[PUP] Crisis proceedures at sea

[scottebulger@comcast.net]

Posted on behalf of Bob Austin:

Georgs asked:  When your boat starts taking on water, what do you do? If a fire
starts, what do you do then?  What's the best course of auction in the event of such emergencies far offshore?

Bob Replied:  

There was a post on another forum of a 35 foot sport fisher which caught on 
fire  30 miles off shore the previous weekend.  The skipper had a Halon 
system--the diesels would not shut down, and the Halon was not effective. 
Once the wire had melted the wire on insullation it became an electrical 
fire (even if it was not initially)  The speculation was that a turbo 
started the fire.
The skipper opened the floor boards to the engine compartment, (debatable). 
The fire was too intense to put a shutter over the top of the engine air 
intake and stop the engines.   The fuel valves were external and shut off, 
but it was the opinion of the skipper that the engine continued to run on 
its own lube oil.  A may day was broadcast on VHF (Offshore you would also 
use SSB) and the EPRIP was activated.  The crew put on life jackets, 
launched the life raft and abandoned ship.  The CG contacted the owner's 
wife about 5 minutes after the EPRIB was activated.  An nearby boat picked 
up the crew from the raft and the boat sank within half an hour of the 
fire's discovery.  CG arrive about 20 minutes later and took the crew to 
shore.
On analysis, it was suggested that fuel supply valves be always accessable 
from outside the engine room.  That all electrical circuits be fused and 
have a shut off out side of the engine room.  (Including the starting 
circuit).  There was suggestion that a CO2 extinguisher would have been 
effective in cooling and smothering the fire--but not being able to shut 
down the engine was a major issue.  An external activation of a shutter for 
air intake would have perhaps stopped the engine.
We had a proceedure for fire--it involved use of halon if it had not 
automatically depolyed.  We had a small CO2 cylinder--but it was also used 
for inflation of the dinghy.  We had multiple small B10 type of 
extinguishers--but little use for a major fine.
Water intrusion:  Been there!  First get all bilge pumps going.  Attempt to 
find the place the water is entering.  Plugs by all thru hulls--and shut off 
sea cocks on all thru hulls.  Have a canvas/vinly which can be put over a 
hole in the hull, with lines on it  for 3 or 4 corners.  We also had several 
pieces of 1/4" plywood and several cans of "Great stuff"  A hand drill for 
putting holes in the hull to drive in self tapping or sheat metal screws, 
and seal the plywood edges.  The "Great Stuff" has been used for many of the 
hurricane damaged boats and seems to set up under water, and helps to adhere 
the plywood.    Also cushions can be stuffed into holes.    Stuffing boxes 
are also a frequent area of water intrusion--sometimes the shaft is pulled 
out--again a wooden plug large enough is the help here.  Rags around the 
stuffing box secured with SS or monel wire or plastic cable ties.
Fortunately the times we have had water intrusion, it was something which 
was easily discovered--like a deck drain, when the boat was heeled over  and 
under water, where the hose had pulled off.  A leaking stuffing box: a 
leaking rudder shaft stuffing (slowed the boat down, repaced the stuffing 
box ).  The only time we hit something which caused major hull damage 
(fortunately a friend's boat and we hit a container at 8 knots)--the hull 
was cored with 3" of balsa planks, and although the outer 1/2" of glass was 
breeched, the balsa took most of the impact and the inner 3/8" of glass kept 
any water from intruding into the hull.
The idea is to have a plan, materials and have people ready to do their jobs 
to save the boat.  Safety first.  Safety gear on any boat--ditch bag, EPIRBS 
(personal and boat, GPS enabled) life jackets, survival suits and life raft 
are the ultimate survival tools.
Bob Austin