That Sinking Feeling
Go to any boat show, and you will see a multitude of “hull-thumpers.” Watertight integrity does indeed rely on a sound hull, but wait—there’s more…..
Flooding is always a serious matter, but one reason it belongs in the pantheon of “things that went wrong that should not have surprised me” is that most boats are full of holes. Count ’em: propeller shaft, cooling water for the main engine, possibly for a generator, as well. Discharge regulations notwithstanding, a saltwater head functions on water coming and going through holes in the boat. How about a depth sounder? Another hole. A speed log needs a hole, and so does a mechanical bilge pump. Many boats have a saltwater hose for rinsing down. Where does that water come from? A hole…..Many holes are fitted with seacocks that can be closed in the event of a hose failure, so long as you can grab the handle before it submerges. This particular line of defense against flooding raises several points.
A good safety-review article on how to avoid that sinking feeling by Capt. Daniel Parrott at Soundings.
Semper Paratus!
/fl