Advice on handling a twin engined boat with one engine in a narrow channel

[dava]

Jons video is really interesting and, as usual, very well produced.
It was 15 years ago when I last did that exercise and I had forgotten the technique of turning into the driving engine.
It makes much more sense now that I have much more experience.

And on the bigger boats, the rudders are driven from a separate pump so it doesn't matter which engine you loose, the rudders will still work.

My problem last autumn was that I lost the entire steering system mid way across to Ibiza.
In that instance, we only had the engines to steer - loosing an engine under those circumstances would have been interesting.
It was frightening enough not having any helm!!
These things are all there to test us though.
And it is "resolving the unknown" that gives me the biggest kick.

You're right hurricane, there are so many situations that can crop up, I lost a rudder on a single screw boat once and fashioned a temporary rudder from a piece of flooring (scaffold boards) and managed to get alongside my mate who had broken down, we managed to make the 10 mile journey home lashed alongside each other using my drive and his steering. It's amazing what you can conjur up in dire situations. I've been at sea 30 years and only once not been able to make a temporary fix and had to accept a tow.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

On a related note there's other things you might want to practice for, I've had to return to dock before with both rudders jammed hard to port after a steering failure, must of looked interesting coming up the Tyne sidewards.

Agreed. Had the same thing happen to me with the rudders stuck hard over due to a hydraulic hose failure and you can use the same technique but as I say it is very slow

 

[dava]

Agreed. Had the same thing happen to me with the rudders stuck hard over due to a hydraulic hose failure and you can use the same technique but as I say it is very slow

Mine was actually a mechanical failure, I was working on a salvage job on the river and clipped a piece of wreckage which jammed the rudders hard over, in limited room I had to crawl back to a mooring with 1 engine astern and the other forward, feathering the revs to manouvre sideways, succeed on landing on a pontoon thanks to a long line and grappling hook!

 

[Hurricane]

You're right hurricane, there are so many situations that can crop up, I lost a rudder on a single screw boat once and fashioned a temporary rudder from a piece of flooring (scaffold boards) and managed to get alongside my mate who had broken down, we managed to make the 10 mile journey home lashed alongside each other using my drive and his steering. It's amazing what you can conjur up in dire situations. I've been at sea 30 years and only once not been able to make a temporary fix and had to accept a tow.

My situation was last autumn.
Everything fine until just over halfway from Sant Cales to Ibiza.
The boat suddenly started to go off course - so I took her off the autopilot and the helm wouldn't respond.
The boat was going all over the place.
So, I went down into the lazerette and discovered the oil level in the steering had dropped off the bottom of the sight glass.
I always carry as many spares as I can - and in this case spare hydraulic oil.
So, whilst running at a very slow speed to keep the boat as stable as possible, I opened the top of the oil reservoir and poured more oil in.
Immediately, the steering pump changed tone and the helm responded.
Back on the flybridge, 10 mins later - it all happened again so down I went and put some more oil in.
That was fine for about 5 mins that time.
I was looking at the amount of oil that I had left and thinking that we didn't have enough to reach Ibiza when the engines changed tone.
That really frightened me - cases like this often become more serious as a series of things contribute to bigger problems.
In fact, it turned out to be SWMBO learning how to steer the boat at speed using just the engines with the rudders wobbling about not under control.
And to top it all, the weather started o close in - green stuff now splashing over the flybridge.
No autopilot but the nav systems were running and by then we had a white spot on the cliffs of Ibiza that we were aiming for.
The last 15 miles into our destination anchorage of San Miguel was the longest 15 minutes of any passage that we have ever done.
Shifting the throttles a tiny bit each time to correct the heading.
When anchoring, we often fiddle around finding the nicest place to drop the hook but in this instance, SWMBO, looking over the bow, said "there's some sand" - I said "we'll have that"
A couple of hours later after a nice cup of tea, we stripped the steering system down to find a pressure switch had blown spurting oil everywhere.
We cleaned up and called Bryn at Sleipner who explained that it was jut the pressure switch that trips at the end of the rudder's travel.
So, SWMBO and I jury rigged a plug and we were able to continue with the cruise although with a steering system that wasn't very responsive (lots of air in the system).
Back in March this year, I was on the boat during lock down so I was able to replace all the parts including a new hydraulic pump - the steering is now more responsive than it has ever been.
And I have learned about yet another of the boat's systems.
If the steering ever fails again, neither SWMBO nor I will be as frightened as we were last autumn.
So, that box has been well and truly ticked.

 

[Leighb]

Just watched the video, very instructive and worth remembering and practicising in a suitable spot. I was even more interested to see he was in a Storebro which looked exactly like our Biscay 31, except I have to say in rather better nick, but perhaps a much later boat?
I have once brought ours down from Ipswich to Woolverstone on only one engine and berthing was "interesting" altho' went OK .

 

[Elessar]

Hello all,

Firstly, congrats to all you English boaters who are back on the water. Sadly here in N.Ireland we are still housebound but hopefully that will change soon.

I have a Fairline Corniche 31 with twin TAMD41s. Assuming one engine failed, it is possible to continue on the second. However, I have found that a significant amount of steerage is lost when using a single engine, particularly when moving from a stationary position. Depending on which engine, the boat heads immediately for port or starboard until enough speed it built up that the steering eventually has some effect and the boat straightens out and I can regain reasonable control.

Where the boat is berthed (on a river), there are narrow channels (none of which are straight) into lock gates that we have to navigate before we can get to sea. In a scenario where an engine failed on one of these narrow channels I can't imagine being able to continue on a single engine without losing enough control to keep the boat off the shore, or the shallows, on either side. At least initially.

Any thoughts on how disaster could be avoided in this situation? Could a small portable trolling motor be mounted on the swim platform to provide even steering, or counteract the initial push created by the one remaining prop and keep the boat straight? Does one exist with enough grunt? Obviously wind and tide are a factor as well.

Hopefully this never happens, but if it did I 'd like to have a plan in mind.

All thoughts welcome.

D

Know what you can’t do.
My boat is simply impossible in a narrow channel on one engine. Even with a bowthruster.

You have to do one engine mooring if you do your yachtmaster but even that gets rusty.

To moor mine on one engine I need enough space to get up to about 7 knots. On full helm I can steer by increasing and decreasing the throttle slightly at that speed.

Then aim for your berth, go to neutral, quickly centre then helm and steer. You need to be going fast enough to make your berth without touching the throttle again.

Then beware the kick when you go astern to stop. If you can come in on the side where the stern will kick in.

Not easy. And as I said in my boat in a narrow channel impossible. I did it far too many times last year with a recurrent diesel bug issue.

To get into a tight berth get 2 friends with dinghys to act as tugs. Only way for me for an inside berth.

 

[Hooligan]

I lost an engine in Ibiza and had to travel down the NW Coast then find an anchorage. Two things. First do not forget to go down and get a rope on the shaft on the engine you lost. This is to stop it turning as you go along. I believe that with no engine oil does not circulate and after a while you risk seizing up that shaft. Tie a rope between the engine block and the shaft before it exits the boat. Secondly believe it or not speed is your friend. Easier to steer. I had to get to port the next day and that was a nightmare docking as there was a big crosswind coming over the wrong side. But that’s a different story.

 

[bowler]

Cheers folks,

I think that some safe investigation into the techniques above is in order. Then I can see what is achievable in a confined space so at least I can be prepared and know what to expect should the worst happen.

D