Emergency? a lesson that may help some one day

[Happy1]

I was out last night with my boat and some friends donuting, we were quite a way down the river Medway with the tide heading out fast to a very low one. Whilst one of the guys was getting into the donut all power failed on the boat, I did some checks, kill cord, battery terminals, but everything dead. We were drifting with the current quite fast, there was a container ship anchored that we were heading towards. I got the battery booster out, attached it, but nothing. I had to act quick, we got all the gear in, I got out the spare engine, attached it to the bracket, and started it up, brilliant we were now able to steer and were moving against the current, we had control back, although slow. Now we were under control I started to look further for the fault, I started at the battery to work my way forwards, it was then that I realised that the key in the battery cut out had been knocked only slightly by someones foot!!!! that had been enough to cut all power. I turned the switch to on, and all power returned. A lesson learnt!! Anyway my own sea start /forums/images/icons/wink.gif It's amazing what you can do when you have to sort things yourself /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I know that this was something that I should have checked first, but I have learned the hardish way. It was good test for my back up system that worked as planned. I hope that someone else on here may learn from this and save a few missed heartbeats one day /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Moose]

Pete, Have you not destroyed your alternator regulator by switching it off when the engine is running?

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El Alce

 

[jimi]

Why did'nt you chuch out your anchor and give yourself some time?

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

ok, here is another.

Last Saturday I had an engine fire, ho hum. The starter cable attached to the solenoid broke on the copper loop. I built it when I installed the cables. By the position of my engines, under cockpit floor and my battery switches; inside port and stbd lockers the cables were dropping onto the engine from above, this I did purposely to keep them tidy and out of harms way, or so I thought.

Obviously after 18 months since engine commission, this particular joint has become fatigued and work hardened due to engine vibration and snapped where the crimped end changed from cylindrical to flat plate. It then arc welded itself to the top of the solenoid housing causing the insulation to catch fire. I killed the electrical power, the engine had just been stopped as we were sailing.

When I checked after battery switch killed there was still flames inside, lots of smoke. I put it out immediately with a dry powder extinguisher, damn effective to be honest.

It took the rest of the day to clean the dust from everywhere on board; dry powder really does go everywhere. One thing that did frighten me; straight after I had extinguished the fire it was nearly impossible to go below and check everything was out in the engine room as the powder in the air made it impossible to breath, so quick jaunts below with damp towel covering my mouth was in order.

I suggest everyone might like to check their connections as this does seem an easy fault to occur, I have checked my stbd engine cables and they look fine, it may have been a fault in the metal on production. Everything is now fixed, but it is something I will check regularly in future.


<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/Honda_00.html>Honda Formula 4-Stroke racing</A>

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I was wondering that, the anchor is probably your best piece of safety equipment on board.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/Honda_00.html>Honda Formula 4-Stroke racing</A>

 

[Happy1]

Well it was working today, but I take in what you have said. Perhaps a different spot for the battery key would be an option.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Happy1]

Jimi, re the anchor, I also thought of that, but we were in quite deep water, although I have enough rope and chain to anchor. We had loads of room as we were in a big area that we donut in, it was the speed of the tide that was the concern, but the whole saga took only a couple of minutes at the most. The spare is always fuelled up so it was only the time to screw it to the bracket and pull the starting cord.

In fact talking about lessons, I had to deploy the anchor the night before when the ski rope got tangled in the prop as my son who was on the water skis about to start asked for a bit of slack. The rope should float, but for some reason it got caught. Luckily my son is a diver and after kicking off the skis had it released in a couple of minutes, there was no damage to it or the prop. Again there was a strong current and immediately deployed the anchor while he was getting his skis off.

I guess that it is these little experiences that test your research. I have learned a lot about others problems and experiences on this forum, it does help when you have one similar /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I have used those as a base for my plans, but I am sure I will get one one day that will test me to the limit, one I was not prepared for /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Alistairr]

As a matter of interest Pete, How much anchor chain and line did you get with your boat?

As you know my boat is 25' long weighs about 2t. The chain the dealer supplied with it was only 1.5mtrs long!!!! Not enough i think.

Did you have to go out and buy more chain as i did yesterday.

I bought 10m of chain to go with the 20m of line that they supplied, does the forum think thats enough?????
I was concerned with how much it weighed, so thought 10m would be sufficient.

How much chain does everyone else have?

Cheers,

Alistair..



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>

Petrol Rules..

 

[Happy1]

I have 3mtrs of chain and 50 mtrs of rope. I was given much less, but had asked fir more, they eventually agreed to change it. Normaly I let out 3x the depth I am in, and have not had a problem apart from having no bow roller which is a pain. I have had two fairleads fitted to the bow as well which are handy. The RNLI recommended them should I ever need to be towed, I would have thought the bow U bolt would have been the strongest place to tow from, plus it would raise the bow a little, depends on who or what is towing you I guess.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Alistairr]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a fairlead?


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>

Petrol Rules..

