A salutary lesson in preparedness for a short and familiar coastal trip

[superheat6k]

So this morning my stbd engine overheated and stopped itself without warning. See thread on PBO forum if interested.

I had been doing a brief full power run for ~ 5 minutes and was just backing down to a slow cruise, when the engine literally died and all the alarms went off. There was no overheat warning until the engine stopped itself. This was likely due to at least one piston seizing in its bore.

So on returning to the lower helm position from the flybridge, the first thing I noticed was the engine room camera showing a completely grey haze.

I grabbed a foam extinguisher and slowly opened the hatch ready to fire in case there were flames. Neither of the two auto extinguishers had operated and there was no fire, just lots of hot dirty grey steam, and a bilge full of coolant.

I then decided to make a Pan Pan call to Solent Coastguard to inform them of my possible plight as although there was no obvious fire I remained concerned a fire could erupt.

The port engine was still running and this was clearing the fumes.

So ...

1 Was I right to gingerly open the hatch ?

This did immediately establish there was no fire, but had there been a fire this could have made it a whole lot worse.

The fire extinguisher I had to hand is a foam and not a dry powder, so would be more effective, and I would expect the engine room units to fire if flames had been present.

2 When I then called the Coastguard they followed their play list - how many aboard, are life jackets being worn - they were being put on as the family were all still in the cabin, Position ???

Life jacket rule on our boat is on when on the oopen deck and slipped, but only to be worn inside if the weather deteriorates badly, or when a situation arises like it did today. We do keep the LJs immediately out and available, with each person having their own pre-adjusted to fit correctly. They are also serviced annually.

3 I hadn't bothered turning on the plotter below - only a short hop from Portsmouth to the Hamble. So I couldn't advise my proper position. However, the plotter on the FB was on so I was able to report my proper position a couple of minutes later once I turned on the C120 repeater.

4 Neither had I put out the paper charts.

5 I forgot to open the separate compartment to shut off the fuel supply to the stbd engine. However, had there been flames I would have pulled the emergency lever cutting fuel to both engines. The Pan Pan would have immediately become a Mayday, via Radio and Flares - indeed I would likely have beached the boat on the nearby Meonshore.

On a plus point it was fine day, and the sea was flat calm. We do carry a life raft and the dingly was inflated on the stern. However, I do feel bad for overlooking some basic pre-sailing checks and preps inasmuch as I had not turned on the plotter in the cabin and hence could not properly report my position.

Now for what looks like will be an expensive engine repair ! Hey ho.

 

[rafiki_]

Trevor, sounds like awful luck. Don’t worry about what you didn’t do, as you got home safely and no harm to anyone. I hope the engine isn’t seized and the repairs aren’t too difficult. Keep us posted.

 

[Momac]

Sorry to read this - it must have been a traumatic experience.

Opening the engine bay hatch may not have been the best plan but that's easy to say sitting here quietly on a sofa.
Otherwise difficult to say what you might have done differently. You obviously made it home safely, which is a good outcome .

The chief officer insists we both wear life jackets when under way, which is almost always from the flybridge helm . I am not inclined to argue.

An AIS transducer may have helped communicate your location.

 

[z1ppy]

hindsight is 20:20, you did more than many in this position, you assessed the risks, took action based on the assessment. reviewed the information and updated it.. i say a difficult situation well managed.

end result was the ability to come on here and tell us about a challenging day. Pour yourself a drink, relax and think about the boat repair tomorrow.

 

[markc]

Sounds like you did everything right. I would have also taken a peep, and having an extinguisher to hand was the right thing to do - I guess you have air intakes for the engine room that were not shut off, so a fire would have had oxygen anyway. You may have had a chance to extinguish a small fire if you had one.

Pan Pan was obv the right thing too.

I'm not sure that any of us set out with 100% perfect emergency provisions in place, but having had the forethought to consider everything properly in the past meant you could quickly think on your feet. Best of luck getting it sorted

 

[TheCoach]

I'm with @z1ppy on this, you assessed a risk situation, took action (which is often better than inaction) and brought the boat and crew home safely - good on you!

To your specific points:
1. open to debate but unless you look how do you know? You can't fight a fire if you can't see it. Maybe advice like check with your hand to feel heat around hatch but in reality you saw no flames on the cameras and if you didn't have cameras would just sit there for a while to see if the boat caught light? - I don't think so - proactive response, open hatch with caution, be prepared to tackle a fire if found
2. Life jacket "rules" sound spot on and appropriate
3. OK, you couldn't advise lat and long. In the location you were in that probably isn't critical as you can do a rough 1m south east of ....... Maybe just as you say a checklist lesson learnt for any voyage. Also where a modern DSC radio with inbuilt GPS might be an advantage as a "full" mayday is a button press away that transmits GPS data
4. See above, TBH paper charts to get a coordinate in an emergency.......
5. Yep, coulda shoulda but again a worthwhile aide memoir for next time (which hopefully will never happen)

When we upgrade to a larger boat from our RIB one of the things I plan on doing in our own time is a few basic dry run/scenario plays which mimic this sort of stuff. One of the great lessons from HSE work is that having "modelled" a scenario just makes you so much better prepared for if it ever does happen, a bit like muscle memory.

But given the situation you describe above I think you did everything you could, came away unscathed and also learnt (and shared) some honest reflections that will hopefully help us all be safer and wiser as a result.

As said, have a stiff drink, pat yourself on the back for a good outcome that you created, and try not to think about the repair bill

Cheers,

TC

 

[Rocksteadee]

Bugger.

Opening the hatch? Wouldn’t need to as I have 3 wireless smoke detectors, lazerette, engine room, saloon. One goes off they all do, £30 each. Test regular when I lean on them.

A pan pan or mayday states if you don’t know position, don’t guess. You did know maybe just not accurately eg ”1 mile south of Chichester entrance, Lat long to follow”

The rest I am probably the same
Glad you got back safe (saw you coming up the Hamble)

 

[jamie langstone]

For me you don’t have to explain your self on this forum . You done what you fought was the right thing to do at that time. I am sure you will replay this many times in your thoughts and the end result will be a lesson learned. Every day is a learning day

 

[BruceK]

Hear. Hear. And Im particularly peeved that a few questions around procedure and protocol on the other thread has been construed as a witch hunt.

Bit of a bugger regarding the engine. Hope its not going to be too painful. And for what its worth I think you showed fortitude and kept your wits.