What began yesterday as a nice day sail was interrupted briefly by a flooded V-berth. Having left the dock bound for one of the many islands scattered 7-8 miles along the coast, the sail promised to be a fun day on the water with three other fellow sailors, each singlehanding with the exception of one. Because winds were light and on the nose, the first forty-five minutes of the trip was spent motoring down the channel, finally killing the engine at a point where sails could be set to harness the welcome building breeze. Because of engine noise I couldn't have heard the fresh water pump constantly running. But with the engine now quiet, the hum of the fresh water pump was quick to catch my ear. Sailing alone, I set the autohelm and ventured below to find the source of the running water, probably, I thought, a faucet in one of the three sinks on board somehow managed to come on. Imagine my surprise when I saw the ankle deep water covering the floor of the V-Berth, with my prized portable fan bobbing about the floor. My first reaction was to shut the pump off. The second was to rescue the fan (which has sent been donated to the trash can). The third was to grab my five gallon bucket and large sponge in the aft compartment and began cleaning up the mess. Within a matter of minutes the water was dumped over the side (through the front hatch), remove the carpet, and finish cleaning the mess. So what caused this mess and brief scare? A single hose connection supplying cold water to the V-berth sink had worked loose and was agressively sharing the fresh water supply with the V-berth. In less than two minutes the fitting was reconnected using two new stainless steel hose clampls. Morale of the story: Don't panic. Find the source of the water intrusion and stop it immediately. Remove the water and clean up the mess. Make repairs using previously stocked supplies-thankfully I always keep spare parts. Always keep a bucket on board. It is surprising how many boaters don't have the basics on board to respond to emergencies....I guess the reason for this post. The balance of the day proved to be wonderful....anchoring at the island for lunch, a quick swim to check zincs and wipe the hull, and finally a wonderful seven mile close reach along Mississippi Sound's Petit Bois Island, finally turning for home late in the day. What could have runined the day only added to the excitement of a fun filled sail with friends. Attached is a photo of two of my sailing companions. Dick Dixon S/V CD EXPRESS Kirie Elite 37
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Best thing is a cool head
In a emergency.Many people don't bother to find the source, just panic and things will work out fine. Not always the best scenario. You did just what the situation called for. Find the reason and repair.I think I'll go over my spare parts and see what it is that I don't have. All boats should come with a spare parts and emergency parts checklist.Maybe theres a market for such a thing? Keep it up, Ctskip
In a emergency.Many people don't bother to find the source, just panic and things will work out fine. Not always the best scenario. You did just what the situation called for. Find the reason and repair.I think I'll go over my spare parts and see what it is that I don't have. All boats should come with a spare parts and emergency parts checklist.Maybe theres a market for such a thing? Keep it up, Ctskip
Early in my sailing Life
my wife and I chartered a sailboat for the day. We had just finished going thru all the sailing courses. While we were sailing my wife went below and said "there is water coming out of the toilet and filling the floor of the head". I gave her the helm and went below. She was right. Started looking for the thru hulls to turn them off. Strange boat and I couldnt find the thru hull for the head intake or any manual that would tell me where they were. I had already decided that at the worst, I would run the boat aground so it wouldn't sink. Noticed that on a particular tack the leak stopped. So now I only had half a boat to tear apart looking for the thru hull. Finally found it and stopped the leak. The first thing I always do on a strange boat before leaving the dock is locate all the thru hulls.
my wife and I chartered a sailboat for the day. We had just finished going thru all the sailing courses. While we were sailing my wife went below and said "there is water coming out of the toilet and filling the floor of the head". I gave her the helm and went below. She was right. Started looking for the thru hulls to turn them off. Strange boat and I couldnt find the thru hull for the head intake or any manual that would tell me where they were. I had already decided that at the worst, I would run the boat aground so it wouldn't sink. Noticed that on a particular tack the leak stopped. So now I only had half a boat to tear apart looking for the thru hull. Finally found it and stopped the leak. The first thing I always do on a strange boat before leaving the dock is locate all the thru hulls.
Moral of the story
Dick, The moral of the story should also include that you should never, ever leave the fresh water panel switch on, when not in use. Someone could accidentally brush up against a sink faucet handle, shower handle, etc. Or, could accidentally leave one of them partially open. Also, as you have found out a leak could happen in some hidden spot. If you are not using the fresh water turn the fresh water pump breaker off. I know it seems obvious, but sometimes the obvious just slips your mind. I know because it happened to us about a week ago. Rich
Dick, The moral of the story should also include that you should never, ever leave the fresh water panel switch on, when not in use. Someone could accidentally brush up against a sink faucet handle, shower handle, etc. Or, could accidentally leave one of them partially open. Also, as you have found out a leak could happen in some hidden spot. If you are not using the fresh water turn the fresh water pump breaker off. I know it seems obvious, but sometimes the obvious just slips your mind. I know because it happened to us about a week ago. Rich
The moral of the story
should be that all fittings, clamps and hoses should be inspected periodically to minimize the incidence of failure. A dental mirror can be used to inspect the back of the clamps. More important are through the hull fittings and egine cooling system fittings. Just last week replaced two corroded clamps which could have sunk the boat. Suspect clamps I loosen and retighten, both clamps snapped under very little pressure. It is easier to deal with scheduled maintenance issues at the dock rather than with emergencies at sea.
