Challenge: Holed and Taking on Water !

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by cal40john

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...read-6547.html

That's it.

Thanks.

[ozskipper]

My old alan payne boat had a tee valve permanently installed for that very job. If anyone is planning on doing it, remember to make sure there is a good strainer in the bilge.

[Pelagic]

In my early days I worked in commercial salvage.

In all the excitement about utilizing emergency bilge pumps don’t forget the most effective solution is to find and plug the hole as quickly as you can.

I have 2 large nylon bags full of different sized wooden cones that can be hammered into any sized hole to reduce the water flow. Also ready made up pudding blankets and assorted ¾” ply cuts and wedges with hardwood timber to fabricate a quick repair

Once you know you are taking on large amounts of water:

Stop the boat
Feel around in the bilge for where you find the most current and temperature difference, size and plug it!

If it is a Thru hull that has let go, then the hole should be fairly round and uniform so the cone plugs work great to reduce the initial flow.

While I have a large main engine driven crash pump I am not a big fan of running the main engine when water is pouring into the engine room. I prefer to quietly and quickly work on stemming the flow without danger to crew or engine.

Once the hole is plugged from the inside, and the bilges are emptied. I would then consider re-plugging from the outside if it would make a more secure fit, before slowly heading to a safe anchorage to do a permanent repair.