WNS (What Now Skip?)

[jfm]

In response to overwhelming demand, here is this month's What Now Skip. As well as remembering that as it is now February, I must be working on the May issue (the one that will probably appear in Smiths sometime in late March or early April)… please also bear in mind that:

* The idea is to offer a nautical puzzle, which experienced skippers will (hopefully) find interesting or entertaining, from which the less experienced may be able to learn something, and from which we can all pick up ideas.
* The WNS skipper is a fictional character. Any resemblance to a real individual is purely accidental, except that he occasionally makes mistakes, and he is not able to make time run backwards. So having got into a situation, he can't get out of it by wishing that he had done something different.
* WNS is not a competition to see who can match some hidden but predetermined solution. Of course I have an answer in mind (you wouldn't like it if I gave you an impossible situation, would you?) But mine may not be the best or only answer.
* If you think I've missed something or given confusing information please ask for clarification.
* Attributed extracts from selected posts will appear in the next issue of MBY.

There's a prevention aspect here too. On current and last boat the saloon door wont slam lock, but on the phantom 42 it would. I also got locked out a bit as HLB describes. That scared me into always keeping a saloon door key taped in a hidden place in the laz so we could get into the saloon

 

[mjf]

There's a prevention aspect here too. On current and last boat the saloon door wont slam lock, but on the phantom 42 it would. I also got locked out a bit as HLB describes. That scared me into always keeping a saloon door key taped in a hidden place in the laz so we could get into the saloon

That's a better idea than my trouser pocket method. Thanks

 

[DAKA]

There's a prevention aspect here too. On current and last boat the saloon door wont slam lock, but on the phantom 42 it would. I also got locked out a bit as HLB describes. That scared me into always keeping a saloon door key taped in a hidden place in the laz so we could get into the saloon

Alright serious reply time.

I too had a problem and I managed to get locked inside when my 2 year old daughter closed the doors from outside while the keys were left in the outside lock.
I had to climb out the hatch to open from the outside.
Since then we have travelled with the keys in the door and a spare set in my pocket.

If I was stupid enough to get caught out in above scenario I would smash the smallest, straight window which is under the screen cover.

Straight glass is easy to replace even on a sunday with a bit of perspex from B&Q, the screen cover would keep rain out and give a temporary illusion of security while I went to B&Q.
I would then take a template and get a local glazer to order the correct size in the correct tint and get it toughened.

(there are other ways of gaining entry to most boats but I feel this is not the place to detail them !)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I have had a smashed window on a boat. Apart from the fact that we were still picking up shards of glass from inside the boat months later, it took weeks for a local glazer to make the correct size and type of window (which was flat btw) so, for me, breaking a window would be a last resort. If the engines were accessible from the cockpit, my first thought would be to pull the engine stops, anchor and call the marina or Seastart for a tow. My second thought would be to pull the fuel stops and those are usually accessible from the cockpit. My third thought would to disengage the pilot from the f/b and steer the boat manually out to sea and go in circles until help arrived. I might consider stalling the engines by throwing some rope in the water under the bow but that seems a bit drastic, might not work and could cause damage. Then I might think about breaking a window but not before firing up the puter and PM'ing that well known international safe breaker, Mr Wolf, for advice on breaking into my own boat

 

[Mr.Completely]

If I assume worst case senario with the shut off valves not accessible due to the locked door using the F/B autopilot or steering is not going to improve my situation much, so I would break in, probably causing more damaged than needed (well I am in a rush) and take control from inside and return to port.

Then safely alongside I would assess the damage I'd done, realise i'll never put out the fenders single handed underway again and proceed to get as drunk as possible before any friends arrive to try soften the abuse.

 

[Nick_H]

for me, breaking a window would be a last resort.

Me too. I'd try breaking the hinges or locks off the hatch in the forward cabin first, and if I had to break a window, it'd be the glass in that hatch, as it's a standard part.

At 6 knots i'd turn the boat round to head out to sea first of all, using the steering wheel on the fly, then i'd have time to think about other options.

 

[MapisM]

breaking a window would be a last resort

I see what you mean, but even if the wns doesn't clearly say it, I assumed there's no way to access the cabin, e/r, fuel stops, etc.
And if so, you're bound to break in somehow, sooner or later. Being also in a busy channel, I'd rather do it on the spot.

PS: if we should make "easier" assumptions, why not just turn the engines off from the f/b?
I can't see what the keys have to see with that. Many boats don't even have them upstairs, mine included.

 

[mjf]

I have had a smashed window on a boat. Apart from the fact that we were still picking up shards of glass from inside the boat months later, it took weeks for a local glazer to make the correct size and type of window (which was flat btw) so, for me, breaking a window would be a last resort. If the engines were accessible from the cockpit, my first thought would be to pull the engine stops, anchor and call the marina or Seastart for a tow. My second thought would be to pull the fuel stops and those are usually accessible from the cockpit. My third thought would to disengage the pilot from the f/b and steer the boat manually out to sea and go in circles until help arrived. I might consider stalling the engines by throwing some rope in the water under the bow but that seems a bit drastic, might not work and could cause damage. Then I might think about breaking a window but not before firing up the puter and PM'ing that well known international safe breaker, Mr Wolf, for advice on breaking into my own boat

Of course - that's the correct answer. Mr Wolf is indeed the key (regret pun )

 

[Nick_H]

I see what you mean, but even if the wns doesn't clearly say it, I assumed there's no way to access the cabin, e/r, fuel stops, etc.
And if so, you're bound to break in somehow, sooner or later. Being also in a busy channel, I'd rather do it on the spot.

