SeaStart and then nearly a Mayday

[TwoStroke]

My fiancee's father and her sister's husband came up for the weekend, so we decided on a little trip from Brighton to Littlehampton on Saturday. Left late morning on the tide on a F3 - not too bad a trip, a little choppy but the boat coped admirally. We all got a bit wet - well managed to get everyone soaked for fun, but enjoyed ourselves. The worst part was the return trip.

Am now a member of SeaStart as the boat wouldn't start. One of the feeds to the starter didn't have any power. That was fixed (thanks SeaStart) and we then left about 18.00. It had picked up to a F4-F5, lots of feathering of the throttle, going against the tide and the wind. In some places it was going on a F6 - that was when the trouble started. Came off a large wave and some water came into the boat, behind the back of the rear seats and down into the engine bay. The engine startred spluttering and cut out. You then realise how vulnerable you are. So apart from the waves to contend with, we now had no power! Open engine up and clean the HT leads, she then fired up. What a relief. I really thought that I was going to have to do a MayDay call. I really didn't want to do that. On top of that the fuel guage was now reading less than half a tank.

It finally took us 1hr 40 mins to get back to Brighton. My hands are full of blisters from feathering the throttle and constantly using the steering wheel. My legs knackered from all the pounding.

My finacee's relatives had a whale of a time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I don't want to do something like that again for a while. It certainly showed my lack of experience - but learnt a hell of a lot. In at the deep end.

I suppose the lesson learnt is that with only 20hrs experience, the boat is more able than the captain... and I want a bigger boat! From what her relatives said, I handled the boat well and they felt very comfortable. They never at all thought they I had put them in any danger - even if I was thinking that my limits are being pushed. At least I know the boat and myself can handle that situation, it's just one that I don't wish to do for a while.

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Mayday?

Don't think it should be a Mayday for a breakdown unless life was at risk. Not a pleasant situation to find yourself in, maybe a pan pan but I'd just call up the CG to inform them of what's happening and they would undoubtedly ask for you to keep them updated.

Anyway, all's well that ends well.

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[duncan]

Re: forecasts

I was out Friday and really didn't believe the forecast given for inshpore waters..............it was however spot on and we had a very blustery day and an interesting return journey too!
I also ran west in the morning (in my case looking to tuck behind St Alban's head for some sheltered fishing) but I wouldn't have gone far if I had had family on board.

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[tcm]

Not sure that uyou showed a lack of experience - why so? Anyone would be concerned to say the least if the engine cut out. There are no super-dooper experienced mariners out there who say ah well, engine busted in the english channel, not to worry, heyho...

Note that you can fling the anchor out to stop the boat drifting onshore - but you had evidently routed offshore enough (and/or quick to a fix the thing ) not to have this be an issue, so that's good.

You might consider some ways of ensuring that if water comes on board it has a better way of escaping than through the engine hatch - making a better seal would also cut down on the noise. If you have had seawater on the engines then twould be an idea to give things a clean in there to avoid the dreaded rust developing, obviosuly be careful to discon batteries and shorepower.

Finally, if water cam inthe back, was the sea following? You can normally go a bit faster to ride the tops of the waves, rather than trudge about at the bottom. But with a fairly flat-bottom boat this might be too slammy. The bigger boat idea is excellent, but blimmin spensive.

Confidence wise, have you got a boaty mate who will come out and say yeah, this is normal, or oops no, this isn't. Or, if you fancy there are lots of salty seadog types who will have oodles of experinece and can come for a day out and show you stuff, normal rate is under a hundred a day, praps ask at the marina?

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[TwoStroke]

Re: Mayday?

Did consider that, but there were no other boats about, we were the only ones out. Without power I felt very uncomfortable and did not want to put their lives in any danger through having very little control of the boat. Especially with the size of the waves that were coming.

Have also learnt that I will know exactly where we are in relation to Shoreham for a bolt hole in case I am ever caught out again.

Have learnt a lot. Should it happen again, then yes you are right and best to inform CG of our situation and keep them informed.

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

 

[TwoStroke]

Re: Mayday?

We were a good 1.5-2 miles off shore in deeper water, and very much so going against the tide which is what surprised me so much, otherwise I would have ridden the tops of the waves as we had done on the way over. Boat surfing - a new sport?? All in a little 20ft'er.

Agree, I'm going to have to have a look at seeing if there is a better way of protecting the engine - and yes, think I will see if I can get some one more experienced to come out with me for a day. They don't teach you what we went through on your PB Level 2. Very big learning curve this weekend! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

 

[Happy1]

Re: Mayday?

Just out of interest, why did you not consider calling Sea Start to assist when you first lost power?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[martynwhiteley]

Re: Mayday?

Travelling down the Humber to Spurn on Saturday I was surprised how bad the conditions were, and now with only the one engine, was dreading a power failure as I knew the conditions were bad enough to scare us all if we were left to the mercy of the waves.

I have wondered about acquiring a 'small' outboard now, as a contingency, but I suspect that this would be of little benefit in such conditions, and dropping the anchor would be the best option.

Is dropping the anchor best, or have any members successfully 'saved the day' by resorting to a small outboard after main engine failure in a reasonable chop?

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[TwoStroke]

Re: Mayday?

