Thank God for bilge alarms!

[OAF]

We set off on wednesday after doing the usual engine checks and had a fantastic couple of days, Newtown creek, Poole, back up the Hamble to pick up some friends and then the trouble started,we were on our way to Poole again and then the plan was to stay the night and head back to Yarmouth, we were about half way when the bilge alarm came on, no real issue as it does occasionally with a slight weep from the stern glands but on this occasion it didn't stop within a few seconds so off I went to investigate, HORRIFIED when lifted the hatch to see hundreds of gallons flooding in to the bilge and being sprayed everywhere by the shafts,initially thought the worst but then thought logically and stopped one engine and the water ingress slowed to nothing, it was a raw water feed pipe gone, rang sea start and they got an appointed engineer to call us so we limped in to Poole under the direction of clive, very helpful engineer but he could not locate a hose, I found one at wills engineering at cobs quay,the story of locating the hose is far more complicated and we were badly let down by UPS after we had located one in Southampton,anyway the one I found at cobbs was different but a bit of modification and it was on and sorted, our plans were slightly scuppered as we were planning to go to Yarmouth so a phone call was made but were told that they were already nearly full and that was only 12 o'clock, so once clear of the bridge at Poole we headed for Swanage bay and enjoyed a superb couple of days!

I now carry some spare hose and some very good repair tape, but thank God for bilge alarms, without them I dread to think how much damage would have been caused, DAKA sorry if I seemed a little preoccupied when you rang, I'm not usually like that but when trying to get past the Cain ferry against the tide with one engine is a little tricky lol

 

[volvopaul]

I simon, had exactly the same thing last year 2 inch water hose sheaed off on oil cooler but I only knew this had happened when the boat felt that heavy it dropped about 3 knots of speed, it was just going through the race at St albans head!!, did the same floor up to get sprayed in the face by the shafts, but the dog had knocked off the bilge pumps when she sits on the dash.

Shes now banned from that area!!.

 

[OAF]

Paul, don't know about you but when I lifted the hatch I almost had a coreney when I saw gallons of water gushing in from somewhere deep in side the engine room, I was lucky but in your case I reckon your dog was also lucky he didn't end up overboard for almost causing some serious damage lol

It's been an eventful week, at the start of our trip we needed some supplies from Hamble so whilst cruising down the river I decided to pull up at the visitors pontoon, tide was racing out and I pulled up, the missus stepped off with the ropes, I popped both engines in to reverse to pull the boat to the far end of the pontoon but the damn thing shot off forward at an alarming rate, she couldn't hold it, didn't have time to get it secured so had to let go of the ropes, I was trying to control the boat but had no neutral or reverse on starbord engine, stopped the engine and bought the boat back in to the pontoon, Easy repair as the gear cable had come adrift and the gearbox was stuck in 'ahead' trouble was one of the ropes had gone around the prop, thank God for rope cutters!

All in all things have made for an interesting week, never a dull moment when boating lol

 

[oGaryo]

phew, what a nightmare but glad it turned out ok.. I don't check my bilge pumps as often as I should, thanks for the wake up call

 

[Scubadoo]

phew, what a nightmare but glad it turned out ok.. I don't check my bilge pumps as often as I should, thanks for the wake up call

I check mine on every trip (well once over a weekend) to make sure the float switch will operate and the alarm will sound. Worth getting into a routine.

 

[BartW]

had a cooling water hose coming loose from the Volvo D3, in TWO occasions,
so that the cooling water pump was pumping sea water in the boat.
In both occasions I discovered the problem (engine overheating) before the engines were soaked, or the boat was sinking, lucky I was.

since then installed a bilge pump alarm, never want to be without it anymore

 

[OAF]

Some people take notice of things like temp gauges and trim etc, however some people take no notice until it is far too late, A bilge alarm should be a must, and loud and in your face.

Over this winter I will be checking every water hose with a bit more vigilance, I dont fancy that happening again.

 

[Ripster]

I check mine on every trip (well once over a weekend) to make sure the float switch will operate and the alarm will sound. Worth getting into a routine.

+1

When I read stories like this, I am sooooo glad I fitted one and an extra massive pump too. I have to say it was members of this very forum whos stories of such terror convinced me in the first place!

 

[DAKA]

DAKA sorry if I seemed a little preoccupied when you rang, I'm not usually like that but when trying to get past the Cain ferry against the tide with one engine is a little tricky lol

You obviously kept your crew so calm they didnt realize the situation, as soon as your swmbo said she was passing the phone down to you in the engine bay I tried to say it wasnt urgent, I assumed you were dock side at that point.
Then I herd the engines and still assumed you were dock side........
then I herd water slap and realized you really had your hands full ........
I had no idea you also had the chain ferry/current to look out for too.
Well done for remaining so calm and sorry to have caught you at such an awkward moment



I carry self amalgamating tape, 4 inch lay flat hose and jubilee clips for encasing dodgy pipes .
1"
1.5"
2" pipe


with various hard bends U bends, 90' bends (plastic sink fittings, copper bends etc)

I have one hose that reduces from 2 inch to 1.5 inch with a 90' bend, I bought a new one of those as standby.

Once i replace the 8mm braided pipe you were kind enough to help me with I shall make up a spare standby from the old one too.

 

[OAF]

You obviously kept your crew so calm they didnt realize the situation,

We plied them with plenty of alcohol so that they ended up not caring about the situation lol I however remained very much in control and bless my SWMBO as she handles pressure very well and looked after the guests and me until we got moored up safely.

I will be carrying spare hose and now I have plenty of that compression repair tape which I have to say seems to be very good indeed, I applied it to the other hose as it was bulging a bit uner pressure, and I didnt fancy that going on the way home, the tape stopped it from bulging out at all.