Beneteau 37.6 nearly goes down, we saved this one

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C Jones

C Jones

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Aug 5, 2009
333
Hunter h23 Dallas Tx.
Yesterday morning (Saturday) one of the guys on our dock found this Beneteau 37.6 down to the anchor roller. He called the owner and got 4 electric pumps going in it. The owner rushed out with 2- 3" gasoline pumps and she was sitting high in 40 minutes. The owner had just checked on her Friday and everything was fine. I took this picture after the 4 electric pumps had raised her 6". They found the fill line to the A/C cracked/ broken and the seacock open. We had a busy Saturday.
 

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Witzend

Witzend

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Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
I bet the owner was glad that you came to the rescue!!
"seacock open" details details, miss one, and you could be sunk.
Create a check list and check it twice before leaving a boat.
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
We had a power boat on Friday that was so locded with snow the scuppers were taking on water. The marina staff had to remove the snow and pump her out. We caught her before the water got high enough to do any damage. Lucky for the absentee owner who lives 5 minutes away. I guess he just relies on us live aboards to watch his stinkpot for him. I am sure he will park next to me in some quiet anchorage this summer and run his generator all night, shoot off fireworks on the beach and drag onto me in the middle of the night!
 
G

gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
Tim R. said:
I am sure he will park next to me in some quiet anchorage this summer and run his generator all night, shoot off fireworks on the beach and drag onto me in the middle of the night!
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That will be payback for preventing an insurance claim. I've talked with many a power boater who look at insurance as a good way to upgrade their boats.

I had one guy that said "you touch my boat and I'll see you in court" even if there is something wrong.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
This brings up an interesting point for me. How many close all the sea cocks when leaving the boat. I do not.
 
R

Rick486

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Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
higgs said:
This brings up an interesting point for me. How many close all the sea cocks when leaving the boat. I do not.
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Every sea cock. Every time.
Every breaker. Every time.
DC Main. Every time.
Battery switches. Every time.
 
ifmdalvey

ifmdalvey

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Feb 2, 2010
373
Island Packet 37 Hull #2 Harpswell Me
Same as Rick, every one every time without exception, including the engine cooling.
 
Jkenny13

Jkenny13

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Dec 1, 2010
69
Catalina 1978 C-27 Nortons Marina
When we close up, I call off check list like its the space shuttle going up.
 
catsailor

catsailor

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Jan 10, 2009
590
PDQ 32 Deale, MD
higgs said:
This brings up an interesting point for me. How many close all the sea cocks when leaving the boat. I do not.
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In the winter, I assume you are joking.

In the summer, if leaving overnight, and I consider myself more careless than some. I only open those I intend to close.

Propane off at the tank.

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In this case we are talking about the AC inlet, which he couldn't really have needed in months. Leave it open that long and you are inviting a stuck valve and clogged hose, all full of marine life.
 
DannyS

DannyS

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May 27, 2004
933
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
95% of the time I close all seacocks. 5% of the time I worry all week that I'll get the same phone call that the Bene owner got. I need to make a check off list...
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Maybe it was in the other "sinking boat" thread. But how many Texas boats are going to find busted plumbing when they do open those closed seacocks/valves? Hopefully they will see the results immediately.

Around here, if you can find open water, you have to rewinterize everytime you take the boat out. And like many others I never leave a seacock open. That still leaves the dreaded stuffing box/stern tube to worry about.

Here is one that I helped with where the owner was only slightly negligent. His docklines were just loose enough that the transom got under the dock at low tide. When the tide came in the stern could not come up and the water came in through the little door to the swim platform. Insurance covered it and he had a new boat in a week!
 

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Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
And all the rest of our insurance policies went slightly up.
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
When I worked with a marine mechanic last spring, part of all our spring commissioning jobs, (and usually done on just about every other call too) was to inspect all accessible hoses and thru-hulls, tighten hose clamps, etc. This was also done every fall.

It would take no more than an hour even on a 40' boat to check every thru-hull, cycle the valves, inspect hoses, snug up clamps. Not the most comfortable hour you'll ever spend (if you're unwilling to pay a mechanic), but brings mental comfort after.

The marine insurance industry, or maybe ABYC should produce a set of annual or semi-annual checklists, and offer an insurance reduction for owners who can show that these simple checks have been done regularly.
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
kenn said:
When I worked with a marine mechanic last spring, part of all our spring commissioning jobs, (and usually done on just about every other call too) was to inspect all accessible hoses and thru-hulls, tighten hose clamps, etc. This was also done every fall.

It would take no more than an hour even on a 40' boat to check every thru-hull, cycle the valves, inspect hoses, snug up clamps. Not the most comfortable hour you'll ever spend (if you're unwilling to pay a mechanic), but brings mental comfort after.

The marine insurance industry, or maybe ABYC should produce a set of annual or semi-annual checklists, and offer an insurance reduction for owners who can show that these simple checks have been done regularly.
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Great idea. It helps the boat owner and also could provide extra revenue for the mechanic when problems are found. Establishes a great trust relationship with the owner too.
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,120
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
checking

Hello,

When my boat is in the water I open the raw water sea cock and it stays open all season. It's in a bad place and it's too much of a pain to reach and open / close. I do check the hose and clamps at least twice a year. The other sea cocks (anchor wash down, head discharge, etc.) stay closed until I need to use one, then it gets opened, used, and closed.

I do the same with the propane tanks.

Barry


higgs said:
This brings up an interesting point for me. How many close all the sea cocks when leaving the boat. I do not.
Click to expand
 
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