Scuttling to safety!

[jimi]

Would you scuttle you yacht if you decided to abandon mid - Atlantic?

 

[sailorman]

Would you scuttle you yacht if you decided to abandon mid - Atlantic?

Guess thats better than her drifting around with a cone up

 

[Sans Bateau]

No point in me scuttling, it would have to be the petrol and flare option, and yes I would.

 

[emsworthy]

might be worth having a "what if" conversation with your insurer before the trip.

 

[fireball]

It would have to depend on the circumstances - if she was likely to stay afloat and was of a value that could be economically salvaged then possibly not ...
If crossing in a AWB then the keel is likely to have fallen off and taken the decision from me!

 

[Bishop Terrorchoke]

What about the environment?

We are usually quite picky about what we consider acceptable to throw overboard. Some people don't even like banana peels, and of course none of us would ever throw used engine oil etc overboard, even in mid-Atlantic. When you scuttle your yacht you are throwing the entire boat overboard. Surely it would be better to let it wash ashore in the Caribbean where it may conceivably be of use to someone?

Let's face it, it is only likely to be a danger to other yachts, it's not much of a hazard to shipping really.

Bishop T

 

[Kilter]

I answered yes because that's what I'd do but unless the boat was sinking under me I'd be unlikely to abandon. Too many people have been too quick to abandon, often to their detriment.

 

[jimi]

I answered yes because that's what I'd do but unless the boat was sinking under me I'd be unlikely to abandon. Too many people have been too quick to abandon, often to their detriment.

That's my feelings, I'd be a bit unhappy with myself if I did'nt and another boat disappeared in the area cos I could never be sure that collision with my abandoned vessel was not the cause. Not a high probability but sh!t happens

 

[ChrisE]

That's my feelings, I'd be a bit unhappy with myself if I did'nt and another boat disappeared in the area cos I could never be sure that collision with my abandoned vessel was not the cause. Not a high probability but sh!t happens

S'all right jim, you leave your lump of frozen snot afloat, if my lump of thicker frozen snot hit the hull your lump will sink anyway. I'll only charge you a small fee for the service.

BTW, I agree with you.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If somebody else hits it, they weren't keeping a proper lookout. Case proven. Not your fault. Next!

 

[xxyyzz]

There's not many cases where you get the option.

The only one I've heard of was in the ARC one year the skipper (and owner) became ill and had to be evacuated to another entrant, the crew deciding they couldn't carry on also abandoned.

I don't think they scuttled her though.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

If somebody else hits it, they weren't keeping a proper lookout. Case proven. Not your fault. Next!

So, a mostly submerged yacht abandoned and 'afloat' when hit in the dark, takes off one of those little keels on an Ocean going racer ..... whose 'fault' is that ?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Not keeping a proper lookout.

But what's all this about a mostly submerged yacht? They either float or sink (unless an Etap or similar).

Of course, all multihulls should be sunk, whether abandoned or not.

 

[monkfish24]

I think the question is slightly ambiguous. The fact that wether your leaving the boat or staying it is always the largest physical asset you have.

You always have the painter tied to the boat, it's practiced quite commonly and it's always the last thing to be removed from the boat. You'll be relieved you did if the yacht is still managing to stay afloat.

If as said your yacht is half floating then i would still have the liferaft attached to it as it presents such a massive target for a searching aircraft to spot.

So no, i woldn't scuttle a yach mid Atlantic.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I doubt if many yachts would go right to the bottom but would lay somewhere around the surface.
I've often wondered what would happen if the liferaft were inflated inside a small yacht if she wasthought to be about to go down.... would there be enough bouyancy to keep her at the surface?
I'm not sure if i would tie my liferaft to the possibly sinking yacht or not. In a real blow with big waves you may get thrown against it or in Kens 'sinker' you may be pullled down with it.
Also remember to step up into the liferaft if you ever have that sinking feeling but overall surely the Fastnet taught us to stay with our boat and seal ourselves in?
I guess if you'r miles from anywhere and have been picked up by another vessel when all else has failed and a tow is out of the question, then the most responsible thing may be to scuttle, but as said.... what would your insurance co. point of view be?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Sensible yachts have got tons of lead bolted to the bottom. Less sensible ones have got tons of cast iron. Once they're awash, they ain't gonna stay on the surface.

As to tying a painter from the raft to the yacht, and the yacht then sinking, that's why rafts have knives strapped next to the entrance, right by the painter attachment.

Inflating a raft inside the boat? Maybe, but also maybe the raft would destroy the coachroof and the whole shooting match would then sink, punctured boat, punctured raft; foolish skipper suddenly takes up long distance swimming.

 

[blackdogsailing]

I was dismasted mid atlantic when sailing single handed from Bermuda to The Azores. Sods law, it was exactly halfway ! No engine, and only a spinnaker pole to attach some jury rig to. I drifted around for 8 days before rescue ( no epirb ). Tried the sailing bit, averaged about 15 miles a day max. Did all the calculations regarding food, water etc. and came to the conclusion that there was no way I could make it on my own. I was all prepared to abandon the boat and was going to open all the seacocks to sink her when along came an Indian containership and they lifted me and the boat onto the deck with the crane !! Was then taken to Rotterdam !
Anyway, point of story, boat was afloat and not taking in water but I still made the descision to abandon. It was not insured by the way.

Chris

 

[fireball]

Sensible yachts have got tons of lead bolted to the bottom. Less sensible ones have got tons of cast iron.

Hmm ... what weighs more - a ton of lead or a ton of cast iron?

 

[Ludd]

Hmm ... what weighs more - a ton of lead or a ton of cast iron?

Far better with a ton of polystyrene---won't sink then,see!

Used to be an airbag system available which made the boat unsinkable when inflated.

 

[sailorman]

Far better with a ton of polystyrene---won't sink then,see!

Used to be an airbag system available which made the boat unsinkable when inflated.

Its now called An Etap Tom