'Lost all power, can't even put the anchor down !'

[superheat6k]

A 40-45' Flybridge cruiser had to hail for assistance off Solent Breezes around 1.30. A nearby boat went to assist and called it in to Solent CG. Apparently they had lost all power and couldn't even lower the anchor. At the time they were around a mile off the shore. Fortunately the wind was light, and mostly parallel to the shore.

It is simple things like the inability to get the anchor down without power that bolsters the need for proper training, trouble is every incidence like this brings closer the day when we are all fully regimented in our boating.

Hamble lifeboat came out to tow them back in.

Clearly the VHF didn't work either, and apparently no hand held back up for that either. Wonder if they had flares.

I passed it later on its way in under tow and it was a modern boat. Didn't get close enough to spot the model or name.

 

[vas]

regarding dropping anchor, couldn't they simply release the gypsy and let the anchor freefall? Then you simply tighten the gypsy again, secure the chain and you're ok waiting for help or figuring out what happened (as it should be something fairly simple and bold to loose all power everywhere)

V.

 

[omega2]

regarding dropping anchor, couldn't they simply release the gypsy and let the anchor freefall? Then you simply tighten the gypsy again, secure the chain and you're ok waiting for help or figuring out what happened (as it should be something fairly simple and bold to loose all power everywhere)

V.

THATS A BIT TECHY for most LOL

 

[rbcoomer]

Someone posted a video clip of a sportscruiser getting smashed up in Italy a few weeks back - I think one guy sadly suffered a fatal heart attack. It looked to me a very similar problem - I watched it twice thinking 'Anchor, Drop the anchor'. They were quite a way out when they clearly lost power. I assumed panic had set in and clouded judgement, but perhaps they simply couldn't release or didn't understand how to? Seems kind of basic stuff you'd want to check/understand to me - but perhaps I'm too paranoid. (Also explains why we're always overloaded with loads of precautionary kit )

 

[Bilgediver]

regarding dropping anchor, couldn't they simply release the gypsy and let the anchor freefall? Then you simply tighten the gypsy again, secure the chain and you're ok waiting for help or figuring out what happened (as it should be something fairly simple and bold to loose all power everywhere)

V.

Sometimes the anchor will not freefall till it has been lowered a wee bit first

 

[grumpy_o_g]

They probably could but would it be better to drop the anchor knowing you couldn't get the thing up again? It's not the quietest stretch of water and there's a lee shore in every direction just about. The only option once it was down could be to let it go and then drift.

You could argue that they should be able to manually retrieve it and that they should carry a kedge but if, someone was going to assist I'd accept the help and made sure someone called the Coastguard/VTS to let them know what was going on rather than drop the anchor with no power. Is that a fair call?

 

[rbcoomer]

They probably could but would it be better to drop the anchor knowing you couldn't get the thing up again? It's not the quietest stretch of water and there's a lee shore in every direction just about. The only option once it was down could be to let it go and then drift.

You could argue that they should be able to manually retrieve it and that they should carry a kedge but if, someone was going to assist I'd accept the help and made sure someone called the Coastguard/VTS to let them know what was going on rather than drop the anchor with no power. Is that a fair call?

Surely drifting with no power is problem enough? These things can escalate quickly with a snowball effect of problems. Dropping anchor would be my first action I must admit! There are two possible outcomes: 1) power can be restored (raising the anchor wouldn't be a problem) or 2) assistance arrives and could either assist raising anchor or attach a warp to a buoy and cut loose for later recovery. Even a lost anchor/chain is cheap compared to lost boat and or crew?

 

[paultallett]

A very similar problem hit us when we first started boating, but a little bit of basic knowledge (like how to work the winch manually) saved the day without needing assistance whilst I got it sorted.

I see it as my duty to my family to have this knowledge and try to keep them safe. I know there's lots to learn and I'm sure I haven't scratched the surface yet, but I really do think that when you slip your berth you become as self sufficient as you can be.............

But also know when to call for help so a problem doesn't become a tragity. We can all judge I guess but no harm done and people were safe. Hopefully it'll be the nudge the skipper needs to get the right training now.

 

[Jr7710]

Surely it's better to dump the anchor out, get the boat safe (of course you don't need power to dump it out!!), and if you can't get it up, leave it there with a nice big fender on a rope to the chane to mark it. I'd rather pick it up later than drift into trouble!!!

 

[planteater]

The age and fitness of the people involved could be a factor.
Manhandling anchors for a 45'er could get a bit energetic.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

They probably could but would it be better to drop the anchor knowing you couldn't get the thing up again? It's not the quietest stretch of water and there's a lee shore in every direction just about. The only option once it was down could be to let it go and then drift.

