Strategy for Breakdowns ?

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Vulcan

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On a trip from your marina to a secluded cove what would your strategy be if you broke down at sea, or at the secluded cove? Assuming single engine boat and no spare engine or tender. Be good to get some other ideas on this.
 
A) carry a proper liferaft and flares B) ensure the boat is equipped with an adequate anchor and chain C) ensure boat has a functioning VHF D) if you really are stuck, issue a Pan Pan on the VHF if you're not in imminent danger or a Mayday if you are and somebody will come and fetch you
 
Agree. Others might include carrying basic spares and have a basic knowledge yourself. Pump impellers, drive belts, fuses, filters etc so you might stand a chance of fixing it. Also consider other passing boats - flares to attract attention and phone a friend or your local marina to arrange a tow or an engineer. Watch the weather and tide if your there longer than you expect.
 
I remember reading a few years ago about a boat which went out of Palma Majorca for a short trip round the bay with the family on board and the engine promptly broke down. The boat then drifted around for three days with the crew making frantic calls for help which were all ignored. Finally, when they were all about to die of dehydration another boat stumbled across them and towed them in.

I would suggest carrying a good supply of water!
 
1) Drop the hook - advise coastguard if any danger.
2) Be prepared for such eventualities.

Carry:
Basic engine spares (fuel filters, belts, oil etc)
Comprehensive tool kit.
Spare battery and jump leads.
Selection of electrical connectors and a multimeter, with a spare battery!
Wiring diagram for boat.
Knife with serrated blade with lanyard in case prop jammed with rope

and have knowledge how to use all the above safely and effectively!!
 
Don't ignore a mobile phone as a valuable piece of safety equipment on board. I've been in areas where you can get a mobile phone signal but can't raise the CG on the VHF, though of course I may have been able to relay a message had I been in trouble.
 
or whoever..........

I carry a lot of local boat mobile numbers programed, and many carry mine. I tend to know who's likely to be out and about and would start ringing round for a tow first (starting with the guy I did the last favour for!).......

all this follows the earlier steps above re anchoring, always having water and food (mars bars), and being able to fix anything that can reasonably be fixed.

not sure of the ettiquette of putting out an all ships in the vicinity of request on 16 without going via the CG (?) but I might well do that to thumb a lift if I couldn't raise them easily on the VHF or phone (yep they are programmed in too!
 
good point for spain boaters...

sounds about right! - i tried and failed to raise any cg in palma bay. Spain (even in marinas) quotes the emergency services with phone numbers, not a vhf channel.
 
Re: good point for spain boaters...

Thanks guys, some good points suggested:

1. get the anchor down first
2. study weather conditions and monitor
3. review situation & consider options
4. repair if possible (need tools & spares)
5. telephone friend or marina to advise or request for help (need mobile)
6. attract passing boats for tow or help
7. call coastguard on vhf or mobile for help
8. carry emergency food, water & clothes

Can anyone improve on this?

We don't have seastart here or enough room for liferaft/tender, boat used within coastal waters in the Med.
 
Re: good point for spain boaters...

Get yourself a small 4hp auxiliary outboard to use in emergencies, also able to use for a tender in the future.

Thats what i've done, i have a Yam 4hp, on its ways to me!
 
Re: good point for spain boaters...

i could improve a teeny bit, maybe.

Have a light long strong line, 50metres or more say 16mm ish. The "octoplait" type is best, NOT the braided lines which "feel nice" but are specially designed to be inelastic - to hold sails up etc. You can use this long line to extend your anchor with a big shackle to the end if in deeper water and/or it can be a tow line.

In this way you can take a tow and use your own line to make that tow. If another boat finds you knackered and puts their lines on to tow you in - there could be a salvage claim against your insurance - esp if a commercial eg fishing boat. Unlikely if another pleasure boat tho.

If you do take someone else line, or esp if you lettem aboard to help rig the line whilst your boat is a bit busted, you are quite in order to ask before they get involved - "Do you relinquish your salvage rights?". They should say yes, of course.

If they haven't a clue what you're on about, that's either a good thing (cos they don't know about salvage) and/or a bad thing (cos if they don't know about salvage they may not ever have towed a boat in or know too much about boatfixing).
 
Easy one this.

If engine broke down - sail back to marina, if sails jammed or otherwise not deployable then motor back /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

oops - sorry wrong forum - you guys (and dolls) don't have sails, do you. - bit like driving down the motorway without a spare tyre for the car. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
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hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
No sails

harumph. I think meant that his means of propulsion was knackered: the mast comes down and the shrouds twangle under the boat and rip the prop off. Now what, smartypants?

Praps sailing is like a paraplegic going along the hard shoulder of motorway in a wheelchair at 5mph- "It's no problem if I break down - I can crawl!" :-)
 
Re: No sails

Launch the tender and plod back to the marina whils lounging in the cockpit with a pink gin or two....
Drop the hook and have a go at emptying the booze locker.
"phone a friend"
"ask the audience"
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hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
aha, if you have a tender...

A tip i learnt (from here i think) if you have a tender (tho the original poster's boat is too small for a tender) is to launch the tender and rig it amidships, tug-style, lashed tight fwd and aft to the boat cleats. Boat steers into the tender, tender into the boat.

I got about three knots from a 45 footer tugged in this style by 6hp tender when sailing (ooh yes, lots of us mobo people sail yerknow) - the engine wasn't busted but the neutral indicator was dicky so it thought it was in gear so engine wdn't start and i was backwinded in deep water against a er, Cliff.

So with a tender no need to leave the boat or if in deep water as i was - no chance of doing so anyway...
 
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