PS: if we should make "easier" assumptions, why not just turn the engines off from the f/b?
I can't see what the keys have to see with that. Many boats don't even have them upstairs, mine included.

I suppose you could read it either way, but it says he's approaching the busy channel, rather than it it. I don't think it's an "easy assumption" that a 43 foot flybridge will have a hatch in the front cabin, i'm struggling to think of any that don't.

 

[gjgm]

I suppose you could read it either way, but it says he's approaching the busy channel, rather than it it. I don't think it's an "easy assumption" that a 43 foot flybridge will have a hatch in the front cabin, i'm struggling to think of any that don't.

Maybe our skipper is a little rotund, and is going to need a 24v jigsaw to fit through...whereas breaking the side window might enable him to reach the engine keys.. would you need to address the patio doors ?

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I don't think it's an "easy assumption" that a 43 foot flybridge will have a hatch in the front cabin, i'm struggling to think of any that don't.

Cue Poweryachtblog!

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nick_H]

Maybe our skipper is a little rotund, and is going to need a 24v jigsaw to fit through...whereas breaking the side window might enable him to reach the engine keys.. would you need to address the patio doors ?

Well, in which case our Pukka Pie munching hero could steer by shifting his ample @ss from one side of the boat to the other, until the fuel runs out from the effort of moving all that weight. He can then find someone smaller to crawl through the hatch, although I doubt there'll be any kids around for fear of HLB injecting them in the porthole.

 

[Wiggo]

Maybe our skipper is a little rotund, and is going to need a 24v jigsaw to fit through...whereas breaking the side window might enable him to reach the engine keys.. would you need to address the patio doors ?

The jigsaw's in the toolbox in the lazarette, surely?

[[note to self: check we have a jigsaw on board...]]

 

[oceanfroggie]

Use the secret "hidden" spare key to access the saloon.

 

[DAKA]

The jigsaw's in the toolbox in the lazarette, surely?

[[note to self: check we have a jigsaw on board...]]

WNS seams to have evolved somewhat , since when did we have a cordless jig saw on board, I cant help but feel short changed in that previous WNS scenarios could have been easily overcome, the Old Wooden Classic saily boat that over hung the pontoon immediately springs to mind !

 

[mjf]

WNS seams to have evolved somewhat , since when did we have a cordless jig saw on board, I cant help but feel short changed in that previous WNS scenarios could have been easily overcome, the Old Wooden Classic saily boat that over hung the pontoon immediately springs to mind !

Yes agreed - and what about detail of what ropes are available?

 

[MapisM]

I suppose you could read it either way, but it says he's approaching the busy channel, rather than it it. I don't think it's an "easy assumption" that a 43 foot flybridge will have a hatch in the front cabin, i'm struggling to think of any that don't.

Point taken re. being already in a busy channel or not.
But by "easy assumption" I was generally referring to all ideas along the lines of finding a way in without breaking anything, not to your suggestion of a hatch vs. a window.
In fact, what I supported is the idea of "breaking into the cabin" - whatever that means, not necessarily through the window. Whether it's easier through a hatch, or forcing some hinges, or a lock, etc. that depends on the boat of course.
Apropos, I'm curious about jfm "well-known method that works on virtually every boat and causes no damage". If it works on some steel trawlers I can think of, with 1/2" thick safety glasses all around, NO hatches at all, watertight doors, etc., then Houdini should eat his heart out for good!

 

[gjgm]

The jigsaw's in the toolbox in the lazarette, surely?

[[note to self: check we have a jigsaw on board...]]

I m still hoping Musto or Henri LLoyd will come out with a neoprene tool belt to match my deck shoes. Just think of the things you could fix while helming.

 

[strakeryrius]

First thing I would do is to dive into the safety locker in the cockpit and get out the drogue and some flares.

Deploy the drogue from a stern cleat - should be OK at 6 knots not to do any damage - and it ought to put the boat into a "big circle" buying me some thinking time to get entry while doing the least damage. The flares would be to warn any approaching boat that I had a problem - effectively NUC.

I'd try all the hatches first in case any of them hadn't been dogged down - and if that failed I'd be looking to break in doing the least possible damage. From the briefing it seems that it would be pointless trying to get the FB helm station up, so you would simply have to find a way back into the saloon again no matter what.

 

[Nick_H]

Deploy the drogue from a stern cleat - should be OK at 6 knots not to do any damage - and it ought to put the boat into a "big circle" buying me some thinking time to get entry while doing the least damage.

Isn't that a bit elaborate when you have a steering wheel on the flybridge, and you just need to remove the covers?