Irrational fear of sinking?

Rivers & creeks

Rivers & creeks

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Does anyone else suffer from an irrational fear of their boat sinking when it's unattended? I go round closing seacocks that haven't spilled a drop but I still fear them spontaneously failing. I find it hard to have more than a week go by without a visit - just to check. We fitted an auto bilge pump with an alarm loud enough for half the marina to hear. I've even taken to giving the stern gland greaser a couple of turns before we leave "just in case".

Am I mad?
 
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I didn't use to worry about leaving the boat but since joining this forum I worry more and more and more .......
 
My loo seacocks have been open all winter with the boat in the water and I've lost no sleep over it. I did replace them last week though :)

How many boats do you know that have sunk whilst sitting in a marina. Pheonix of Hamble had a close call but that's the only one I've heard of. Relax.
 
I have seen the occasional unloved boat sitting pretty low in the water.
Presumably the staff eventually intervene, otherwise there'd be a sunk boat in every marina eventually. If you're switching off the seacocks you should be able to sleep soundly!
 
MoodySabre said:
My loo seacocks have been open all winter with the boat in the water and I've lost no sleep over it. I did replace them last week though :)

How many boats do you know that have sunk whilst sitting in a marina. Pheonix of Hamble had a close call but that's the only one I've heard of. Relax.
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A member of our club had a close call a couple of years ago. He went aboard one day just to fetch something off the boat to find water an inch deep over the cabin sole. :eek:

Cause was siphoning from the loo, no anti siphon fitted by the builders and he had never ever closed the seacocks.


Theory was that the wash from a passing ship had caused the initial siphon to start and then it's downhill all the way.

More recently a smack sank at her moorings off Pin Mill. Again a seacock left open, an unsecured battery fell off its mounting and snapped the hosetail off the seacock. It sank very fast.

20 years or so ago some friends had left their yacht on a mooring in the Stour during the winter, and it sank. When lifted it was found that a hose had come off an open seacock. Not certain why this should have happened and they had a long battle with the insurers who maintained that leaving seacocks open was gross negligence, they did pay up in the end however.

That is three that I know of, so perhaps not that rare?

PS we always close all ours when leaving the boat, except the cockpit drains as otherwise the rain would fill the cockpit.
 
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There's one sat on the bottom near Pin Mill/Levington, or has it been re-floated ? One almost sank in Shotley last year (or the year before), we arrived to see it very low in the water and the marina staff were pumping it out all day.

I always close all sea cocks before leaving the boat. Don't like the though that all it takes is a split hose to sink the boat. Other than that, don't really give a thought to her sinking when we're not there.
 
I think that fitting an electric bilge pump is a sign of irrational fear of sinking; all it will do is flatten the battery before you sink.

My boat's cockpit drains had not been closed for 33 years before I bought her - the previous owner had not known they were there!

(The exhaust outlet, a thoroughly electrolysed combination of galvanised iron, bronze and brass, located on the water line, without a seacock, did not withstand a good bash with a hammer...there but for the Grace of God...)
 
Damn. I thought I would get replies telling me not to be so paranoid. Now all I've got is more reasons to worry - you say an exhaust can flood the boat? I'm off now to hit mine with a hammer. What size is right though? Too small and it won't replicate real world damage, too big and I'm precipitating disaster :eek:
 
The Lazy Kipper said:
Does anyone else suffer from an irrational fear of their boat sinking when it's unattended? I go round closing seacocks that haven't spilled a drop but I still fear them spontaneously failing. I find it hard to have more than a week go by without a visit - just to check. We fitted an auto bilge pump with an alarm loud enough for half the marina to hear. I've even taken to giving the stern gland greaser a couple of turns before we leave "just in case".

Am I mad?
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Probably you are mad. But I have the same symptoms.

The first night onbard after a while away from the boat I ALWAYS dream that the boat sinks and I am paranoid about seacocks (and gas).
 
Having suffered getting the dreaded phone call to say "your boat has sunk" I have fitted an 2 electric bilge pumps with water witch auto sensors linked to an alarm system that will text me if a bilge pump runs.
This is great for my peace of mind.

The alarm came from Emm-tec.
You would be welcome to see the kit in operation if you see us around the East Coast in Sirenia.

I have no interest in the company apart form being a satisfied customer.
 
I had the embarassment of a loo siphoning incident, less said the better, but like you am not happy unless I check the boat weekly, not only for leakage but warps and fenders, security and whether dodgers or sail covers are coming loose.

I know the yard will report anything gross but they are not expected to lookout for small things like early chafe.

If there is anything security wise I would rather know than come down expecting to sail and discover a problem.

Even today when it is wet n windy have been down to check, maybe I would be more sanguine if I lived further than 15 mins drive away
 
The Lazy Kipper said:
Does anyone else suffer from an irrational fear of their boat sinking when it's unattended? I go round closing seacocks that haven't spilled a drop but I still fear them spontaneously failing. I find it hard to have more than a week go by without a visit - just to check. We fitted an auto bilge pump with an alarm loud enough for half the marina to hear. I've even taken to giving the stern gland greaser a couple of turns before we leave "just in case".

Am I mad?
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Not at the moment. She's ashore in her cradle. Mind you, with flood warnings issued I'd best go down and shut the seacocks (and let go the anchor :eek:)
 
Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean yer exhaust isn't out to get you:eek:
A healthy respect for the fallabilities of hoses, clamps, seacocks and seals sounds to me more Clever Kipper than lazy one:)
 
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