You could argue that they should be able to manually retrieve it and that they should carry a kedge but if, someone was going to assist I'd accept the help and made sure someone called the Coastguard/VTS to let them know what was going on rather than drop the anchor with no power. Is that a fair call?

No argument in it. Any windlass should work manually by hand cranking or even by man-handling the chain without the windlass (if the boat is not too big).

 

[BlueSkyNick]

The age and fitness of the people involved could be a factor.
Manhandling anchors for a 45'er could get a bit energetic.

Fair point, but some fit and healthy people are just too idle to practice doing things without using machinery.

 

[halcyon]

Fair point, but some fit and healthy people are just too idle to practice doing things without using machinery.

Surly it's the modern way of boating, no different to I don't have paper charts because I rely on the chart plotter, next generation says what are paper charts ?. It may be that he never had to lower an anchor by hand, or owned a boat that did not have power winch, so manual operation does not become an option.

Do all owners that have fly by wire boats have contingency plans for system failure, do all the people with electronic navigation have reserve power supply, should they loose main battery power ? What are your plans for total power failure mid Channel, not just of shore in mobile phone range.

Brian

 

[penfold]

It's a pretty basic safety precaution to put the anchor out in the event of a power failure in commercial vessels when in coastal waters; a few months ago the tallship Astrid went aground off Kinsale after a propulsion failure with both anchors still in the hawsepipes, she foundered but had the anchors been run out immediately she may well have been saved.

 

[prv]

Sometimes the anchor will not freefall till it has been lowered a wee bit first

So pull a foot of chain through the windlass by hand, then. I can't imagine a 45 foot planing motorboat, especially one apparently crewed by ignorami, is going to have much over 20kg on the bow and that's easily controllable by hand.

Pete

 

[prv]

What are your plans for total power failure mid Channel, not just of shore in mobile phone range.

A 20Ah gel battery stowed in a locker, and an assortment of wires and terminals to bridge vital navigation and communication circuits over to use it.

And the day to day handheld VHF, the handheld VHF in the grab bag, and a sealed metal box containing a handheld GPS, a portable depth sounder, and a couple of dozen AA batteries to run them off.

And sails

Pete

 

[halcyon]

A 20Ah gel battery stowed in a locker, and an assortment of wires and terminals to bridge vital navigation and communication circuits over to use it.

And the day to day handheld VHF, the handheld VHF in the grab bag, and a sealed metal box containing a handheld GPS, a portable depth sounder, and a couple of dozen AA batteries to run them off.

And sails

Pete

Sails are cheating, it's a mobo forum

But why wait for power failure ? why not have the gell battery in circuit and on charge, you might have other pressing problems than trying to wire up the VHF.

Brian

 

[prv]

But why wait for power failure ? why not have the gell battery in circuit and on charge

Sure, and why doesn't my employer keep the weekly backup tapes on site, it would be much more convenient

I don't really understand what's supposed to cause this unexpected loss of all power. Flattening the domestic battery, sure, but then the answer is to fire up the engine (from its separate starter battery) and recharge. If both are suddenly flat/damaged/flooded then something weird is going on and my backup is better off well out of it.

(I was originally going to buy a porta-power, but the price difference for basically the same battery plus a bulky plastic case and a pair of short jump-leads wasn't worth it. I put the battery in a Tescos packed-lunch coolbag with the wires in the front pocket )

Pete

 

[halcyon]

Sure, and why doesn't my employer keep the weekly backup tapes on site, it would be much more convenient

I don't really understand what's supposed to cause this unexpected loss of all power. Flattening the domestic battery, sure, but then the answer is to fire up the engine (from its separate starter battery) and recharge. If both are suddenly flat/damaged/flooded then something weird is going on and my backup is better off well out of it.

(I was originally going to buy a porta-power, but the price difference for basically the same battery plus a bulky plastic case and a pair of short jump-leads wasn't worth it. I put the battery in a Tescos packed-lunch coolbag with the wires in the front pocket )

Pete

But that's why there call emergencies, you don't get a warning

Brian

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

It is simple things like the inability to get the anchor down without power that bolsters the need for proper training

Mmm, I'm not sure that any kind of training is a substitute for common sense. Surely, once in a while, every sensible boater thinks about what he/she would do if his/her anchor winch failed and they had to drop the anchor in a hurry. Sounds like these guys panicked and common sense went out of the window. Anyway, let's not be too judgemental as we've all done things on our boat which in hindsight we ought not to have done