Mayday Mayday Mayday

[Graham_Wright]

Whatever the story truth, there were some important lessons to be learned.

I have just had a leaky sounder transducer - just a weep but it could have sunk the boat. The log, the depth sounder and the fish finder transducer are all in the heads sump. The heads bilge pump fired up every 22 minutes and ran for about one minute. It discharges high through the hull (or optionally into the black water tank). The leak resulted in a night without sleep.

I have a fear of hitting a container (probably in the night) and any damage would probably occur in the sail locker. This has its own bilge pump and float switch. The normal duty would be to clear the locker from wet sails run-off. There is also a two way blower to help dry out the sails and locker. This locker is sealed to around one foot above the normal water line. The bilge pump discharges into the chain locker.

The saloon has no through-hulls but flexible water tanks which hinder inspection. It has an auto bilge pump.

The cooker sits over a sump which (hopefully) would catch any gas spillage. The sump contains the sensor which needs to be kept dry. Any water or gas would be removed with a Whale Gulper (which is not auto). There is a two-way blower in this area also.

The engine room has an auto bilge pump.

The oilier locker has a non-auto bilge pump.

The galley sink drains into a grey water area which is the deep cockpit locker. This has an auto bilge pump.

The kedge anchor chain drops into a bin which drains into the skeg. This has an auto bilge pump.

There is also a manual pump with a selector valve routeing from the heads sump or the saloon. It exhausts to the chain locker.

There is another manual pump yet to be fitted valved to the saloon or engine space and located in the cockpit.

Inherent in the accommodation layout are watertight compartments. The height of these can be increased by fitting sealing panels.

I thought I was suffering extreme paranoia but, after watching that video, perhaps not.

All but the forrard pumps discharge into a high level drain dropping to low on the transom.

I wonder if they consider running up the beach? Probably single keel which would rule it out. I recall Tim Honnor (of Honnor Marine) did run his boat aground which saved his life and that of the boat.

Now brace for the "ridiculous" comments.:ambivalence:

 

[capnsensible]

For those who have yet to enjoy the adventures of an unidentified flood into a yacht, lets say in the dark, near gale, Gulf of Cadiz, please be assured that it significantly increases mental alertness and renders the instruction to 'pump vigorusly' somewhat superfuous......:nonchalance:

 

[Corribee Boy]

Bear in mind that most of these fittings are a kind of spun nylon and very strong. And that in this case the fitting did not fail. The fault was clearly human error.

Maybe not in this case, but it can happen: I noticed a slight weep around the log flange and tightened it by hand. It completely snapped: luckily I was parked on my bilge keels on a convenient sandbank. Butyl tape, a plywood disc, a bolt, and an unscheduled paddle around as the tide rose, were the worst things I had to contend with but it still wasn't fun.

 

[tudorsailor]

the sail locker. This has its own bilge pump and float switch.


The saloon has no through-hulls but.....It has an auto bilge pump.

The cooker sits over a sump ... a Whale Gulper (which is not auto). There is a two-way blower in this area also.

The engine room has an auto bilge pump.

The oilier locker has a non-auto bilge pump.

The galley sink drains into a grey water area...This has an auto bilge pump.

The kedge anchor chain drops into a bin which drains into the skeg. This has an auto bilge pump.

There is also a manual pump with a selector valve routeing from the heads sump or the saloon. It exhausts to the chain locker.

There is another manual pump yet to be fitted valved to the saloon or engine space and located in the cockpit.

Am i right in counting 7 bilge pumps in total?. Wow!

TS

 

[dom]

Am i right in counting 7 bilge pumps in total?. Wow!

TS

I also have 7

1x regular bilge pump, 1x back-up manual thingy, 1x fast emergency pump,

...okay this is where it gets flaky: 2x shower drain pumps, 1 x fridge/freezer defrost pump, and another if I pull the engine water intake off and use it to drain a teeny bit more

 

[Graham_Wright]

Am i right in counting 7 bilge pumps in total?. Wow!

TS

You're right - but I missed one! In the heads.

(+2 manual).

With divided compartments, there is little choice. Traditionally, there would be limber holes but then you lose the security of "watertight" compartments.

Another important tip from the video is the audio alarm. Very good point.

 

[steveeasy]

Bear in mind that most of these fittings are a kind of spun nylon and very strong. And that in this case the fitting did not fail. The fault was clearly human error.

The fittings are really strong, but I seam to remember watching someone knocking one off with a single tap of a hammer. Ive a couple in lockers and could quite easily knock one. After watching this ill be far more careful and will remove old transducers a lot sooner now.

Steveeasy

 

[Corribee Boy]

The fittings are really strong, but I seam to remember watching someone knocking one off with a single tap of a hammer. Ive a couple in lockers and could quite easily knock one. After watching this ill be far more careful and will remove old transducers a lot sooner now.

Steveeasy

I believe the material of the tube can be affected by the type of sealant used, making it prone to breakage.

 

[tudorsailor]

I also have 7

1x regular bilge pump, 1x back-up manual thingy, 1x fast emergency pump,

...okay this is where it gets flaky: 2x shower drain pumps, 1 x fridge/freezer defrost pump, and another if I pull the engine water intake off and use it to drain a teeny bit more

OK - not really bilge pumps, but all useful for getting water out of the boat. In that case I have 1 standard electric bilge pump and 1 high capacity high level bilge pump. I also have a manual pump operated from on deck. In addition, I have two shower/sink pumps, a galley sink pump and an electric toilet. So that makes it 7 for me too!! I do not have water tight compartments so all water will end up in the main bilge where the little and the big pump take up.

