[C38] Holes in boats
Chuck Finn
charles at finn.ws
Mon Oct 3 12:04:46 EDT 2011
This happened to Anders (our webmaster) on the Mighty Quinn last summer!
When I had the transmission replaced on the Mighty Quinn, the shipyard
did not adequately tighten the two set screws that hold the shaft to
the coupling. Without going into all the drama, he got the dinghy
painter rapped on the prop shaft at night (of course). Once he dove and
fixed that... he put the boat in reverse and out went the prop shaft!
While he was wondering what was wrong, folks yelled water was rising in
the cabin! They towed the boat to a dock slip that had only 8 foot
depth and pumped like crazy. Figured it would only sink 1.5 feet at
worst.... Anders then dove the boat and saw the prop shaft hanging in
the cutlass bearing. Amazingly, he was able to re-insert the shaft by
hand with a dive light.
The shipyard of course said it couldn't possibly be their fault!
By the way, the two bilge pumps couldn't even remotely keep up. We had
a portable pump at the docks and even that was just not going to make it.
Scary!
Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn, #114
Great Lakes
On 10/3/2011 11:36 AM, tdtron at earthlink.net wrote:
> *All of this talk of pumps and water reminds me of a friend of mine
> who rented a charter in the BVI's in the '80's and his cruise made
> national attention. All went well until the second day when they
> cranked up to motor out of the anchorage. When the skipper put the
> engine in reverse, there was an awful noise and then the motor was
> just free wheeling in forward or reverse.*
> **
> *Someone below yelled that water was on the galley floor. When they
> opened up the engine compartment, they saw sunshine and water coming
> in from where the propeller shaft used to be. The boat was a brand
> new boat but evidently the transmission coupling was left loose.*
> **
> *The charter company was contacted and they put everything back
> together in a few hours but it was really "exciting" for awhile
> waiting for the charter company and trying to find things to plug
> that stuffing tube. *
> **
> *I hate that "sinking feeling" when water is rushing into the boat,
> don't you?*
> **
> *Tom Troncalli*
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Jeffry Matzdorff <mailto:earthakat at msn.com>
> *To: *Catalina 38 Listserve <mailto:listserve at catalina38.org>
> *Sent:* 10/3/2011 2:49:33 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [C38] Holes in boats
>
> Hope the listserve doesn't mind me 'hanging around' and
> occasionally commenting. Fact is, this listserve is really awesome.
> You guys know your stuff and the emails are filled with lots of
> really spot on advise for others.
> Steve, this is an excellent point below. Brilliant idea to
> increase the output of the shower sump with a bigger pump.
> Other types of hull breaches such as losing a shaft or being
> holed by various objects are always possible.
> I lost a though hull bringing up a boat from Baja several years
> ago. It was 0200 and a very rough, dark night.
> Between the lag time of not knowing you have a problem, and the
> frantic tearing up of floor boards or getting a diaper over it
> from the outside will take many minutes.
> High water alarms are great and like you point out, secondary
> pumps are always a good idea.
> I have a y-valve on my big bilge pump and an 8' hose attached
> which I can move around and get water out when I am heeled over.
> Cheers~
> Captain Jeffry Matzdorff
> 323.855.0191
> www.offshoredeliveryskipper.com
> <http://www.offshoredeliveryskipper.com>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Steve Smolinske <mailto:SSmolinske at rainierrubber.com>
> *To:* Catalina 38 Listserve <mailto:listserve at catalina38.org>
> *Sent:* Sunday, October 02, 2011 9:59 PM
> *Subject:* [C38] Holes in boats
>
> During the planning stage of one of my current
> projects (putting a sump in the shower sump, when we have a
> full crew we can never get the sump emptied and there is
> always "liguid" left sloshing and the current design just
> doesnt get all of it out, especailly bad on starboard
> tack) . I got the idea to beef up the shower sump with an
> much larger than needed bilge pump so that in the event that
> we ever were taking on water we would have another higher
> capacity pump than the one that is currently installed. Since
> Im cutting in the new sump hole its easy enough to make sure
> things will fit.
> This thought process raised the question of how the capacity
> of my current bilge pump stands up against say a failed
> through hull (hull damage a whole different story) I
> searched and searched the net until I found the following link
> that shows the amount of water at different head levels that
> comes into a boat through different sized holes. Eye
> opening to realize that depending on the circumstance and
> which through hull failed I could loose my boat.
> I have a Rule 2000 in the bilge, thats 33 gallons a minute, a
> failed 1" through hull at 2' head level pumps in 28 gallons
> per minute, interpolating to a 1 1/2" through hull the amount
> of water coming in is 70 gpm. If you have never removed your
> knot meter in the water, try it some time it is amazing the
> amount of water that fills the bilge before you get the cap on
> the opening. Thought I would pass this link along so you can
> have the information for you own calculations.
> http://www.tpub.com/content/advancement/14145/css/14145_191.htm
> Steve
> #312 Peregrine
> Seattle
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