-26T18:20:17Z")
It looks like those are built like [this type of kayak](https://www.bluewaterskayaking.com/wp-content/uploads/ocean-kayak-prowler-elite-4-1-2.jpg) where the “interior” isnt even a buoyant area, but is sealed off. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/4 "2016-05-26T22:50:48Z")
It’s for self bailing purposes in high performance boats. The feature is sometime preserved in day sailers for youth as they find it easier to climb aboard after they capsize. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/5 "2016-05-27T07:44:59Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > It’s for self bailing purposes in high performance boats. The feature is sometime preserved in day sailers for youth as they find it easier to climb aboard after they capsize. Ah, that makes a lot of sense. I have seen in most in small training boats. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/6 "2016-05-27T11:45:01Z")
These would be the unsinkable type of sailing dighy, i.e. with positive buoyancy even when filled with water, by virtue of the hull being a sealed hollow body. ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boaty-dopers-why-the-low-transom-in-small-sailing-dinghies/755749/7 "2016-05-27T14:35:43Z")
Not just for racing, the [Hunter 170](http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=6197) and [Hunter 18](http://sailingmagazine.net/article-1076-hunter-18.html) are not set up for high performance but have the “sugar scoop” stern as well. It’s very helpful for beach launching and on the water reentry.