Bad weather

Well Byron I suspect you to have been there and got the Tee shirt....But to there you are RCD catagory A ... Yep it could be a long trip especially the other way from Portland to Japan where the depressions come towards you in quick succession.:D

Last time I ventured over those waters it was a calm day no wind and fortunately lunchtime when we hit one of those seafarers fables.......A BLACK HOLE ......... Yes they do exist and as it was daytime we had a good view of the sort of thing which might have sunk the Derbyshire. We met a trough at least 30 metres deep advancing towards us travelling west to east at a speed which was thought unbelievable to those that saw it...just 2 of us....The result was the ship diving into the back wall of the trough immersing the foc'sle head and bringing the ship to a standstill. As we rose over the backside of the trough a deluge ran down the decks and the turbo chargers which had gone into full surge chirruped away as the engines picked up away. The engines were another story, The infamous Ruston AO however on this occassion they never faltered. Luckily all the batteries in the battery locker were secure and not needed for us to send a report of the incident. I suspect a 70 ft narrow boat might have had a problem with the hogging and sagging loads /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
The last place I'd wanna be is down in the Engine Room with you in such weather /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Having said that, I have always been extraordinarily lucky with conditions. A zillion times across the Bay of Biscay always in a flat calm, Australian Bight with only a heavy swell, South China Seas looking like a summer's day on the Serpentine.
I have never experienced really severe conditions. You must have seen some in the North Sea when you were working the Oil Rig Supply vessels.. two things not for me (i) Gas Tankers (ii) Oil Rig Supply ships.
 
You must have seen some in the North Sea when you were working the Oil Rig Supply vessels.. two things not for me (i) Gas Tankers (ii) Oil Rig Supply ships.

.......................................................................................

Engine room...???????? Forget the way there some trips LOL..

The original mail here shows what happens when green water hits the front of the bridge of an ocean going ship and even the MAry, The Lizzie ones and two have managed to break windows...well maybe not MAry 2 yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I had often wondered while walking around the Aberdeen docks why the supply ships were so unusually constructed around the bridge fronts. I was to find out /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I actually worked ashore and just visited rigs from time to time however some years ago I was packed off to Montrose to sail on the Gorm Viking while on hire for the purpose of changing anchor chains on one of our rigs. Each chain 3500 ft each link 120 lbs weight made from 3 " bar. Even bigger than on Ocean Eagle /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

This was November so no surprise when we found the going a little rough heading to location. We sat around for over a week waiting on weather just bobbing around and then in marginal conditions retrieved and changed 2 anchor chains and relayed the anchors. I was now enjoying this. Two week on a cruise LoL just a bit bouncy. These supply ships have enough power to tow 35,000 ton oil rigs so you can imagine that with the smell of home wafting out from the coast the skipper was keen to get home to a warm bed. Well I discovered what those odd features on the front of the bridge were as he wound the engines to full speed and propellers to full pitch. The seas just could not slow us down and with no windows on the front of the bridge but good break waters it must have been an impressive sight to any bystanders as we litteraly punched our way through waves as high as the wheelhouse. Much better than a ride at Alten towers and the crew get paid as well /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

There are piccies on the web of such sorties but the site seems to be down at present.

This is on youtube...... Supply Ship
 
Interesting video.

However it does show that the BSS rules on battery boxes are sensible. I mean one sees waves like that several times a year on the non-tidal Thames.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Interesting video.

However it does show that the BSS rules on battery boxes are sensible. I mean one sees waves like that several times a year on the non-tidal Thames.

[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Byron, you are obviously such a wit.

Nevermind, I suppose I have to give the straight answer in this thread or you'll hang me for not communicating... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Even small repeditive movements of batteries can cause strain on cables, strain on connections strands to break and insulation to beak down.

Some craft, but not yours for certain, occaisionly bump into things like banks, pontoons, bridges and other boats. A fire from shorting cables or battery terminals is the last thing needed under those circumstances.

Some boats with lesser helmsmen, get caught up on cills or tipple a little sideways as mooring ropes are too tight when the river level drops. If it's not too serious and the boat's still floating, an electrical fire won't help much.

If however the boat tipples right over, then even we recognise the game's up and batteries winging about are probably the least of anyone's worries. That is why we want to see a means of restraining batteries to 45 degrees, beyond that it's only best practice.

Moving on, some people take metal things to battery areas like spanners and screwdrivers, to help prevent shorting from dropped objects we wish to see the terminals protected. Some people also have metal hulled boats, but unless it's Dutch and pointy, I probably shouldn't mention such things here /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif and this is another reason to protect the terminals and stop batteries from sliding around.

These can be simple non-conducting boots or the lid of battery box will be equally as good for example.

Now I realise that I haven't exactly entered into the spirit of this thread and should have said something like; it's in case one of those tornadoes that swept Southern England this summer hits Pangbourne, or; it's in case one the helicopters from Benson sweeps really low and the down-draft causes a sunami below Wallingford.

All in all a pretty poor match for your humour so you can see why I don't try to match it too often.

Regards
Rob
 
[ QUOTE ]
Now I realise that I haven't exactly entered into the spirit of this thread and should have said something like; it's in case one of those tornadoes that swept Southern England this summer hits Pangbourne, or; it's in case one the helicopters from Benson sweeps really low and the down-draft causes a sunami below Wallingford.

Regards
Rob

[/ QUOTE ]

... or when Penton Hook Lock opens on a Bank Holiday w/e and the good peeps are desirous of a good spot at Windsor!!
 
Absolute and utter codswallop you are really grasping at straws.
Battery sitings and arrangements were perfectly adequate before this over-kill. Tipping a boat sufficient to tip over a battery, who you kidding? Bump into banks, bridges or stale pork pies, no way will that cause it. Batteries ain't located on the top of a mast, they are low down and part of the centre of balance. This is just one of the nonsensical crap rules engineered by peeps who know nothing about boats.
elf'n'safety idjuts and PC plonkers have taken over the country.
 
Here Here!

And yet we are able to render our seatoilets inoperable with a mere strip of ducktape - and thats allowed!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Takes much less than that to render mine inoperative....
. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
it's in case one the helicopters from Benson sweeps really low and the down-draft causes a sunami below Wallingford.
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Last lad that did that is now flying Hercules...........after bar B quing the cow that was frightened to death /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Still doing a great job ..... ENJOY
 
[ QUOTE ]
Still doing a great job ..... ENJOY

[/ QUOTE ]

I did, thanks.

My lasting memory of being a passenger on a flossie (as we called them) was going on leave after a rather alcoholic night out, sitting on webbing 'benches', back against a cold fuselage, with condensation dripping on me and a constant hydraulic whine in my left ear for two and a half hours with a massive hangover. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Needless to say, the return flight was better - the 'plane had proper seats! And no hangover. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Wobb.
 
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