Hunter 28.5 Sank at our marina

Tim R. · Feb 4, 2011

That is sad. From the torn headsail I might presume an absentee owner. We have one at our marina that is a sailboat that something is always tearing loose and flopping in the wind. Very annoying for us live aboards. Unusual as the manager generally does not permit problem owners.

What is causing the boat in the next slip to sit so high?

Ol Dave · Feb 4, 2011

Once upon a time I was told that 80% of inland, sailboat sinkings occur at a dock. I'm going out on a limb and say it was weather related to ice cracking or pushing a hose loose, a dead battery or both.

Warren Milberg · Feb 4, 2011

Hard to imagine this happening in the Dallas area with only 5" of snow. I would guess the ice/snow froze up the cockpit scuppers and the weight of the snow/ice then pushed the boat down and one or more of the thru-hulls at the waterline failed letting water into the boat. These boats have small bilges and even smaller bilge pumps and I doubt even a working bilge pump could keep up with such an in-flow of water.

DannyS · Feb 4, 2011

You sure that's not this guy again?

LuzSD · Feb 4, 2011

DannyS said:
You sure that's not this guy again?

gosh, you beat me to it! Exactly what I was going to say.
Wow, that is a really sad picture, not much as eery (sp?) as a sinking boat.:cry:

Photo Bug · Feb 4, 2011

That was getting ready to happen for years

That is a shame, I walk by that boat every time I go to my boat. I can see that the stern lines are holding up the sturn. But I did not see any bow lines. I will check it out when I go out there tomorrow. One good thing is that I can see the mast of my boat on K dock so I know that I am still ok

jtm · Feb 4, 2011

this is painful to see. why was the bimini still full set?. I wonder why it happened with such little snow. it probably had plugged scuppers and the intrusion into the cabin with rainwater - as I've seen h28.5 wiith snow to the top of the cabin and it just sat heavy but level in the water and the boot line thru hulls were just above the water line. If those bootline mushroom scuppers were old and brittle and there was wind rocking the "loaded" boat, it could be that ice might shear the mushroom head on the thruhull and then its all over.. There will be a post mortem on it and we all would like to know/learn. Last year a pal of mine had an oysterboat( a very different design of course) with a long open aft deck. He came down to check the lines the night before we got 20+ inches of snow. Overnight the weight of the snow had pushed down the aft end of the boat til the aft scuppers were under and he sank at the dock too. the 28.5's cockpit scuppers are crisscrossed and much higher than the thruhull exhaust end , I can't figure that this boat foundered that way unless icing busted out his hoses at the thruhull.

BTW, how is it that the boat to the right is appearing to be stitting up and high on water - did his keel fall off???

Steve Dion · Feb 4, 2011

jtmccue said:
this is painful to see. why was the bimini still full set?.

JT: Who the hell would ever think that they would get that much snow & ice in Dallas?

I would think that there must be some other failure. Don't see to many other boats sinking.

catsailor · Feb 4, 2011

Pretty common in winter, actually.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/12/winter-sailing.html
(look part way down the post at the photo)

In this case, the sump pump discharge line had a low point, which held water and froze. Check valves are just as bad, since they hold water in the line. I'm guessing this is a common factor in many first-freeze and snow sinkings. Since the boat had seen very few freezings, I bet the owner never thought of it. In fact, many cold climate sailors don't either, because they are not near their boats in the winter.

Check those sump pump hoses for low spots and check valves!

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Feb 4, 2011

This could also make a very good case for...

Making sure that all seacocks are closed when no one is aboard. Failed hose connections can't sink a boat if the hole in the boat they're connected to isn't open.

Dallas only got about 6"...that's not enough weight to sink a boat.

John Nantz · Feb 4, 2011

Plugged Scupper with Low Bridge Deck Problem

A few years ago during the winter I went down to the boat to check on her and as I walked passed this one boat I noticed it seemed to be sitting a bit low. I stopped to look it over and noticed the cockpit was full of water up to the bridge deck and flowing under the companion way hatch. Further examination revealed the scuppers were plugged with bird feathers!

Reaching down into the cold water and cleaning out the feathers so it could drain resulted in a beet-red arm. I notified the harbormaster and learned that the owner was a military person who was deployed. Either there was nobody to watch it, or, whoever was supposed to watch it slipped up.

At least this is one good advantage of boats with the walk-thru transom - There is no way for water to accumulate.

Photo Bug · Feb 4, 2011

Your right, I remember now that I have walked by that boat when it's bow was in the water. If it is still on the hidro lift it could be an easy salvage. Otherwise he is going to need a diver. And Jones I will swing by.

jstr · Feb 4, 2011

Owner of the Sunken 28.5

It was a Hunter 28.5. Unfortunately about two years ago I allowed a friend to use the boat whenever he wanted if he would keep up with the maintenance, I paid the marina fees and any cost, etc. Between traveling and four small children our family had been unable to use her in the last several years.

So here's the scoop, it appears he did not shut off the valve for the lake water to cool the engine. I believe it burst and ...............

Now trying to find someone who would be interested in salvaging her.

Joe · Feb 4, 2011

The rule is: always close the seacocks/through hulls when you're away from the boat. I'll bet you a million dollars this owner has NEVER closed a seacock since he acquired the boat....

Joe · Feb 4, 2011

jstr said:
It was a Hunter 28.5. Unfortunately about two years ago I allowed a friend to use the boat whenever he wanted if he would keep up with the maintenance, I paid the marina fees and any cost, etc. Between traveling and four small children our family had been unable to use her in the last several years.

So here's the scoop, it appears he did not shut off the valve for the lake water to cool the engine. I believe it burst and ...............

Now trying to find someone who would be interested in salvaging her.

Are you saying you want to sell the salvage rights to your Hunter 28.5? How long has if been underwater and why has the marina allowed it to stay there?

jstr · Feb 4, 2011

Wrong Joe, always closed the seacocks when I was using her! I'l take your million dollars!

and no not trying to sell the salvage rights, trying to find someone who might want her!!!!

and it sank on tuesday, it's been iced up since with few people working, like those who raise boats.

I have owned sailboats for the last 25 years and this is the first time I put the care in someone else's hands!

LuzSD · Feb 4, 2011

gee whiz, lighten up, I don't know anyone who would feel good about their boat sinking, I am sure his mistakes (depending on others, being generous, etc) are crystal clear to him, doubt he needs help in understanding them. Any boat sinking is a sad thing..

s sauer · Feb 4, 2011

We've had our 28.5 since new in 1986, and like most boats that age there are components that deteriorate over time, some of which could see accelerated damage under winter conditions.
The cockpit scupper hoses are cheap thin corrugated hose , so any plugging and freezing will result in quick but unseen damage at the waterline that could flood the boat.
The OEM engine, galley sink and head gate valves were subject to freeze damage or electrolysis at their shafts, if not replaced with Seacocks or ball valves.
The engine intake strainer body is glass.....leave a seacock open and have that strainer freeze-up....same predictable result.
The OEM head sink drain had the same type thin corrugated hose and no seacock, and a plastic thru-hull at the water line. Ice damage could result in a broken thru hull fitting.
Keep an eye out for these types of weak areas and correct them where possible, and haul boats where winter freeze ups and snow /ice overloads could sink them in their slips.

Hunter 28.5 Sank at our marina

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