The high capacity pump is hard wired and cannot be turned off. It also has a really loud siren!

TS

 

[NormanB]

I'm interested (honestly: no implied criticism) in how you came to be watching this. They're pretty ordinary looking, averagely engaging, they're choosing to motor directly into 20 knots of wind even though they've only got 10 miles to go and no apparent time pressure. All fair enough, they're normal people but that video has had *14000* views. And people are obviously giving them money to make these. How did you come to be watching this in the first place?

There's a difference between trying to get somewhere in the Bristol channel with a foul tide, wind on the nose and work the next day and trying to get somewhere in the Bahamas with less than a metre tidal range and no job but that's not the point: I didn't say they were bad I implied they were ordinary. Normally you watch a sailing video because you've been following the series and excitement of a log popping out in this episode notwithstanding....why would someone be watching this series? This *isn't a criticism of folk finding this engaging*. I just want to know why because currently my best plan to make money to finance sailing involves investing £2k in a fursuit and I don't know how I'm going to tie a bowline with foxwolf paws.

I can understand watching a sailing channel because:
- they're glamorous and you want to be them
- they're sailing purists with some complicated rig and no engine and you admire them
- they're adorable goofballs who have no clue but somehow muddle through and make you feel good
- they're much better sailors than you and you learn stuff
- they're funny (e.g. hilarious old curmudgeon)

hmm...I'm probably thread drifting...maybe I should start a separate thread for this...

You do not cause me offence at all.
I subscribe to quite a few Sailing and related channels but not this one and the ‘algorithm’ served it up and I looked at it.
Now this is where I clearly differ from you (no offence) - I thought there were some good learning points to be had and so shared it on this forum so others could potentially benefit.
However learning points are lost on some (no offence) who seem more interested in how much money the channel may be earning (answer apart from 2 Sailing channels the answer is not very much to bugger all), or that the event is not real at all and the couple deliberately flooded their boat (and home) and stage managed and filmed it to generate you tube views and money.

 

[NormanB]

For those who have yet to enjoy the adventures of an unidentified flood into a yacht, lets say in the dark, near gale, Gulf of Cadiz, please be assured that it significantly increases mental alertness and renders the instruction to 'pump vigorusly' somewhat superfuous......:nonchalance:

That is a situation when finding the source of the inrush is a relief (relatively speaking).

 

[capnsensible]

With bells on!

 

[chewi]

Bear in mind that most of these fittings are a kind of spun nylon and very strong. And that in this case the fitting did not fail. The fault was clearly human error.

mine sheared off at the hull line while i turned it to line up fore/aft.

I plugged it with a tapered bung hammered in using the starting handle.

 

[chrishscorp]

Having looked at that video, they obviously didnt have the same surveyor I did, I was asked to glass the tube and the flange nut to the hull, before it went back in the water.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Having looked at that video, they obviously didnt have the same surveyor I did, I was asked to glass the tube and the flange nut to the hull, before it went back in the water.

Err………………this was a log was it not? The nut and the tube apparently stayed in place. The retractible (for cleaning) impeller tube was what came adrift.

 

[chrishscorp]

Err………………this was a log was it not? The nut and the tube apparently stayed in place. The retractible (for cleaning) impeller tube was what came adrift.

Indeed, the point i make is that even if it dosent work, you cant just ignore it, its a potential hole in the hull .

I am surprised the log body 'popped' out, mine takes quite some extracting

 

[C08]

Indeed, the point i make is that even if it dosent work, you cant just ignore it, its a potential hole in the hull .

I am surprised the log body 'popped' out, mine takes quite some extracting

I had planned to take out my old NASA log which constantly fouled up. Hauled out at the boatyard I was stunned to find it had been leaking into the boat. It had cracked just behind the outer flange. It was 12 years in situ. It was glassed in as per recommendations but just came apart when I pulled at it by hand. I glassed up the hole so that is one worry less now!

 

[Malo37]

Very strange video. The person bailing from the cabin seems very relaxed in the speed of her work, at one stage messing around slowly pouring her bucket of water into the sink. Somebody else casually making a video and sailing the boat along with 2 feet of water in the cabin. It's as set up in my view. Somebody in an old boat trying to get viewer numbers, and revenue, up.

 

[capnsensible]

Very strange video. The person bailing from the cabin seems very relaxed in the speed of her work, at one stage messing around slowly pouring her bucket of water into the sink. Somebody else casually making a video and sailing the boat along with 2 feet of water in the cabin. It's as set up in my view. Somebody in an old boat trying to get viewer numbers, and revenue, up.

Looks bang on to me having experienced similar. You will be surprised how quickly you tire heaving buckets up to the cockpit and how much you spill if you dont take care. Same with the sink, pour it in too fast, it just overflows. Bet it took hours to shift the oggin.

I had several crew taking 15 minute goes on the hand pump, electric pump wrapped in. Heaving the buckets up , needed a break after around ten minutes. Took hours altogether.

Then I had to change the engine fuel filter.

In a near gale in the Gulf Of Cadiz, in the dark......and some of the crew vomming everywhere. :ambivalence:

As you do.

 

[webcraft]

Very strange video. The person bailing from the cabin seems very relaxed in the speed of her work, at one stage messing around slowly pouring her bucket of water into the sink. Somebody else casually making a video and sailing the boat along with 2 feet of water in the cabin. It's as set up in my view. Somebody in an old boat trying to get viewer numbers, and revenue, up.

Idiotic statement.

(And I speak as someone who has watched Lady K's voyages since they left the Great Lakes)

- W