should be that all fittings, clamps and hoses should be inspected periodically to minimize the incidence of failure. A dental mirror can be used to inspect the back of the clamps. More important are through the hull fittings and egine cooling system fittings. Just last week replaced two corroded clamps which could have sunk the boat. Suspect clamps I loosen and retighten, both clamps snapped under very little pressure. It is easier to deal with scheduled maintenance issues at the dock rather than with emergencies at sea.
Wax ring and rag could save your day.
I was told by a lifeguard at Marina Del Rey that who help me out of an emergency, that a good thing to have on board is a wax ring, the kind used to seal toilets to the floor plumbing. He told me that if you crush it into a rag and coat the rag with the soft wax that you could jam the rag and plug almost any hole water tight. Just thought I would pass along this useful tip.
I was told by a lifeguard at Marina Del Rey that who help me out of an emergency, that a good thing to have on board is a wax ring, the kind used to seal toilets to the floor plumbing. He told me that if you crush it into a rag and coat the rag with the soft wax that you could jam the rag and plug almost any hole water tight. Just thought I would pass along this useful tip.
heard the pump running???
Think first, then smile, you can still step down into your life raft! You "heard the fresh water pump constantly running". The fresh water in your tanks, makes a mess, but can't sink you. Salt water in the people tank can and will sink your boat, if you give it the chance! About 16 years ago, around 50 miles from Marco Island and the same to the Dry Tortugas, my feet got wet. I left the helm for a quick DR plot and stepped into ankle deep water! Alone, no auto pilot, just balance rig and sheet to tiller/surgical cord steering, what do you do? Oh, it's also about 3 AM: all the day traffic is back in port and your out of VHF range. What do you do? Turn the bilge pump on, the music down and start looking for the breach. As you might have guessed by now; it was my error. Somehow the engine intake hose had slipped off it's barb. I replaced the hose, quickly checked all hose clamps (doubled on all hoses with plugs tied to each seacock), rebalanced the sails for the ? time and started manual pumping. To this day, I do not know how that hose got loose. Among other things, I did an oil change and engine check before leaving home berth. Standard procedure is to check all systems before leaving on more than a short day sail. This incident was followed by 8 days of bliss. FYI: The boat was a 1958 New Horizon 25, with the thickest hand laid fiberglass hull I have ever owned. Beautiful old boat, but my wife needed more space. John Cowher Wandering C's Pearson 33 1969, Hull #114 (Poorly told and incomplete brief stories may lend to inappropriate assumptions.)
Think first, then smile, you can still step down into your life raft! You "heard the fresh water pump constantly running". The fresh water in your tanks, makes a mess, but can't sink you. Salt water in the people tank can and will sink your boat, if you give it the chance! About 16 years ago, around 50 miles from Marco Island and the same to the Dry Tortugas, my feet got wet. I left the helm for a quick DR plot and stepped into ankle deep water! Alone, no auto pilot, just balance rig and sheet to tiller/surgical cord steering, what do you do? Oh, it's also about 3 AM: all the day traffic is back in port and your out of VHF range. What do you do? Turn the bilge pump on, the music down and start looking for the breach. As you might have guessed by now; it was my error. Somehow the engine intake hose had slipped off it's barb. I replaced the hose, quickly checked all hose clamps (doubled on all hoses with plugs tied to each seacock), rebalanced the sails for the ? time and started manual pumping. To this day, I do not know how that hose got loose. Among other things, I did an oil change and engine check before leaving home berth. Standard procedure is to check all systems before leaving on more than a short day sail. This incident was followed by 8 days of bliss. FYI: The boat was a 1958 New Horizon 25, with the thickest hand laid fiberglass hull I have ever owned. Beautiful old boat, but my wife needed more space. John Cowher Wandering C's Pearson 33 1969, Hull #114 (Poorly told and incomplete brief stories may lend to inappropriate assumptions.)
Emergency, or Not?
This has been helpful. If I ever go below to find my salon flooded, the first thing I'm going to do is stick my finger in the water and then taste it. If it's fresh water, it's just an annoyance concerning my tanks & plumbing, and there's no reason to panic. All lake sailors: you still may be in trouble.
This has been helpful. If I ever go below to find my salon flooded, the first thing I'm going to do is stick my finger in the water and then taste it. If it's fresh water, it's just an annoyance concerning my tanks & plumbing, and there's no reason to panic. All lake sailors: you still may be in trouble.
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