Channel debris

[Piddy]

I know we have a fouled stern gear forum but when crossing back from Cherbourg last Thursday, there were 2 incidents halfway across where yachts fouled their props.

One was a charter boat that snagged some kind of net that stopped the engine and fouled the rudder, the other was tangled in some kind of plastic sheeting.

The response from the CG was quite different in the two cases: the first was OK when the skipper mentioned he was about to go over the side in his wet suit and try to free the obstruction: the second boat was firmly advised by the CG not to do the same thing. The first was the subject of regular DSC alerts and a regular 30 minute call in but the second was a much more informal issue, possibly because the boat was still in the French area, although it can only just have been if that was the case.

Apart from making me keep a better watch for floating debris as we do have a history of hoovering the Channel clean of netting etc., I wondered why the same CG station would give different advice no more than 30 minutes apart and treat them differently.

The conditions were calm with not enough wind to sail, good vis and the boats were just out the shipping lanes.

Any thoughts?

 

[H4B]

Different watch officers?

 

[Tranona]

Can't comment of the CG response, but two other observations

1 If the boats had been fitted with rope strippers they may not have had the problem

2 going over the side even in calm conditions is not a good idea. The risks are too high unless the "diver" is very experienced and well equipped.

 

[TLOM]

[ QUOTE ]
2 going over the side even in calm conditions is not a good idea. The risks are too high unless the "diver" is very experienced and well equipped.

[/ QUOTE ]

I imagine that the risk varies according to what is fouling the prop/rudder and where you are. For example, the risks are probably higher with a large mass of netting in the water than a single rope. Also my perception is that it would be more risky mid-channel than in a sheltered anchorage - though not sure why; as I say, it's my perception. I think that going over the side is probably OK in some situations. How experienced is "very experienced"? What equipment would you say is required?

TLOM

 

[BobnLesley]

Disagree - we have a rope cutter on the prop and the one thing it doesn't seem to cope with are poly bags/sheets, on two occassions now it's carved a nice hole through the plastic, but left the main part spinning around on the prop shaft - we got drive but only 50% of that we should've.

Agree - following the example of a chap who regularly dives to inspect the underside of returning charter boats, I now carry a cheap cycling safety helmet onboard and always wear it if going under a floating boat to check/clean/repair stuff - even in harbour the wash from a passing boat may cause the stern in particular to lift and slam down on you.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Yep... we carry face masks, flippers, and a cheap plastic cycling helmet too......

 

[Rossyrassy]

Our thoughts exactily! We also listened to the communication with the two yachts as we crossed back and were struck by the different approach - we could only assume that the second yacht received less assistance as they were still in French waters. We felt for them both - fouled props in the shipping lane with no wind is not ideal! Priddy, guess you must also have been boarded by Customs as you approached I of W , we had a visit and they seemed to be boarding all the boats within our visibility. Our first experience of a customs visit - they were very pleasant , and after checking our ships papers and ID and a quick look round , they left .

 

[Tranona]

The biggest danger seems to be from injury. A helmet might help. Snorkell, wet suit, flippers and a serrated bread knife.

I recall an incident a few years ago when a boat picked up a pot line off Old Harry and ended up be tethered to the bottom with the tide running hard. Owner went over the side and was hit by the hull bobbing up and down. Wife had to call the rescue services. Husband was attached to the boat. Listened to the events on VHF and watched the helicopter deliver him to Poole hospital. Dead on arrival. Stay out of the water if you can.

My own direct experience is picking up a piece of net about 12 miles off the French coast. Stopped the engine and initially jammed the rudder. Eventually sailed back to UK and went close into Sandown Bay where I could get over the side a clear it. Two blades of the prop had hooked the net. Easy to get off. However, most fouling leads to rope or plastic getting round the prop and the shaft and needs serious cutting to remove it. And yes, plastic bags are a challenge for even the best cutters, but cutting a hole and allowing some propulsion is better than getting the plastic welded to the shaft through heat. Eventually plastic bags also tend to disintegrate and come free.

 

[Piddy]

Nope, didn't see the customs - we just bimbled in against the last of the tide in the Needles channel - fortunately Mrs Piddy didn't click that I had got her out of bed too early - possibly as she was too tired! Strangely enough, it's the first time for ages that we had any duty free on board - within our limits - Gordons Gin (export) was only £9/litre - no idea how DF works in the CI, but no complaints!

We were almost exactly in the middle of the boats, making it difficult to help either as they were 15 miles away. I was a bit too far East really but still made a fairly quick crossing under engine despite the shipping forecast predicting SWF5-7!
It did sound like a different CG operator dealing with the second call but his reaction was immediate in telling the second "I wouldn't do that sir" - what else would you do with so little wind?

I tied up near Big Nick (v. nice - not him, the boat) in Lymington that evening still waiting for the wind to kick in - which it did later that night making it interesting to get out of the marina on Friday.

Cheers

 

[LittleShip]

Never even thought about a cycling helmet as part of the diving gear (which for me is just a mask) what a great idea

Halfords next weekend I think!!

Tom /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Piers]

Make sure you have some holes in the helmet to prevent buoyancy pulling you up to the hull!

 

[Twister_Ken]

I was thinking the same - as a bikeyhat is full of expanded Polly Styrene (God, I loved that girl) I don't reckon you'd get down as far as the prop.

 

[Sultans_Kapitein]

You surprise me Tom,
I thought that 'Little Ship' was fully appointed with all necessary (and some unnecessary) safety equipment. I would have thought you would have at least included a 'Rat Hat' (Kirby Morgan fibreglass divers helmet) in your stores !

Mal /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Look here for those who are curious

 

[brianhumber]

Re: Channel debris - Plastic Sheeting Nasties

In the 15 years of owning my yacht I have had the pleasant (not) exprience of a fleece and a big heavy rubber sheet getting wound around the shaft forward of the p bracket on both occasions. The friction melted the damm things and somehow they pulled the rubber bearing out of the cutlass shell each time - prop was not tangled up however.

Makes me rather wary of motoring at overnight. In fact I have a special boarding ladder arrangement so I can mount the tender outboard motor on it which is my last resort get out of the poo, ships in shipping channels device. ( 3.5hp gives 3/4 knots in calm conditions.)

Brian

 

[Oldhand]

If I remeber correctly, the more northern boat, just a mile north of the shipping lanes, was a chartered 37 footer with at least 6 people onboard. I guess the CG felt there were plenty of crew to assist with the skipper going overboard to try and clear the prop. This was only partially successful and they eventually got sufficient wind to sail to the Solent, after turning down the offer of a tow, and later got a tow into Cowes as there was excessive vibration when they tried to use their own engine.

The southern boat was, if remenber correctly, crewed only by a husband and wife team, which, I guess, was not a good situation for somebody going over the side to try and clear the prop. I didn't note their position as they were too far behind me to assist, but I don't think they had reached the shipping lanes and were probably thus considered in less danger than the northern yacht.

The CG assumed the forecast wind would appear and that both vessels could eventually sail. The wind did fill in from the SE at 14 to 16kt but I didn't listen to what happened to the southern yacht, which I would have thought had the option of a shorter sail to Cherbourg, rather than crossing the shipping lanes, with an east going flood commencing around 16:00 to assist progress to windward.