It doesn't take very long.... Not a sailboat

[SoSound]

I remember recently seeing a comment or two regarding how frequently people check on their boats. At the time, I thought some of the answers were overkill - but then this happened just outside my own window over the weekend. I did not manage to take any 'during' photos because I wasn't sure that anything was actually going on.

Boating season is officially over, although many people boat year round, and many more don't bother to haul their vessels. There are a few (myself included) who have hauled out for winter storage and end of season maintenance. And then there are the handful who tow their vessel out into the inlet to anchor for the winter in order to avoid paying slip or on the hard storage fees, and also perhaps to avoid the hassles from the local harbor patrol, etc.. Whatever the reasons, two power boats have ended up anchored just east of our house for the past several weeks.

On Friday afternoon I got home from another day of trying to make sense of my boats electrical, plumbing, and diesel systems; and asked my wife Barbara if she thought anything looked different about the older wooden hulled boat. By sunset, I was slightly more certain that she must be taking on water, but still not sure - but I had identified some markings on the hull, and would call someone in the morning if the boat still appeared to be taking on water. When Saturday morning arrived, the boat was basically gone. From apparently normal to just barely visible in a span of about 36 hours.

Dave

 

[sailingdog]

Overall, I'd say that was a pretty slow leak... I've seen boats go from looking normal to barely visible in under two hours...

 

[higgs]

Another reason why a slip is a good thing. We watch each other's boats and contact owners when something is amiss.

 

[Franklin]

Kind of makes you wonder....how hard would it be to make a system monitor the batteries and automatically turn the engine on (in neatual) to charge the batteries and then send a text message to the owner. Message could say "Call Tow Boat US at 555-555-5555. Your boat is sinking." And of course, as many of you know, I believe in strong pumps (and it paid off for me).

 

[kendall]

a float switch mounted high in the bilge, well above normal water levels wired to a remote car starter would start the engine. Problem is that anything that monitors the battery level is going to be a drain on them, slight drain to be sure but still a drain.

Some remote starters can be set up so they shut off after a certain time if there's no activity (stepping on the gas etc)

Would definately have to rig it so it only operates when in nuetral, while not funny, it could be an amusing scene if it fired up in forward gear while on a mooring, reverse would just pull, but forward would be like a fish fighting the line.


Ken.

 

[sailingdog]

Franklin-

I'm pretty sure that would be a fairly easy modification given some of the boat monitoring systems that can call the owner via an integrated cell phone already.

Kendall-

A decent solar panel could take care of any drain caused by the monitoring system.

As for bilge pumps, I'm definitely a believer in having a multiple-stage bilge pump setup on a monohull. The first is a very low capacity "maintenance" pump, which can deal with the dripping stuffing box and condensation... the second, with a float switch a tiny bit above the level of the first is a high capacity bilge pump that has a bilge pump counter... The counter helps you keep track of whether there is an increase in water getting in the boat. The third would be another high capacity bilge pump, with the float switch a bit higher than the second's, and should have a high water bilge alarm tied in.

 

[Capt. Ed]

For one reason to haul boats is that most insurance is void from Nov. to March in this area . The local harbormasters also have to deal with wayward boats during the winter . They pose a danger to the environment . As for checking on boats ,it amazes me how many people don't . Mooring lines wrap up birds do their thing ,and sails go adrift . They show up at their boats after several weeks of non use and are upset at the condition !

 

[larryw]

There used to be an older wooden Viking power cruiser in the slip next to mine. It had older big-block 427 Chevy gas engines in it that the owner was trying to get running again. Several mechanics worked on them, and finally they were finished. I noticed that the bilge pump seemed to be running a lot, and told the owner, a non-boater really, who didn't know much about boats. I offered to help re-pack the shaft glands, but he said he had a handle on it. Well, I guess the vandals stole the handle, 'cause it sank in its slip about a week later, a total loss. Never saw the guy again.