 

[Happy1]

It is the fixing that goes either side of the bow and guides the anchor rope. My boat had nothing, so the rope would swing from one side th ethe other in windy conditions, the fairlead holds it in one position on the bow of the boat. The fairleads are also useful when mooring in certain circumstances e.g. unusual mooring position or rafting. May be other reasons, but I am just in experienced and useless, and don't know anything having only done 200 hrs this season /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Perhaps I would know more if I sat with a cup of tea and a scone on my boat on a mooring bitching about other boaters and starting gossip, with little or no safety gear, never went out unless conditions were 100% perfect, and when I did trundled down a river or out to sea or along a coast for a mile and then went back, and had engines that only got used for 10 hrs a year /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Dave_Snelson]

A similar incident happened to me a couple of years ago. Pounding along through rough seas my (then) Merc 90 died - nothing!! After a couple of frantic minutes, I found that the cork float ball attached to the ignition key had been bouncing up and down with the boat and had knocked the kill switch to the off position.

Solution - shorten the rope on the cork ball.

I won't say anchor because a) its been done to death here and b) I'm not a hypocrite, I forgot to use mine!

Scary innit

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[Happy1]

I tell you what Dave, it certainly makes you realise how important it is to fully understand your systems and equipment. I know of others who have failed to even check the killcord and have been towed back!! I am no engineer, but if you can stay calm and follow a bit of logic, then you may find the problem. I sincerely hope that some others will share any of their experiences as you me and some others have, it is these that may jog a forum members memory one day if they were unfortunate to have a similar problem.

I can't stress how important it is to know what you have on board, where it is, and to ensure it is in a serviceable condition. Salt water can be a killer, don't expect things to stay as new in these conditions, a bit of TLC or a check up now and again is good for that bit of equipment and you to know where it is and that it works. I spent many years in the forces wher my life depended on my equipment, I am lucky to be able to make very quick and calm desicions, but that only comes with knowledge of the kit and it's capabilities. For example, how many people have enough rope on their boat for most eventualities AND know where it is AND know it is not tangled up with other stuff AND ready for deployment if required?

So any hints would be welcome no matter how small or silly you think they may be, that small or silly thing could become massive and serious in the wrong conditions out at sea alone /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[ccscott49]

Why is the master switch positioned in such a way, somebody may inadvertenetly switch it off with their foot?

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[gtmoore]

Julian

There was a post on one of the forums some months ago telling the story of a boat that had caught fire due to a battery cable shorting on an engine bearer. The poster mentioned that had the cables from the batteries been fused then the fire wouldn't have started. It made me think a bit so I had some leads made and fitted an 150A "Mega" type fuse inline to each battery. I also put smaller fuses into the fusebox feeds while I was there. Might be something worth considering.


<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[Happy1]

I have two rear seats at each side of the engine bay, these seats can be removed to give more room. The battery cut off switch is under one of those seats, so when the seat is removed it leaves it exposed at foot level. As my friend has been climbing over the rear bathing cushion to get onto the bathing platform, he must have knocked it slightly, but that was enought to cut the power. It certainly makes you understand what it is like to be totally dead in the water /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I was in a very wide area of the river some 4-500mtrs across, so I had that little bit of time to make desicions, I did some basic checks with no joy, then decided to deploy the spare engine which would give us some control, this was done within about two minutes, I was then able to look for the problem which luckily I found. I guess that if sea start had been in my area and I was a member they would have had a call, but it does show that with a bit of thought 'some' things can be sorted out.

I must say that the spare engine gave so much peace of mind, and did the job required of it for it's weight and size. It gives me just over 3.3 knots, which seems like you are flying along after having nothing /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif I can't really express the relief of having a motor of some sort going on the boat at tha time /forums/images/icons/wink.gif A good test of the equipment though, and a lesson learned.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[MainlySteam]

Julian, are your engines (which I am assuming are diesels) of the type with the dc negative insulated from them ie the sensor bodies, starter and alternator frames, etc are all isolated from the negative? Just curious if a fire as you describe could start under those circumstances.

John

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[longjohnsilver]

200 Hours?!

Is that the total time spent on the boat or the engine hours, if the latter where do you find the time to post here?

Oh and fairleads are not just for bits of rope at the front of the boat, they are often anywhere near a cleat, I've got some at the arse end of my boat.
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[Chris_d]

Thanks for the hint Happy, but surely the kill switch was obvious or maybe not!

I was once on large Nelson type research vessel moored at Ramsgate, I was departing shorewards and the profesional skipper, and old salt of 40years experience was preparing for sea.
As i was off loading my gear, the engines were being cranked over and over for a long period of time and the batteries were clearly taking a hammering. I looked at the skipper to wave good bye, but his bearded face was looking anxious and confused instead of his normaly calm demeanour .
"Push the decompression levers back in you old fart" i said jokingly, hoping to defuse the situation a little, he looked at me angrily, fumbled around briefly and then disappeared in cloud of black smoke as the engines roared into life,
" f****** smart arse" I think was the polite retort....

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[Happy1]

Re: 200 Hours?!

I post from my PDA, in English that is a hand held computer and phone (a P800). I use it on the boat to work and keep an eye on any tips that come up on here. I can also work using my laptop with modem which plugs into the ciggie lighter using a Vanson power regulated adapter.

What! you mean you are in an office now in this lovely weather /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif I think Oldgit and Canboria will vouch for my usage /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I always see them out and about when I am doing my training and emergency practice drills /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>