William_H
Well-known member
Heard a talk yesterday from 3 older gents who in February (mid summer) were fishing about 7NM off the Fremantle coast when disaster struck. Their boat capsized and mostly sank and they were then in the water for 16hrs until rescued.
The boat about 5metre half cabin wooden vessel was bought from South Africa and shipped to Fremantle in container. It had been about 10 years on a trailer not used.
On this the 3rd outing by the owner the boat started to take in water at the transom. The boat reputedly had a sealed floor with buoyancy under floor. When hatch was lifted it was found to have a lot of water in bilge. Wind was about 18 knots and water choppy.
The 3 fishermen managed to get lifejackets on. These were the cheapest Mae West type with big pillow on the front and smaller behind the head. However within seconds the craft filled with water and capsized. It was very difficult to hold on to up turned hull. The owner tried to dive down to retrieve the EPIRB in the cabin but was unable to find it. He did fortunately manage to retrieve a short piece of rope. The 3 fishermen tied themselves together and set out for an island about 2 miles away. This was unfortunately to windward and progress was so slow so abandoned. This was late in the afternoon.
They floated then for 16 hrs total through the night until near noon the next day they were rescued by water police. They were very cold near death from hypothermia and had swallowed a lot of salt water.
They had failed to set up a watch with the local Sea Search and Rescue organisation by radio. Had they logged in, their failure to advise of a safe return would have had them rescued much quicker. Only relatives concern after they had not returned long after they were due and after dark triggered the rescue.
The required flares EPIRB and fixed radio were all iretrievable in the sudden swamping and capsize. Fortunately lifejackets also madated by law were carried and donned.
It struck me that buoyancy under the floor of a typical vee bottomed mobo is perhaps the worst place to locate buoancy. Once the boat is flooded then the movement of waterr in the hull and with the buoyancy down low it was inevitable that the hull would capsize. I think they had outboard motors which again have centre of gravity quite high along with the mass of the wooden cabin. I think buoyancy should be at the sides of the hull and nearer under the gunwhale not under floor.
When the hull was towed to shore only the bottom of the bow was out of the water
Of course there is the danger of buying S/H where extensive wood rot had been panted over to make it look good. Wooden boats especially those on a trailer are very susceptible to hull damage through collection of rainwater. olewill
The boat about 5metre half cabin wooden vessel was bought from South Africa and shipped to Fremantle in container. It had been about 10 years on a trailer not used.
On this the 3rd outing by the owner the boat started to take in water at the transom. The boat reputedly had a sealed floor with buoyancy under floor. When hatch was lifted it was found to have a lot of water in bilge. Wind was about 18 knots and water choppy.
The 3 fishermen managed to get lifejackets on. These were the cheapest Mae West type with big pillow on the front and smaller behind the head. However within seconds the craft filled with water and capsized. It was very difficult to hold on to up turned hull. The owner tried to dive down to retrieve the EPIRB in the cabin but was unable to find it. He did fortunately manage to retrieve a short piece of rope. The 3 fishermen tied themselves together and set out for an island about 2 miles away. This was unfortunately to windward and progress was so slow so abandoned. This was late in the afternoon.
They floated then for 16 hrs total through the night until near noon the next day they were rescued by water police. They were very cold near death from hypothermia and had swallowed a lot of salt water.
They had failed to set up a watch with the local Sea Search and Rescue organisation by radio. Had they logged in, their failure to advise of a safe return would have had them rescued much quicker. Only relatives concern after they had not returned long after they were due and after dark triggered the rescue.
The required flares EPIRB and fixed radio were all iretrievable in the sudden swamping and capsize. Fortunately lifejackets also madated by law were carried and donned.
It struck me that buoyancy under the floor of a typical vee bottomed mobo is perhaps the worst place to locate buoancy. Once the boat is flooded then the movement of waterr in the hull and with the buoyancy down low it was inevitable that the hull would capsize. I think they had outboard motors which again have centre of gravity quite high along with the mass of the wooden cabin. I think buoyancy should be at the sides of the hull and nearer under the gunwhale not under floor.
When the hull was towed to shore only the bottom of the bow was out of the water
Of course there is the danger of buying S/H where extensive wood rot had been panted over to make it look good. Wooden boats especially those on a trailer are very susceptible to hull damage through collection of rainwater. olewill
