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

[prv]

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

Exactly - no warning to disconnect my backup before the overvoltage that destroys every other battery in the system, no warning that a diode failure means it's slowly discharging, etc. Backups have to be separate, otherwise they're not backups, just a small increase in capacity.

Pete

 

[Poignard]

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

Or, failing that, flake the chain out on the deck and let it run out from there.

When I bought my boat she had no windlass and an aft facing navel pipe so that was the only way to do it.

But, it's easy for us to pontificate from our swivel chairs. When you're out there surrounded by screaming children, hysterical women and nearby skippers shouting abuse and threats, it can sometimes be hard to think straight.

 

[prv]

When you're out there surrounded by screaming children, hysterical women and nearby skippers shouting abuse and threats, it can sometimes be hard to think straight.

Can definitely agree with that. I reckon not thinking of anchoring is understandable, if in your mind it's associated with stopping for lunch or going for a swim, rather than with holding crippled vessels off the rocks.

I can't imagine deciding to anchor but then being thwarted by lack of electrical power, even under stress, but I guess some people aren't very technical and if the button on the dashboard does nothing then that's that.

Pete

 

[superheat6k]

But, it's easy for us to pontificate from our swivel chairs. When you're out there surrounded by screaming children, hysterical women and nearby skippers shouting abuse and threats, it can sometimes be hard to think straight.

Fortunately the weather yesterday was fair, in fact about as good as it gets.

Look if you decide to take your sea-unaware family, friends, and especially kids, out to sea, then you take on the absolute onus for their safety. Then not knowing how to operate one of the most basic safety devices on the boat is simply unacceptable, regardless of how much panic, screaming etc is going on (IMHO of course).

I myself have experienced difficulties and I know how difficult it can be to decide to call a situation in, for want of avoiding embarrassment later. A few years ago I made a Coast Guard request south of Poole Bay when one injector pipe punctured and decided to squirt fuel all over the engine. Fortunately I was able to absorb the mist blast into some rag, and continue at low speed into Poole instead of on to Weymouth, with the engine still firing on 5 cylinders.

Having the Coast Guard alert to our situation, position and progress was very re- assuring. Still it was lifejackets on for everyone at that point (we operate a LJ on when on deck policy normally), along with having fire extinguishers, the flares, life raft and dinghy ready, along with route to the nearest beach also noted. No one panicked because the situation was under control and I explained why and what I was doing.

 

[Thepipdoc]

What use would chucking the anchor out be? The boat was a mile out!

 

[superheat6k]

What use would chucking the anchor out be? The boat was a mile out!

In about 3-4 m depth off a gently shelving shore. So would risk grounding after 1/4-1/2 mile drift closer in, by which time getting help close by would be too late. Ok likely no one would have been hurt, but the repair bill to the stern gear would be high.

 

[jac]

We were listening to radio conversation as well. The rescuer never mentioned that the casuality tried to anchor, just that they were going to raft to them and anchor until the lifeboat arrived. As someone else said, they were not in immediate danger so were presumably happy to drift until someone came along to rescue them. Did make me think though, we always use windlass to lower and raise the anchor. Does it still work in manual???

 

[superheat6k]

We were listening to radio conversation as well. The rescuer never mentioned that the casuality tried to anchor, just that they were going to raft to them and anchor until the lifeboat arrived. As someone else said, they were not in immediate danger so were presumably happy to drift until someone came along to rescue them. Did make me think though, we always use windlass to lower and raise the anchor. Does it still work in manual???

I heard him advise Solent CG they could not put the anchor down due to the complete loss of power, and remarked to my Daughter how stupid that was.

 

[l'escargot]

In about 3-4 m depth off a gently shelving shore. So would risk grounding after 1/4-1/2 mile drift closer in, by which time getting help close by would be too late. Ok likely no one would have been hurt, but the repair bill to the stern gear would be high.

Or a 1/4-1/2 mile drift further out would have put him in a main shipping channel amongst tankers, ferries & cruise ships...