SeaStart are only shore based east of the solent, so there was no point in calling them and waiting for one of their Rib's as they would not have been able to respond. Their original mechanic came out from Chichester to Littlehampton for us.

The light was beginning to fade too, and have not experienced a night passage yet and felt my experience was not sufficient, especially with two relatives on board. If the engine hadn't managed to start I would have called the coast guard for assistance. To me, it felt the safest option.

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

 

[TwoStroke]

Re: Mayday?

At least you have diesel, and a splash of water on it will probably do it no harm.

Have thought about a spare outboard, but not sure it would have copped with the tide and wave heights. At most it may of held us in position. Would be interested in others opinions though.

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

 

[tcm]

Re: Mayday?

thinki there is a point in boat size at which lashing on an outboard on the back is a bit useless. BUT a dinghy lashed to the side fore and aft works well - an 8hp can move a 40 footer quite usefully, and yes i have saved the day (well, a boat from the rocks) using this technique when a main engine died.

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[lanason]

Re: Mayday?

Why is it better to put a dingy alongside rather than the aux engine on the back ???

it is more powerful ??? can't be
can you see better ??? down one side perhaps but not the other
easier to steer ??? perhaps depending upon the configuration
easier to get back on board ??? no
quicker to set up - no most small boats cannot carry the outboard on an inflated dingy - often the dingy is deflated and/or engine stored on board.

My outboard is always put on the O/B bracket and would be controlled with me standing / sitting on the bathing platform - never tried it but might do - just to see what a 4hp 2-stoke can do with a 23 footer !!

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian
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[studgies]

Re: Mayday?

I used to use a 4HP on my Sealine 195 it had a proper bracket on the bathing platform and managed to motor me along, if slowly.

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[martynwhiteley]

Re: Mayday?

My thoughts also Adrian.

However the worst time I had 'broadside on' was possibly only about 2 on a scale of one to ten, when my treasured baseball cap (worn forward I must add!), blew off on Loch Ness.

Now Loch Ness can get a bit choppy, but not as bad as the Humber and the sea of course, and I was in a Princess 30, a size bigger than my boat.

We were in a bad spot off Urquart Castle, but the 5 to 6 ft ish waves were less than those I encountered on Saturday.

Nevertheless, when I cut the power to try and recover the cap, we were quickly pushed to a broadside position as you can imagine.

The princess rocked for all it was worth, the patio doors nearly came off their runners, and every pot in the galley changed its position.

Sod that f.a.g.o.s, I soon put the power back on and headed into the waves, whilst ex-SWMBO managed to hook the cap.

My point is that the last thing I would fancy doing in such circumstances is climbing onto the bathing platform, and trying to start a damp old 2 stoke outboard.

Wouldn't fancy climing about in the engine room either for that matter trying to mend the fault with the main engine, but I suppose you do what you have to when the kids start crying!

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[studgies]

Re: Mayday?

Loch Ness can be mad, I have been out in far worse conditions on the Loch than I have ever ventured out to sea in! Not too sure Mr Hogan would be too impressed at you trying to get is doors off their runners though!! )

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[tcm]

dinghies lashed on the side

yeah, ok agreed , on a boat where the ob leg matches the swim platform height ANF the bigger boat has an ob bracket it would probaly be better to put the dinghy ob on the fitting as you say.

But in all other instances (if the boat has no fitting, or if one person is on the dinghy and needs their ob thanks and other on a bigger dead boat, or if you have a dinghy with no outboard but just a jet, or if the dinghy outboard is a bit massev for hoiking on and off the dinghy or if you are in trub and manage to attract a PWC, or or or ...) then the best option is indeed to efect the tow by lashing the much smaller (praps inflatable) vessel amidships fore and aft - cos if it tries to tow it wd drag its stern under or pull its own transom off, or if it pushed from stern it would zip off sideways or dive under the stern of the bigger boat. Lashed sideways, and steering into big boat whilst big boat steers a bit into the dinghy works well, and is quick.

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[Renegade_Master]

Ah....... the joys of cruising off Brighton I remember it well.
Littlehampton - Brighton about 14nm I seem to remember.

The trouble is if you leave Brighton and go either East or West to go with the tide, your gonna
punch it coming back, so one way is always wet. I left L'hampton later than I anticipated
one day early in my crusing days, had to avoid the lobster pots and find Brighton in the dark
learnt a lot from that. I must say what galant passengers you had, SHMBO would have
done her pieces, and never come near me boat again.



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[TwoStroke]

We tend to head out a little so in all about 20nm. It's usually a nice little run for friends and a few good pubs to boot.

It turns out that SWMBO's sister's husband, it was his first outing on a boat so he fully enjoyed himself, found it all very exciting, and SWMBO's father used to have a little sailing dingy - and he found it all very exciting too - apart from me thinking I could be doing my first night time navigation... oh hell!! At least they felt safe and confident in my abilities.

I can now look back on it and have learnt some really good lessons, but at the time... new boxers please! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

 

[duncan]

I think it was BrendanS that best put the difference between being responsible for yourself and having others to consider on trips like this. Funny really - you'd think it woud be better to have company when the going gets tough but it doesn't always help.

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[Happy1]

Re: Mayday?

Well I think you did well, it's amazing what you think of and the experience you gain when you get yourself out of a bit if unforseen bother. Seems you kept a cool head, or that is what your guests though, as they seemed to enjoy the experience /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>